?Hello All,

Most of  the research money for the bee die off issue (CCD?) was spent to
prove the hypothesis put forth by the majority of U.S. researchers that the
problem was caused by a pathogen. or pathogen/virus.
Research long needed by beekeepers but unfortunately has not provided a
solution to the bees dying nor proved the hypothesis above.

Pressure was put on me to not push the neonics being a problem *until* the
current pathogen/virus hypothesis issue was either proven or dropped by
researchers. Pressure was applied to drop the issue on BEE-L.

We made a compromise. I do no articles and no bee meeting presentations but
not give up posting my opinion and commercial beekeeping information related
to what my fellow beekeepers are seeing concerning the neonics on BEE-L.

A few reading which tried to make me out as some kind of kook on the issue
of the neonics at the last national meeting to higher ups (officers & large
beekeepers) of the national organizations and *found* they were not
interested in ridiculing my neonic position perhaps they now understand why.

I do not see the neonictinoids ever banned in the U.S. but if the public
outcry continues I would expect some label changes concerning the use of the
neonics on food crops.

Which will help solve commercial beekeepers concerns as these are the plants
we pollinate and the bees gather pollen & nectar from.

The neonic bee issue *in my opinion* really is mostly a concern of the
commercial beekeepers doing the pollination and producing honey in areas of
the neonics.

To those on the list working hard to prove the pathogen/virus hypothesis I
will say as a friend you need to come up with some concrete proof soon or
the national groups will nudge you to look at other possible causes for the
current bee die-off. Of this I have been assured by higher ups in both
organizations.

I am only a lifelong keeper of bees and although I have done quite a bit of
unpublished bee research ( some published) only my involvement with many of
the nations largest beekeepers is my only claim to fame.

I am a good listener and when my fellow beekeepers feel now is not the time
to push the neonic hypothesis to everyday hobby & sideline beekeepers at bee
meetings and through articles in bee magazines I bow to their interests.

*Perhaps* this is also why when Randy O. asks large beekeepers their
opinions on the neonics he gets the response he gets from many. *Perhaps*
they are simply giving current research a chance to solve the die off as I
was asked to do.

Tom Theobald apparently did not get the memo?

As a group most beekeepers are surprised by the many environmental groups
coming out against the neonics ( as beekeepers have fought pesticide 
problems
since the start and really have never seen the current level of concern
before) and *now*  the public coming out against the neonics in their food.
Nicotine (although as pointed out originally found in the tobacco plant ) 
has
moved to the front with the winning of the tobacco/ nicotine class action 
suit, front page
news of Obama having not smoked in a year and the banning of smoking in most
places (dangers of second hand smoke) and a huge push to protect kids from 
nicotine use ( including chewing
tobacco).

When my friend James Fisher (two PhD.'s and science whiz) was on the list
Jim pointed out that the level found of the neonics found in fruit would
never cause any immediate health risks (a view I agree with). Jim also said
when honey from China was being refused because of the chloramphenical found
in the honey that the level found would not cause a immediate health risk to 
a
healthy person.(a view I agree with and in the archives).

However the public does not always listen to scientists and researchers
concerning their FOOD.

So I see the push to stop the use of the neonics on food plants to continue
.
Which is basically not the agenda of the national bee organizations. They
are in dialog with Bayer but from my understanding feel Bayer could do more
to address their concerns (other than mostly PR).

I am a businessman and might lease out my hives this year. Spend more time
fishing and my other interests.

When the first discussion of the neonics happened I was forced to provide
the other side of the coin. Now others on the list are quick to provide the
opposite view as to the neonics. Times have changed.

Sincerely,
Bob Harrison

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