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ocba - [ocba] NC legislature considering "pollinator protection" bill

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Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers

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  • From: Doug Edmunds <modfathernc AT gmail.com>
  • To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [ocba] NC legislature considering "pollinator protection" bill
  • Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2017 20:30:31 -0400

The evening WUNC news broadcast made mention of a pending piece of legislation in the NC house which is being dubbed the "pollinator protection" act. Its main goal is to limit use of so-called bee-killing pesticides of a certain class,"systemic neonicotinoid insecticides." Definitely something about which we should all be aware.

Here's a shortened link to the actual bill:
http://bit.ly/2n1ATjJ

Here's the long preamble:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
AN ACT TO ENACT THE POLLINATOR PROTECTION ACT OF 2017. 
Whereas, pollination services, including by honey bees and numerous other 
pollinators, are a vital part of agricultural production in North Carolina; and 

Whereas, one-third of food produced in North America depends on pollination by honey bees, including nearly 95 varieties of fruits and other foods of high nutritional value to all of North Carolina's citizens; and 

Whereas, over the past several years, documented incidents of colony collapse disorder and excessive honey bee mortality have been at a record high, with some beekeepers losing large portions of their operations and suffering reduced production of their valuable honey; and 

Whereas, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services named 2015 the Year of the Pollinator in North Carolina; and 

Whereas, the State has undertaken numerous projects to improve pollinator health, including the North Carolina Department of Transportation Wildflower Program to increase pollinator habitats, establish pollinator habitats on Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services research stations, and support bees through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Apiary Program; and 

Whereas, scientists have linked the use of systemic neonicotinoid insecticides to the rapid decline of honey bees and other pollinators and to the deterioration of pollinator health; and 

Whereas, neonicotinoid insecticides are systemic insecticides that are absorbed into treated plants and distributed throughout their vascular systems, which can render a plant, including the roots, leaves, stems, flowers, nectar, pollen, and guttation fluid, toxic to insects; and 

Whereas, neonicotinoid insecticides cause sublethal effects, including impaired foraging and feeding behavior, disorientation, weakened immunity, delayed larval development, and increased susceptibility to viruses, diseases, and parasites; and numerous studies have also demonstrated acute, lethal effects from the application of these toxins; and

Whereas, bumblebees, beneficial insects of all kinds, and whole food chains of aquatic invertebrates, insects, birds, bats, and other pollinators in North Carolina are at risk from environmental contamination by highly persistent neonicotinoids; and

Whereas, scientists have also found that the use of neonicotinoids in seed treatment 34 is harmful to birds; 

Now, therefore, 35 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts..."

Best,
Doug



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