Paul, The pictures are impressive, but I am not completely reassured that there is not a reduction in pollinator diversity (not to mention other biodiversity) in monoculture environments, by some pictures of a couple of species of migratory butterflies on the edges of vast fields of corn and soy beans. I wouldn't be so ready to assume that because other life has been discovered on a planet where previously only corn and soy beans were thought to exist, that this is an example of a perfectly healthy and diverse section of the biosphere. Of course if you look at it strictly through the lense of the benefits of producing huge quantities of corn and soy beans cheaply, then you might see it as an over all healthy environment, but I suggest that a complete and objective view of all the factors involved might result in a less favorable opinion of the current state of corn and soy bean monoculture as it relates to the environment. Books have been written explaining why we should be concerned if not alarmed by a significant reduction in biodiversity on the planet. This probably isn't the place to go into all that, but I would hope that you would at least familiarize yourself with the reasoning that is involved if you haven't already. Steve Noble ****************************************************** * Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm * ******************************************************