Hello Paul & All,

> Ditto in regards to the unsubstantiated speculation about
> pesticide residues being the cause of CCD.

If I remember correctly Paul you said you were an employee of a chemical Ag 
supply company ( please correct if I am wrong.).

I speak with others employed at big Ag regularly and we have a "mole" in one 
of the largest companies feeding us information. I also speak with 
entomologists on a regular basis. With all do respect to those people which 
have earned the degree those people have told me it takes more than a degree 
in entomology to keep bees on a large scale. many of those friends have 
contacted me asking questions about keeping their university bees healthy. 
So have USDA-ARS researchers at times.

After speaking with entomologists and USDA-ARS researchers the same question 
keeps popping up and I will ask you later in the post.

 Big Ag (company name withheld)  tries to "muddy the water" when I ask the 
big question but even their scientific complicated answers (which do not go 
over the head of some USDA-ARS entomologists heads like over mine) some 
entomologists think are not reasonable and honeybees should be effected by 
the pollen from those plants and yes the chemical residues are found in the 
pollen . The chemical  argument is when does the amount of pesticide become 
toxic to bees and should be instead (our opinion) . What effects on bees ( 
maybe not lethal) does the use of the product  have. Disorintation from 
chemicals has been widely documented by Jerry B. & Mayer.

The big question which big Ag studders when asked:

The top suspect chemical (beekeepers fear) lists 12 insects it will kill . 
Kill by those insects visiting the plant. Some of those are tough to kill 
insects my entomologist friends tell me. However the chemical company says 
the chemical will not in any way harm insects like honey bees and 
butterflies which also visit those plants.


You need not answer Paul but like a good lawyer I need to keep the other 
sides position in the BEE-L record.


> Why hasn't this inexpensive pesticide residue screening been
> done?

Surely you are not suggesting no pesticide residue will be found? I grow 
apples, peaches and pears on my farm for sale to the public. I grew organic 
for thirteen years but had to switch to 1 or 2 well timed sprays as I became 
larger. I have had fruit tested at the lab in Columbia , Missouri (as well 
as honey). The lab informed me that traces of any chemical spray ever used 
on an apple can be easily detected. Although the amounts may very due to 
rain ect.. the chemical residues will be found by the high tech testing. 
Pesticides we ingest in our food usually stay in our bodies for a very long 
time. All of us would test positive for pesticides but I doubt the amounts 
would kill us but what are the long term effects? The whole organic food 
movement is based on people not wanting chemicals in their bodies in any 
amount (although chemical co. research says the amounts will not hurt you).

The systemic pesticide in question (bees)  comes in touch with the bees and 
butterflies which visit the plant and residues are found in the pollen. Big 
Ag can't really dispute this except by saying *their* research shows the 
amount does not harm bees and butterflies.

What is the effect of any pesticide our bees are exposed to is our question 
to big ag.

Last month I attended a presentation by Jim Tew at the KHPA meeting. it had 
been 20 years since Jim had done a presentation for the KHPA group. Jim 
started by saying how different the situation was today because 20 years ago 
we were stirred up over the new pesticide Penncap-M. and today the subject 
is in another direction CCD.

The growers won the Penncap-M battle ( with commercial beekeepers)and the 
product is still killing bees around orchards but after huge bee kills 
beekeepers and  growers solved most of their issues. Growers mow under trees 
and DO NOT spray until ALL hives are gone from the orchard. No exceptions!

The big difference between Penncap-m and today's nicotine based products is 
that the new chemicals are sold over the counter even at Wal-Mart. Used on 
yards etc. Use is growing! In the case of Penncap-M we were dealing with 
less people ( orchards & farmers which understood the issue easily). The 
situation is different with the new breed of pesticides as the chemical 
companies  are searching for new ways to sell the chemical.

After a lifetime of beekeeping I know of nothing other than pesticides which 
will depopulate a hive so fast. Nothing! Spray Penncap-M on blooms bees are 
working and your hive will look like CCD and if none of the workers make it 
back no residue will be found in the hive.

Thanks for your posts Paul. We really want to hear your position and 
thoughts.

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison


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