On Sat, Nov 2, 2013 at 1:56 PM, Peter L Borst  wrote:

> There is no benefit from smoking, while the benefits of targeted pest
> control is clear.
>

How do you figure the widespread prophylactic use of neonicotinoids is
"targeted pest control"?

The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has published
recently its 2013 evaluation on neonics:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/bee_mortality-mortalite_abeille-eng.php

Of note is that it says that 2012 spring planting bee mortality was NOT a
weather related phenomenon.  It was repeated in 2013.

In its notice of Intent:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/consultations/_noi2013-01/noi2013-01-eng.php

I would draw your attention to the following:

"For the 2014 planting season, we intend to implement additional protective
measures for corn and soybean production, including:

   - Requiring the use of safer dust-reducing seed flow lubricants;
   - Requiring adherence to safer seed planting practices;
   - Requiring new pesticide and seed package labels with enhanced
   warnings; and,
   - Requiring updated value information be provided to support the
   continued need for neonicotinoid treatment on up to 100% of the corn seed
   and 50% of the soybean seed."

It is the last point that relates to "targeted pest control".  Widespread
use of insecticide sometime unnecessarily, and a persistent insecticide as
well that is still affecting subsequent crops is not an environmentally
defendable practice, even if it might be economically defendable.

I stopped in September at a Pioneer seeds field day at a farm with some
different varieties of corn and soybeans.  I asked the seed salesmen what
would be the situation next year with untreated seed.  He said yes, next
year it will definitely be available.  I said, does it cost about $15 per
acre to treat the seed?  He said, yes that is approximately correct.  I
said, will the seed be $15 per acres cheaper untreated?  He said, no, the
untreated seed will be the same price as the treated.  He said, it is a
nuisance for the company to have to stock it at all.

Where is "targeted pest control"?  What happened to Integrated Pest
Management?

Stan

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