> This is a better quality risk assessment than many, but 
> still falls short of 'proof' that this seed dressing is 
> safe for bees on canola/oilseed rape in the way Jim presented it.

But that's not what I presented at all!

I have no idea if clothianidin is "safe" for bees as applied on canola, and
I made no claims about the level of "proof" at all.

The only point I made was that the study certainly was NOT anything like
what the NRDC claimed it would be in their lawsuit press release. The NRDC
said it would be "evidence of connections between pesticides and... colony
collapse disorder..." 

As I keep saying, "pesticide kills" and "CCD" are two very different issues
for beekeepers.

My goal was to stop the NRDC from making fools of themselves, and by
implication, making fools of us beekeepers too. 
I hope that I have halted the lawsuit with extreme prejudice.

I do not want anyone to think that I am arguing that clothianidin is "safe"
for bees.  It is a insecticide, and bees are insects.  Somehow, I don't
think it takes
too much imagination to connect the dots on the potential for pesticide
kills.

While I am not qualified to judge, the cited study certainly may not be
sufficent proof for beekeepers of the "safety" of the pesticide.  One would
certaintly expect beekeepers to have more stringent data needs than the EPA
as run by the current administration. 

I do like systemics and seed treatments MUCH better than spraying, but
again, I am simply stating the obvious here - who wouldn't like using LESS
insecticide?  Seed treatments use far far less than any other application
technique.

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************