Hi All Recently returned from Ontario Beekeepers AGM in Niagara Falls. As expected, much of the interest was in bee kills with emphasis on neonic pesticides. Reporters from 'Ontario Farmer' and 'CBC' were in attendance as were representatives of 'Health Canada's PMRA' . Several speakers mentioned half life of the pesticides which seemed to range from 300 to 1200 days depending on the pesticide and soil type. One speaker from Saskatchewan reported an example of one of their test fields where a one time application of clothianidin decayed only 20% in 4 years, that I calculate to be half life of 3650 days. While 'PMRA' are unlikely to ban these pesticides in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba in time for the 2014 planting season, some farmers, including one of my cousins, have ordered untreated corn seeds to be planted next spring. Hopefully, researchers will approach these farmers to test soils and surface water for residues before spring planting and at 2014 season end. These data will, hopefully, help farmers, beekeepers, researchers and even bureaucrats understand what is going on. Bob Darrell Caledon Ontario Canada 44N80W *********************************************** 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