Dear AgWeb,
I just read more about the demise of our precious bees so important to food crops nationwide, possibly due to "increases in corn planting for ethanol production, and increased use of Gaucho."
Here is an article from Whitley Strieber's Unknown Country Newsletter at www.unknowncountry.com.
"Bees in Deeper Trouble Than Ever"
According to a survey released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 36.1 percent of the nation's commercially managed hives have been lost since last year. This is up from the previous year’s hive loss of about 32 percent, as reported by the Apiary Inspectors of America. Such hive losses are thought to be due to parasites like the varroa mite, pesticide drift, and Colony Collapse Disorder, which accounts for 29 percent of the deaths reported last year.
Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, is a mysterious disease that causes bees to abandon their hives. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, along with companies such as Haagen-Daazs who depend on honey bees to pollinate fruits and nuts for their ice-cream, is now funding research at the University of Pennsylvania to try to understand CCD and find new methods of sustainable pollination. Dennis vanEngelsdorp, a bee expert with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, worries that CCD is as unpredictable as it is dangerous. "For two years in a row, we've sustained a substantial loss. That's an astonishing number. Imagine if one out of every three cows, or one out of every three chickens, were dying. That would raise a lot of alarm."
French studies have raised concerns that the pesticide Gaucho, heavily used on corn, may cause bees to become disoriented and be responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder. The spread of the problem in the United States parallels the massive increases in corn planting for ethanol production, and increased use of Gaucho.
Sincerely,
Anne Connolly
Tell AgWeb what is on your mind! E-mail comments to editors@agweb.com. Comments will be edited for brevity, clarity and civility.
Monday, December 29, 2008 9:42 PM by: Anonymous
”Unlike MTBE, little is known about the impacts of ethanol releases into groundwater or the environment. However, because ethanol is the primary ingredient of beverage alcohol, which is classified by the California Proposition 65 Committee and other cancer experts as a human carcinogen, many are concerned about the possibility that ethanol may pose a cancer risk. Additionally, independent researchers have determined that ethanol in groundwater can extend plumes of other more potent gasoline carcinogens (benzene, toluene, etc.) up to 25%. In addition, ethanol is less effective than MTBE at fighting air pollution, and due to transportation and supply problems, will likely increase gasoline prices.”
Stella Sez, Hemmings Motor News, July 2000
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/capp/july.html
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:38 PM by: Alison Chalmers, Bayer CropScience
Government and academic researchers agree that the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is not yet known. However the direction of current scientific investigation is turning increasingly toward a combination of parasitic mites and honey bee pathogens. Researchers have investigated the exposure of bees to agricultural pesticides and have found no correlation with CCD. A robust agricultural system depends on both pollinators and crop protection products to help feed a growing population. While it is important to explore any possible causes of CCD, there is no scientific evidence linking pesticides in general, or Gaucho in particular to CCD, and focussing on these does a disservice to all involved in finding the real reason for this serious bee malady.
Monday, May 19, 2008 4:53 PM by: Anonymous
Holy Cow! Yet another "shot" at ethanol. I do realize how important the bee is to so many of us, and yet..we have to blame cell phones, radio signals, digital TV, and now a new one...a seed treatment buried with and on my seedcorn and gone before the bees figure out they need to look for some more "flower-power"....me thinks some of these reports are generated by folk "smokin the flowers"
Saturday, May 17, 2008 6:48 PM by: Anonymous
kill the bees and we kill ourselves - low pollination, less food, less profit, dismal outlook
Thursday, May 15, 2008 7:30 AM by: Anonymous
I'd like to see how the research behind this. How does the bee get exposed to the Gaucho. I'm a farmer put to be totally honest if something we are using is killing the bees we should stop using it immediately.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 8:05 PM by: Anonymous
The people behind Gaucho are the problem, not Gaucho.
Saturday, May 10, 2008 11:26 AM by: Anonymous
Seems to me that gaucho is the greatest seed treatment in the world. It will last till pollination. Yet another ploy against ethanol. The media sways people not familiar with agriculture that ethanol raises food prices. The research that I have seen blames OIL. Corn has affected food by 1-3 percent and oil has double digit effects. Maybe when gas is $6-7.00/ gallon this summer people will wake up.
Saturday, May 10, 2008 2:57 AM by: River barge worker
How funny that this website is registered from someone in OIL RICH TEXAS!
Registrant:
Unknowncountry, Inc.
PMB 122
6338 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, TX 78209
US
Domain name: UNKNOWNCOUNTRY.COM
Administrative Contact:
Harlow, Al unknowncountry@unknowncountry.com
PMB 122
6338 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, TX 78209
US
210-568-9541
Technical Contact:
Harlow, Al unknowncountry@unknowncountry.com
PMB 122
6338 N New Braunfels
San Antonio, TX 78209
US
210-568-9541
Registration Service Provider:
Korax Inc., support@korax.net
http://www.korax.net
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Friday, May 09, 2008 10:59 PM by: Anonymous
What next? Sounds like more crackpot science.
Friday, May 09, 2008 7:39 PM by: Anonymous
They must be gopher bees gaucho is a seed treatment
Friday, May 09, 2008 11:54 AM by: Charlie Peters
Is corn sweetner fed to bees?
Friday, May 09, 2008 11:31 AM by: Anonymous
Gaucho is the problem ,not ethanol if the report is corre ct
