Hello All,
I have been trying to see how widespread the problem is. From what I can
find out the problem is happening in areas (as Ron says) in areas of
pesticide use (seed treated corn included or dusted soybeans) or groves
(orange).

Those beekeepers in range areas seem to be getting good bees. Of course it
is very hard to get a picture of so many hives in so many areas especially
in winter in the north.


 >For example, in South Dakota a
beekeeper who had 6,000 hives that were vigorous during clover bloom, found
only 200 hives active and well.

To be honest losing 5800 hives out of an operation does not fit the
pesticide issues we have seen.I am not saying its not so but we also
wondered when CCD first stated a couple beekeepers had lost around 10,000
hives or their complete operation (in a couple weeks?)  Of course if
imidacloprid corn is the only change to the area you can see beekeeper
concern. What is different is the first thing a beekeeper asks himself.

>As acreage that was
previously pasture land has been converted to corn (for ethanol) and soybean
production, there has been a concurrent surge in application of pesticides
administered by planes and helicopters that regularly sweep across the
fields now spraying potent pesticides on corn and soybeans.

This spring I have a few yards I am done with. Going out into range land. To
sum up the farther you are from row crops the better the bees seem to do.
One big problem never talked about and I have brought up when speaking with
my fellow beekeepers in the Dakotas is the fact that when the owner of the
land next to the bee yard decides to convert a 1000 acres of pasture with
clover into corn or soybeans your best bee location might change to be your
most problematic bee yard. ( personal experience). At first (like when told
you have cancer and might die) you are in denial but then like cancer (or
another serious disease) you start making a plan of action.

One of my yards is hard to get into but was always one of my best yards.
Supers always pilled high with good bees. The last three years has been
problems. My helper started saying "lets move the bees" three years ago.
. Because was not my idea I immediately rejected the idea and fondly
remembered the huge crops I have harvested at the spot over the years! This
fall I agreed to give up the location and told my helper I should have
agreed to move the bees when he first suggested it.

>Similar problems exist for the
application of toxic pesticides on the extensive citrus groves in Florida.

This has been going on for awhile. The problem is hard to define as some
beekeepers (mostly small) are not seeing problems but those putting hives in
areas of intense maintenance are. Many groves still exist in Florida which
are owned by out of state people and get zero treatment of any kind. No
chemical treatments. Those beekeepers which are taking the time to search
these groves out are producing orange honey with no bee loss.

I am not sure what the program on pesticide & fungicide problems will be
like at the ABF & AHPA conventions but a word to the presenters would be to
not say.

"Problems can not be caused by pesticides & fungicides because we are not
seeing the proof to support the hypothesis. "

If the presenters say the above expect beekeepers to say "We want scientific
proof fungicides & pesticides used today are not effecting our bees in any
way."

The truth is the science will not confirm for sure that today's pesticides
& fungicides by their selves or in combination are the source of reported 
bee
problems in certain areas or exonerate the pesticides & fungicides.

Unless the presenters come up with some new research either way I suspect
beekeepers will vent at the presenters. I most likely will be out in the
halls talking with beekeepers about other issues to avoid the incident.

bob

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