Editor’s Note: The following article was highlighted by a perspicacious reader.
From: The Times (London) via The Australian
Ben Webster | The Times
RESEARCH blaming pesticides for the decline in honeybees has been called into question by a leaked note suggesting scientists had decided in advance to seek evidence supporting a ban on the chemicals.
The private note records a discussion in 2010 between four scientists about how to persuade regulators to ban neonicotinoid pesticides.
The EU imposed a temporary ban last year after the European Food Safety Authority identified risks to bees.
December 4, 2014
From: Roll Call Commentary
By John R. Block
For years now, farmers have been trying to fend off an EPA rule that would treat everything from run-off ditches to farm sloughs as “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act, hog-tying farmers in miles of red tape and allowing the agency to micromanage almost every action we take on the farm.
Now the EPA is preparing another startling regulatory overreach that could be just as damaging. While they haven’t announced it yet, every indication suggests the agency will soon impose new rules that ban certain uses of some of the most important crop protection products we rely on.
December 3, 2014
Editor’s Note: In its “Update on Neonicotinoid Pesticides and Bee Health” attached here, the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency states that it is including data from growers and registrants as well as other stakeholders in its own economic assessment of the economic value of neonicotinoid-treated seeds for corn and soybeans. See below. The PMRA Update discussed the strong link between varroa and bee health decline, stated that “no conclusions” can be drawn at this time regarding any long term bee health effects from treated seed and explained the importance of additional research.
From: Health Canada/Pest Management Regulatory Agency
December 1, 2014
