We've all mourned the plight of the honey bee in America, and Europe has been hit hard, too. Everything from fungi to cell phones to stress has been blamed for the startling losses -- from 30% to 80% of many commercial beekeepers' hives have been wiped out.After a lot of urgent research conducted in the past few years, some tests on dead bees have shown that 99% of the ones examined had a high level of clothianidin in their system -- the chemical sold under the name "Poncho" by Bayer AG in Germany. It's used as a pesticide for sweet corn and rapeseeds.
According to Bayer, the chemical typically sticks to the seed and doesn't get into the air, but an "extremely rare" "application error" resulted in its release. Germany didn't take any chances though -- honeybees are vital to the health of many crops and the country has banned the entire category of pesticides.
But that doesn't end the bad news for Bayer, whose imidacloprid has been blamed in South Dakota and France for widepread colony collapse disorder. The chemical was used for oilseed rape and sunflowers. In South Dakota, farmers are suing, whereas the French government has banned the chemical (but just for sunflower seeds). The company maintains its products are safe, as long as they're applied correctly. I must admit, I'm skeptical. How many times will we accept the "user error" argument before we start scaling back the use of harmful chemicals? If they're killing bees, what might they do to humans who eat the foods from them? Bayer could face some major reduction in its €2.5 billion pesticide (aka "Crop Protection") market if more countries follow suit (and if more Americans like me begin to demand that our farmers stop using bee killers on their crops).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-31-2008 @ 7:57AM
John brennan said...
I have fruit trees. I have seen very few honey bees the past few years. Hope they make a come back here in NJ.
5-30-2008 @ 7:24PM
Joan said...
I only hope that this means that the cell phones are not at fault. Or is that the pesticide only one factor and the cell phones are still suspect??
5-31-2008 @ 8:47AM
teltech54 said...
How would cell phones affect bees? Colonies are usually out in the rural areas where you get lousy cell phone coverage at best. I use my cell at home and there are bees all over the place here. Come get em if you want em.
5-31-2008 @ 6:31AM
Al Schrader said...
I grow a thing or two.
Pesticides are a last resort.
Most pests can be controlled with common sense.
For example, sap sucking aphids can be controlled by applying lady bugs which eat aphids, etc.
Al
5-31-2008 @ 7:32AM
bartels said...
Exactly what are your qualifications in biochemistry to be making scientific judgements on 'harmful chemicals'? You might stick to what you know.
5-31-2008 @ 9:45AM
Sevin said...
Remember Rachel Carson in the 1950-1960's and the DDT thing? If not, read her book (Silent Spring).
The honey bee situation is definitely caused by man and our attempt to control nature by eliminating insects. Also, I think that Bayer is now in a situation where the company's good reputation is at risk. They really should shift to damage control by pulling these questionable products immediately.
5-31-2008 @ 9:42AM
Brad Kirkland said...
Sarah has always been a tree hugger and will always be the first to jump on anything "unnatural".So if thats the case,Sarah how do you get rid of killer bees that kill people? Give them all tiny cell phones?
5-31-2008 @ 9:59AM
Don Bindner said...
@Al Schrader: When you grow a thing or two, you can apply one bug to get rid of another. When you grow at scale, things are not so easy.
I grew up on a farm that was careful to treat only as necessary, but I have great doubts that ladybugs would be practical at the scale that corn and soybean crops are grown.
5-31-2008 @ 10:46AM
Dale said...
bartels...suggesting that an informed opinion backed by research and experience also requires an academic degree before voicing. Is in my opinion inane, specious and un-American. If a judgement is to be made its on the credibility of the individual. Cramer has always been a truth teller. However, other individuals with advanced degrees George W. Bush for example has no credibility except lies. Use your head for something besides growing hair.
6-01-2008 @ 11:52PM
User said...
It seems like a science fiction movie. At least there is finally a possible explanation that actually makes sense. (Versus the cell phone thing...)
I hope it all works out okay. I love honey!