I find it interesting that in a serious discussion on this List, when some
are objectively weighing evidence, that others want to pigeonhole them into
having taken a "position."

In actuality, some of us are simply trying to figure out the truth of a
matter of serious concern, and in the process are evaluating every piece of
evidence openly.  It doesn't help for others to try to paint us into a
corner, nor to attempt to bait us.

BTW, when I state that there are few pesticide residues in my area, this is
based upon three main observations:
1.  Actual pesticide analyses performed by USDA of my bees,  several
analyses of Central Valley queen producers, and a few analyses from Marin
County.  In all, the results were non-dectables for most pesticides, and
especially for the neonics.
2.  My checking of mandatory Pesticide Use Reports filed for my county.
3.  My placing of my apiaries in wildlands and organic farms.
If anyone wants to pay for testing, I'd be happy to submit samples : )

Re a recent question about earthworms in cropland using treated seed.  I
was curious about this a few years ago, since some researchers found that
neonics can kill earthworms.  So I asked beekeepers to dig up a shovelful
of soil in repeatedly-treated corn/bean cropland.  There was no comparison
to control soil, but those who reported back to me found plenty of
earthworms.  This does not mean that there was no harmful effect, but only
that earthworm populations appeared to be surviving.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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