Hello All,
When I started in beekeeping when you had a beekeeping question you were
unable to figure out you asked Grandpa beekeeper. I learned early in
beekeeping 90% of the hives in the U.S. were owned and operated by
beekeeping families which in many cases (Weavers etc.) dated to the early
1800's.
My first beekeeping mentor was in his nineties.
Roy Weaver I consulted as needed and Roy always answered my questions.

My point is the subject of allowing chemical sprays on crops while the bees
are working the bloom should never be allowed . Grandpa said chemical
companies were trying hard to get the label "Do not spray while bees are on
bloom or field" removed even many decades ago.

Bees taking a shower in chemicals and bringing trace amounts of chemical
back to the hive can never be a good thing. Grandpa beekeeper has said to
always fight sprays during bloom.

The above was decades ago.

Why should beekeepers fight all sprays when bees are on bloom:

The number one reason is that in today's world chemical companies & growers
(with today's lawyers) are NOT going to pay you for your losses. Even back
when the only industry issues were foulbrood proving losses from chemicals
was problematic.

Number two is repairing the damage from the sprays. I know of no crop 
pollination fee which would pay for losses from serious hive loss.

Many beekeepers have seen losses in citrus but have yet to get money for
their losses. Plenty of PR but no money. Hmmm. Sounds to me like the same
old story.

PR is not accepting responsibility for damage caused by the sprays.

Have you seen the latest HFCS PR on TV? " HFCS can not be bad as HFCS comes 
from corn!"
The above is the extent of their explanation. Short with making the person 
wondering about the possible health risks seem stupid. Simple PR similar to 
other industries with PR issues. You discredit the person asking the 
question and avoid discussing the actual research.

Reasonable doubt can always be proved with CCD, varroa , nosema, stress and
problems in today's beekeeping industry so trying to recoup losses in court
has been proven to be a poor choice.

So all that is left in my opinion is to avoid growers using certain products
and push for labels to protect bees while on bloom or in the fields.  I have
nine grandkids so guess I am the Grandpa beekeeper today!

I am considering retirement for various reasons so might not have a horse in
the race before long but those members of BEE-L reading and attendees at the
ABF meeting cruising the internet please heed Grandpa beekeepers comments.

Chemical companies have a foot in the door with several products being
labeled to spray while bloom is on. When the door is wide open uninformed
growers and informed will spray all season and hope the bees survive. Some
of this mentality happens now with fungicides.

Keep the bloom sacred. Free of poison pollen & nectar and keep the girls
from being drenched with concoctions while on bloom.Bringing amounts back to
the hive.  The American public is spoiled and expects every fruit on the
planet available every day of the year in grocery stores without a blemish.

 Growers know produce departments do not want a single head of lettuce or
apple with a blemish. This mindset drives the grower to the chemical
company doors! In my opinion on crops which need bees to produce fruit the
bees are "as important" as the chemicals but many growers are willing to
sacrifice bees in order to get *perfect* fruit or produce.

Most growers are honest but in recent years we are seeing growers willing to
lie about what chemicals they are using. Losses in pollination has increased
steadily since the neonicotinoids have been introduced.
Sprays on bloom (other than fungicides) are now being pushed forward.

Grandpa beekeeper would not sit back and accept the situation but today's
generation in my opinion does not posses the backbone to stand up to what is
going on.

bob

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