I have been following some of this thread and some people
seem to think that beekeeping is a large market for the drug
companies.  It is not and we are lucky to have the ones that
we do have.  Even Terrimicin was developed for another
purpose altogether.  There are however some dedicated
scientist who are also beekeepers trying to develop controls
for pest which affect our bees.  If you don't like these
chemicals don't use them.  I think you will be out of
business quickly
 
As for other chemicals used in agriculture, the problems
arose from misuse rather than use mostly.  When DDT was in
wide use, people said "Its bad don't use It".  The farmers
begged for an alternative but none was forthcoming.  When
Agribusiness became the majority of farming acreage, they
developed the safer chemicals for use on crops.  We now have
chemicals that can be sprayed on crops, do their job and
break down within 12 to 24 hours.
 
I am not a defender of the drug companies but someone is
doing something right.  Life expectancy before drugs and
chemicals in the 1800s was 35 to 40.  The latest figure I
heard in 1997 was 73 for men and 82 for women.
 
Frank & Phronsie Humphrey
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