recently dave green wrote about insecticides and the lack of bees in the
cotton plantings.  he also wrote about the only noticable bees being in a
hive area.
 
i wondered about the losses to the beekeepers from bees out there when the
pesticides were sprayed.  although a hive may look busy, it probably wasn't
as strong as when delivered due to deaths among the flowers.
 
this only emphasizes the need to educate the growers about pesticide use.  i
personally grow organically, so no chemicals do harm to my soil, plants and
beneficial insects, including honeybees.
 
whenever a beekeeper delivers a hive, he should give a list of do's and don'ts
to the grower, and stick a copy in the mailboxes of the surrounding neighbors.
a side benefit to this is that perhaps the neighbors will want to rent hives
also once they know the service is available.  if nothing else, it will
educate them to the harm pesticides really do.
 
not mentioned in dave's message is the damage done by herbicides, which are
used to reduce the weeds, which also flower and support all the pollinators
out there.  losing soil vitality thru chemical application will catch up with
us all in the long run, so a program of education is urgent to stop the
downward spiral.
 
my 2 cents.
john