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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Zucchini problem

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  • From: Richard Stewart <rstewart AT zoomtown.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Zucchini problem
  • Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2010 01:31:29 -0400

Its not being talked about much but there is a rather large native pollinator
issue as well, especially bumblebees.

There is a lot of discussion concerning fungicides and their possible effects
on the both the enzymes in bees stomach as well as the micro and macro immune
systems of the honey bee.

I think its safe to say that if you are using insecticides, even exactly as
per label directions you are doing direct harm to ANY pollinators. Simply
spraying at night or early evening is not enough.

I'll also add that Bees forage in full sunlight, AM or PM and heat is not an
issue. It can be 101 out and they are bringing in nectar and pollen. If it
gets too warm they may be foraging water to cool the hive if its getting to
hot, but to say the bees are not in the blossoms at all would more of an
exception and not the rule and while a single individual may be experiencing
it I would not consider it a rule.

This is a little snippet regarding what is going on in California regarding
Imidacloprid from one o f my beekeeping lists:

"From Eric Mussen's (UC Davis Department of Entomology) Newsletter

Neonicotinoids Under Review This spring the California Department of
Pesticide Regulation (DPR) decided to request more information on the effects
of the uses of the nitroguanidine class of neonicotinoids. Specifically,
they wish to see information on imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, and
dinotefuran. As you may know, imidacloprid is marketed by a very large
number of companies. Since the original patent belonged to Bayer CropScience,
their company will be presenting data to cover the other distributors. This
review will cover 282 different pesticide products registered to 50 different
registrants. The decision to request this review was based on an "adverse
effects disclosure" pertaining to imidacloprid. There were twelve residue
and two combination residue, honey and bumble bee studies of imidaclo-
prid use on a number of ornamental plants. The two triggering items were
"high levels of imidacloprid in leaves and blossoms of treated plants, and
increases in residue levels over time." The bits of data that were coming in
demonstrated that residues of imidacloprid in the blossoms of treated trees
could exceed, in one case by twenty times, the LC 50 for a honey bee, which
is estimated to be ? 185 ppb. An LC 50 is the lethal concen-
tration that would be expected to kill 50 of 100 bees consuming that dose.
The major concern relates to pollinator exposure, so the following uses were
exempt from this examination: 1. gel or impregnated strips 2. termiticides
3. rodent flea control products (field) 4. pet spot applications 5. ant and
cockroach baits 6. premise pest control 7. manufacturing use products. DPR
hopes to obtain residue analyses on nectars and pollens of treated
agricultural crops that require pollination. DPR also is going to require
results from studies designed to determine the consequences of having
residues in the diets of various stages of honey bee development. US EPA
also has a review docket for imidacloprid under way. In an attempt to better
ensure a "level playing field" for the neonicotinoid class as a whole, EPA
will be looking at the rest of the neonicotinoids in fiscal year 2012. "

There are also some new studies out there regarding fungicides and their
impact on both the bee and the beehive.

Just some additional info and food for thought.

Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, Ohio

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855

(513) 967-1106
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com
rstewart AT zoomtown.com




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