On Sat, Nov 2, 2013 at 1:56 PM, Peter L Borst wrote: > There is no benefit from smoking, while the benefits of targeted pest > control is clear. > How do you figure the widespread prophylactic use of neonicotinoids is "targeted pest control"? The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has published recently its 2013 evaluation on neonics: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_fact-fiche/bee_mortality-mortalite_abeille-eng.php Of note is that it says that 2012 spring planting bee mortality was NOT a weather related phenomenon. It was repeated in 2013. In its notice of Intent: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/consultations/_noi2013-01/noi2013-01-eng.php I would draw your attention to the following: "For the 2014 planting season, we intend to implement additional protective measures for corn and soybean production, including: - Requiring the use of safer dust-reducing seed flow lubricants; - Requiring adherence to safer seed planting practices; - Requiring new pesticide and seed package labels with enhanced warnings; and, - Requiring updated value information be provided to support the continued need for neonicotinoid treatment on up to 100% of the corn seed and 50% of the soybean seed." It is the last point that relates to "targeted pest control". Widespread use of insecticide sometime unnecessarily, and a persistent insecticide as well that is still affecting subsequent crops is not an environmentally defendable practice, even if it might be economically defendable. I stopped in September at a Pioneer seeds field day at a farm with some different varieties of corn and soybeans. I asked the seed salesmen what would be the situation next year with untreated seed. He said yes, next year it will definitely be available. I said, does it cost about $15 per acre to treat the seed? He said, yes that is approximately correct. I said, will the seed be $15 per acres cheaper untreated? He said, no, the untreated seed will be the same price as the treated. He said, it is a nuisance for the company to have to stock it at all. Where is "targeted pest control"? What happened to Integrated Pest Management? Stan *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html