Dear Beekeepers:
 
    If you are in northern fruit growing areas, you are approaching a time of
year when your bees are vulnerable to pesticide misuse, and you should be
alert.  You may be able to prevent damage before it occurs.  If you have been
hit by pesticide losses before, you already know that someone in your area is
not complying with bee-protection directions.
 
   Most farmers are careful and consciencious, but there are always a few
hardheads who don't care.  Even good fruit growers, once pollination is
accomplished, tend to put you out of mind until they need you again.
 
   What I refer to is growers who jump the gun on petal fall sprays.
I know one beekeeper who lost a couple hundred hives and spent the whole
summer salvaging the rest, when he was Penncapped during apple bloom. It was
a clearcut violation, but he did nothing.  He just went out of business.
 
    I have little respect for beekeepers who constantly whine about pesticide
losses, but only run away with their tail between their legs and nurse their
wounds. They don't find out what the law says (there is very good legal protec
tion for the bee -as she forages- in the form of label directions), nor do
they make the violators accountable.
 
   After the damage is done, you probably won't get much help from the
pesticide enforcement people; in many areas they aren't trained and competent
to do bee-kill investigations (another problem that needs to be addressed).
 You need to take a more preventive approach.
 
   Start with your fruit extension agent.  Many old extension spray
recommendations indicate petal fall sprays at 75% drop.  This is a
recommendation of misuse, as bees will still be visiting.  The definition of
petal fall, in terms of label compliance, is when bees stop visiting.  Your
agent may be unknowingly repeating the old directions.
 
    Next visit farmers.  Work with those who will work with you.  It is their
responsibility to follow label directions.  They cannot tell you to protect
the bees; if they follow directions, the bees will be protected.
Demanding that you move or cover bees in a device to try to make you
responsible, while circumventing their own responsibility to obey the label.
If they refuse, they are declaring their intent not to follow the directions,
and *wilful* misuse is a criminal, not a civil complaint.
 
   I have a flow chart on complying with bee protection directions, that you
can give to farmers.  I'll send one to anyone who sends an SASE.
 
   If you have a hardhead that cusses you out and refuses to obey the label,
get a camcorder and record any applications while the fruit is still in
bloom.  Be sure to show the bees working on the fruit blossoms at the time of
application.
 
   Next it is needed to find out if it was an insecticide being applied, and
you probably won't get anywhere with the hardhead.  Report it to your
pesticide enforcement officer as a *suspected* violation.  If it is only a
fungicide, it is not a violation, nor a problem for you. Your enforcement
officer can establish that, as he has labs available to see if the truth is
being told.  If you have a bee kill, you have additional evidence.
 
   A bee kill alone will probably lead the investigator to drop the case,
saying there is not enough evidence (competence?).  But with a camcorder
there will be solid evidence of violation.
 
   Better yet, if it is known that there is a neighborhood watch on, there is
much less likelihood of criminal behavior.
 
   Growers will need the bees again next year.
 
[log in to unmask]                         Dave Green
Eastern Pollinator Newsletter
PO Box 1215, Hemingway, SC  29554