I think this is the kind of leadership our industry badly needs. Thank you Jerry Bromenshenk! From Kim Flottums newsletter Bayer and Beekeepers Meet to Discuss Pesticides and Honey Bees by Randy Oliver Scientists from Bayer CropScience met with representatives of the national and California beekeeping associations, commercial beekeepers, bee scientists, the Almond Board, and a state agricultural official at South Lake Tahoe during the California State Beekeepers meeting on November 11, 2008. This meeting was the first in a series of workshops intended to provide open and honest discussion of pesticides and to overcome preconceived perceptions by both sides. Key goals for improved interactions included: 1) improving trust through greater transparency from manufacturers regarding products and testing protocols, 2) establishing better communications between all parties, 3) providing improved education to applicators for bee- friendly practices, and 4) addressing regulatory and enforcement systems to ensure adherence to label directions and to establish a nationwide system of reporting, tracking, and correcting misuses. A priority action item was appointment of a Honey Bee Advisory Board (HBAB) by the two national beekeeping associations. The HBAB will work with Bayer on setting priorities, as well as the design of tests that better address beekeeper concerns. Other immediate action items included development of models for a national database for pesticide incident reporting, and ideas for web site posting of bee information, including regular notices to appear in beekeeping trade journals. Bayer also agreed to pull together publications and conduct a briefing concerning clothianidin, imidacloprid, and Movento at the next meeting, which will be in conjunction with the upcoming American Honey Producers Association meeting in Fresno, in January. This first meeting was a result of an invitation from researcher Dr. Jerry Bromenshenk (The University of Montana) to Dr. David Fischer (Chief Scientist, Ecotoxicology, Bayer CropScience) to participate in a stakeholders meeting in conjunction with the California State Beekeepers Convention. ******************************************************* * Search the BEE-L archives at: * * http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?S1=bee-l * *******************************************************