on October 8, Max Watkins wrote:
 
     >>Dear Andy,
 
 
 
     >>You were right to state at the end, that your opinions expressed may
     >>not be facts.
 
     Thanks for shooting back, Max. This line of dicussions has been making
     my skin crawl. I work for an agricultural chemical company, and
     although I work with biopesticides, I'm quite familiar with the
     research, testing, and regulatory hurdles that these chemical
     compounds undergo.
 
     As for the "sweet deal" that you discuss, Andy, well, you try and get
     a company to go and produce a chemical, spend millions on testing,
     development, and an estimated $40 (yes, $40) million on registration,
     just so it can have access to an ~5-10 million per year market (help
     me on this one, Max) ! I don't think so. Most chemicals in my company
     are big time sellers, with global markets in excess of $200 million
     dollars. There is no 'deal', and as far as Zoecon's bottom line is
     concerned, I would think profits from Apistan are far from 'sweet'.
     Most in the (chemical) industry are suprised is still being marketed.
 
     As for the folks at the EPA, well, there just responding to  a
     perceived need. If you talk to the researchers at the USDA Bee lab, it
     won't take you long to find out they're trying to get what ever it
     takes approved for use to help the industry, as long as its effective
     and relatively safe. Unfortunately, there are just not enough
     companies interested in supplying the chemistry.
 
     I know Apistan is costly, but there really is no legal alternative as
     yet. I'm not thrilled by the expense, but I use it as well. And until
     some other things are brought to light, we will have to make due. I'm
     hoping for essential oils, myself.
 
     And one last comment: Yes, we are a Zero tolerance soceity. And yes
     there will always be residues in food crops. But deliberate improper
     use of these chemicals can result in residue levels 100's to 1000's
     times greater than you are ever going to find normally in products on
     your supermarket shelf.I believe this is particularly true in
     water-based applications of fluvalinate (i.e. with Mavrick), although
     I don't have any first-hand data (Max?) Personally, when I eat honey,
     I don't want my mouth to tingle !!! 8-o
 
     Just my opinions.
 
     Mike