Hi All

Recently returned from Ontario Beekeepers AGM in Niagara Falls.  As  
expected, much of the interest was in bee kills with emphasis on  
neonic pesticides.  Reporters from 'Ontario Farmer' and 'CBC' were in  
attendance as were representatives of 'Health Canada's PMRA' .   
Several speakers mentioned half life of the pesticides which seemed  
to range from 300 to 1200 days depending on the pesticide and soil  
type.  One speaker from Saskatchewan reported an example of one of  
their test fields where a one time application of clothianidin  
decayed only 20% in 4 years, that I calculate to be half life of 3650  
days.

While 'PMRA' are unlikely to ban these pesticides in Ontario, Quebec  
and Manitoba in time for the 2014 planting season, some farmers,  
including one of my cousins, have ordered untreated corn seeds to be  
planted next spring.  Hopefully, researchers will approach these  
farmers to test soils and surface water for residues before spring  
planting and at 2014 season end. These data will, hopefully, help  
farmers, beekeepers, researchers and even bureaucrats understand what  
is going on.

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W

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