Hello Rob, Andrea & All,
Thanks for at least being open minded enough to look at what could be a
developing issue for our bees in row crop areas. As the study Andrea posted
shows atrazine migrates with rain and ends up in surface water. Most ponds
in row crop areas are at the end of areas which catch the run off from
fields. Many of these farm ponds have high levels of atrazine (and other
herbicides & pesticides). My point being these ponds are in most cases the
water sources for most hives.

As I reduce hive numbers I upset many farmers by dropping yards I have used
for decades. I simply say I do not run enough bees now to need the yard but
the truth is the farmers love affair with herbicides and pesticides has
played a bigger roll in my decision.

I remember when "no-till' was first experimented with many years ago and the
reason many felt "no-till" was needed so hill sides could be farmed in
Illinois. Today chemical "no- till" is done so a farmer can plant thousands
of acres. The chemical giants have made billions and many small time farmers
are unemployed and the herbicides are ending up in ponds. rivers, streams,
lakes and water supplies. Media rarely reports on the water we drink.


>
> A quick google of "atrazine honeybees" brought up no scientific studies.

Mainly because the issue with bees in most cases would be sub -lethal which
is hard to study.

My concern about tagging it as a cause of CCD is there are
> many areas where atrazine is not used to any significant level in this
> country.

I don't think we are tagging atrazine as a cause for CCD but rather a 
possible problem for bee health.

 The concept of CCD being new ( 2006 to date) would indicate to me a
look at the rising amounts of herbicides being used in the U.S. ( fuelled by
the price of corn and beans) as a possible cause of bee problems a place to
start looking as *in my opinion* nothing *new* has been found. Bee virus
vectored by varroa and nosema ceranae are not new to the worlds beekeepers.

New CRP ground is being turned daily now in the Midwest to become fields for
corn & soybeans. Burning off fields with herbicides is the most common
methods.

bob 

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