On Fri, 30 May 2008 20:58:34 -0400, Bob Harrison <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


>
>"tests on dead bees showed that 99% had high levels of clothianidin"
>

this reads like a presidential primary news story which was taken out of context to inflame the 
masses. 

if you do a search and read all of the articles on this issue in Germany you find out that the losses 
were attributed to a misapplication of the seed coating. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/23/wildlife.endangeredspecies?
gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

"Tests on dead bees showed that 99% of those examined had a build-up of clothianidin. The 
chemical, produced by Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of the German chemical giant Bayer, is sold 
in Europe under the trade name Poncho. It was applied to the seeds of sweetcorn planted along 
the Rhine this spring. The seeds are treated in advance of being planted or are sprayed while in 
the field.

The company says an application error by the seed company which failed to use the glue-like 
substance that sticks the pesticide to the seed, led to the chemical getting into the air.

Bayer spokesman Dr Julian Little told the BBC's Farming Today that misapplication is highly 
unusual. "It is an extremely rare event and has not been seen anywhere else in Europe," he said." 



i'm no fan of farm chems but marian fraziers paper in the recent ABJ pretty much says it all. the 
vast majority of contaminates in USA comb from CCD losses are coming from beekeepers. 

i'm tired of the Bayer story - its a dead issue really. like others have said someone in the USA 
would have found a smoking gun and they have not. . 

time to move on to other real issues with real data - like stopping the self contamination of combs 
by beekeepers.  Bob don't you see it as your role to help  stop the use of legal and illegal miticides 
that build up in combs? Alot of beekeepers look up to you.  I think you are doing a disservice to 
beekeepers by trying to keep this dead Bayer horse alive. its just distracting beekeepers from the 
REAL issue. 

along with the dead horse Bayer we have the Einstien quote and the stupid UK line about bees 
perishing in a decade. this kind of tabloid nonsense is slowing reform in our industry. 

who are the beekeepers going to blame when the mainstream media starts picking up the story 
that the top 2 chems found in the disappearing bee hives is from the beekeepers themselves?  
(maybe Bayer again since they make Checkmite?, its Bayer no matter which way you dice and slice 
but never the beekeepers)

the back lash could be nasty. its just a matter of time. meanwhile ABF, NHB and other industry 
players are in complete denial.   

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