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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees, GMO's & politics

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  • From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in Honey Bees, GMO's & politics
  • Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 11:04:41 -0400

Karen

I don't want to dismiss the possibility that what you've posted is true, but it is clearly speculation, not fact. that being said, one insecticide which seems to be commonly referred to as a potential cause of Colony Collapse Disorder is imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid (based on nicotine chemistry). There are several means by which it could be introduced into hives. Systemic activity is limited to special formulations and application methods. The idea that it may be systemic enough to be used as a seed treatment and result in meaningful presence in pollen seems inconsistent with it's efficacy in common practice, however I wouldn't dismiss it altogether. By the way, imidacloprid is marketed in several formulations, including Provado, Admire, Merit and Marathon. There are other chemical analogs, including Platinum. None of these are OMRI certified. I would advise paying lose attention to further developments as research continues on this problem. I don't think it has immediate implications for human safety but it could well be part of the Colony Collapse problem, which has big implications for agriculture. It's unfortunate that we seem to have to learn the hard way so often.

Bill

> > > Following is one of 10 suggested explanations for Colony Collapse > Disorder presented in a Univ. of FLA publication (link below). > > Genetically modified crops: Some people > have proposed that > genetically modified crops may be responsible for the widespread bee > deaths. Interestingly, many seeds from which genetically modified crops > are grown are dipped first in systemic insecticides that later may > appear in the plants' nectar and pollen. This makes genetically > modified plants suspect because of their chemical treatment history, > not just because they are genetically modified. Scientists have begun > initial investigations into both theories but no conclusive data have > been collected. > > http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN720 > > ************************************************** > I never realized that treated seeds could produce plants with the > systemic insecticide in their nectar and pollen.  Does anyone know for > which seed treatments this may be true?  > > That possibility is bad enough, but does anyone know if the systemic > insecticides used on seeds also appear in the portions of the plant > likely to be eaten by people or other beings lower on the food chain > and if they then accumulate?  Do such insecticides readily decompose > when the plant materials are used as mulch or are included in compost?  > What happens to the insecticides (and their effect on living beings) > when they are resident in plants that are burned or converted to > biofuel?   > > Dominica is struggling with framing a national agricultural policy > which both facilitates the goal of becoming an "organic island"  and > which addresses short term economic concerns.  There is considerable > pressure and maneuvering to have the policy admit GMOs as being > necessary for short term survival.  Am hoping the country can find an > alternate means of satisfying valid short term concerns while > maintaining its longer term goals, but the track record of poor island > states against powerful international interests is not a happy one. > > Best wishes to all, > > Karen > > Karen Sutherland > Roots Farm > Organic Produce > Fruits, Roots, Vegetables & Herbs > Cockrane, Dominica > 767-449-3038 > rootsfarm AT marpin.dm > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Market-farming mailing list > Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming > >


William H. Shoemaker
Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

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