As we hear frequently all beekeeping is local.
Here in central Mn I did a 2 yr review of pollen my bees brought into pollen traps from 30 colonies
in 3 locations. I hired a biology student who did her grad thesis on pollen identitification.
During the course of 2 summers we found only trace amounts of pollen from corn and no soybean
pollen.
Right now our basswood trees are in bloom and we usually see a 2 week flow from sweet clover
after that and by then the corn will be done giving off pollen.
The science just is not there to point a finger at GMO's as being unsafe for human and honeybee
consumption.
In my opinion the more real concern on GMO's is the transgenic transfer of pollen to other
species, this is documented.
Regardless of what is published by the CCD working group or respected scientists in the future,
the urban myth of cell phones and gmo's causing CCD, etc has been circulated and accepted as
truth by a segment of the population who knows nothing about science but has fervent almost
religious beliefs that global warming and technology is killing the planet and fast.
On a weekly basis I get people from this growing fringe group who shop our farmers market stalls.
They don't want to hear any information or opinions that does not jive with their apocalyptic
views of the environment. It reminds me of the Y2K scare only it has more of a religuous tone with
very strong emotional feelings.
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