Dr. Pedro Rodriguez,
First, let me say that after reading that you took offense to Bruce
King's latest post, I re-read it and found it to be as reasoned,
articulate, and respectful to you as I had the first time I read it. He
disagrees with some of your chosen positions, but does so with
respect... perhaps a little frustration can be read between the lines
and I can understand that.
Realizing that in some cultures it is considered disrespectful to use
someone's first name until invited to do so, I have used your title and
full name in addressing this. Given that you live in Virginia, I'm sure
you realize that we are very informal here in the US and that the use of
first names typically means little more than that someone has had a few
conversations with you, whether verbal or via Bee-L.
> In an effort to stay out of controversies I have elected to
> remain on the sidelines on
> the issue of compliance with government regulatory agencies.
I suspect I'm not the only one thinking that the sidelines are not
where you belong on this. Since the use of FGMO for mite control in
honeybee colonies has been put into practice and studied by you first,
it seems entirely appropriate that you should be the person to spearhead
the registration process.
> In my opinion, most of the loud voices of alarm are nothing more
> than self serving efforts to get recognition in the field of
> investigation that the use of FGMO promises in the near future,
> feeling that their past negative propaganda may deprive them of
> valuable research funding.
There may be some of those self-serving folks, but I have not seen any
evidence of this on Bee-L. My understanding of the posts about
utilizing scientific methods and jumping through the hoops set by the
USDA, EPA &/or FDA for registration is:1) There is concern among many
that anecdotal evidence is not sufficient to indicate that everyone
should begin treating their bees with FGMO.. eg: does it really work?
why does it work? are there side effects? etc.
2) There is concern that this would not only be illegal but also
imprudent, as there has been no research conducted in a method
consistant with USDA, EPA &/or FDA (hereafter refered to as ABC
agencies) requirements to establish or register FGMO as an effective
acaricide.
3) There is great hope that your initial findings are duplicatable under
the (apparently) rigorous requirements of the ABC agencies and that FGMO
could one day be a registered accaricide for use in honeybee colonies in
the US.
Based on many posts that I have read supporting you in your initial
studies of FGMO, I believe that I am not alone in stating again that I
think you should be the one to pursue this method of mite treatment. If
you are, for some reason, unwilling... I hope that someone else *does*
explore FGMO. The person who proves FGMO is an effective treatment for
varroa mites within the parameters required by ABC agencies to get
approval or registration is who SHOULD get recognition in the field of
investigation as far as I'm concerned. It is YOUR choice whether that
person is you.
> For those of you who are genuinely concerned, please be assured that
> I am very much interested in a successful future for MO as a miticide;
> hence I am engaged in activities required to accomplish that goal.
I hope, as stated above that the activities you are engaged in will
place your studies within the parameters required by the ABC agencies
for registration.
> environmental health were my primary concerns when I elected to work
> with Food Grade mineral oil. As always, I shall post to the list the
> results of my endeavors on this issue as they occur.
If you are not taking your FGMO research to what I think ought to be the
next level (jumping through the hoops required for registration)... I
don't want to hear about it. If you are, then not only do I look
forward to reading of your endeavors, but am willing to (potentially)
sacrifice some colonies to participate in field studies at such time as
they are needed and within an established protocol. I would not be
interested in sacrificing any hives to the altar of testimonials and
anecdotal data. Hell, I might as well faith-heal our colonies of the
mites as that very religious guy suggested :^).
> Perhaps this post will cause the "flames" to rise high, however,
> I felt that those of you who support my work deserve to know that my
> work continues and that I will not let you down.
No flames to rise high, just some frustrations. I do not understand
your seeming reluctance to study FGMO within established protocol with
an eye to getting ABC registration so that it can be used legally and
with hard data on how effective it will be at which times of the year.
Kathy
(who's willing to help if you decide to step up to the plate)
> To all of you, thanks for your letters of support.
> Best regards
> Dr. Rodriguez
> Virginia Beach, VA
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