I personally have not had big issues with neonic seed treated soybeans as clover blooms the same time and from my observations the bees *in my area * prefer clover.
I have had plenty of soybean honey over the years but not worth going.into row crop areas in my opinion now.
The bees prefer the purple flower soybeans. Washington is one variety but in my area up to say four varieties are planted in a field.
I am on a first name basis with most the full time farmers in the area.
We had an out of state beekeeper move into the area to produce soybean honey. Did not happen but but always next year right?
I really do not see GMO as a problem for bees.
In the archives i have shared observations of commercial beekeepers from the Mississippi delta which had big problems with soybeans but the bees had only neonic soybeans to work.
I try to avoid areas of corn & beans but encourage my competition to use those areas.
There are still large areas of cattle ranches in my area.
Very slow to let new beekeepers use their property as
Worry about gates.
A gallon of old dark bakery honey will not open the ranch gates.
Abandoned limestone rock quarries are still excellent clover areas.
Bob
***********************************************
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