Posted on 06/21/2014 4:07:51 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
President Obama on Friday announced plans to save endangered honey bees and other pollinators, for the first time ordering a probe into new types of pesticides that some local governments and 15 European Union nations have restricted or banned.
The long-awaited plan creates a “Pollinator Health Task Force” that has 180 days to come up with a plan to save bees, butterflies and other pollinators. The goal is to rid fields of harmful pesticides while planting food for the bugs, even on military bases an along railroad tracks. Virtually every Cabinet department will be included on the task force.
A key victory for the honey bee industry is Obama’s mention of “neonicotinoids,” a new type of pesticide product that many blame for the shocking loss of bees in the epidemic called “colony collapse disorder.”
In the six-page presidential memo, the White House singled out what it wants the Environmental Protection Agency to do:
“The Environmental Protection Agency shall assess the effect of pesticides, including neonicotinoids, on bee and other pollinator health and take action, as appropriate, to protect pollinators; engage state and tribal environmental, agricultural, and wildlife agencies in the development of state and tribal pollinator protection plans; encourage the incorporation of pollinator protection and habitat planting activities into green infrastructure and Superfund projects; and expedite review of registration applications for new products targeting pests harmful to pollinators.”
Some members of the EU voted last year to restrict the use of pesticides that include neuroactive neonicotinoid chemicals. Three are in use: clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiametoxam.
Pollinators, mostly bees, are responsible for much of what grows on farms.
In a related move, the Agriculture Department said it would spend $8 million to establish new habitats for honey bees in Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
"American agricultural production relies on having a healthy honey bee population," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "In recent years, factors such as diseases, parasites, pesticides or habitat loss have contributed to a significant decline in the honey bee population. This $8 million is part of the administration's ongoing strategy to reverse these trends and establish more plant habitat on Conservation Reserve Program lands to restore the bee population."
They are targeting the wrong pesticides. The GMO built ins are the problem, not the spray ons.
I hear ya.
Could well be.
Strange, about the regulations. Maybe he was referring to state regs? Here, a lot of people keep bees. The local Co-Op (farm and garden store), has everything you need to keep bees.
Every year I buy two gallons of local honey, dividing it into wide-mouth jars for easier usage. The beekeeper also makes a huckleberry and honey mixture that is beyond delicious. You can find honey from various local producers in every store. There is no regulation problems in northern Idaho.
We can also go into a grocery store and find fresh, raw cow or goat milk, lightly pasteurized and/or homogenized or not...
I have borage, mints and other bee favorites planted in areas bordering my food gardens. I feed the bees. ;) The wild bumblebees are a riot. They can smack into you, then slowly “bumble” away in a circular, bizarre manner of flight.
Yellow-jackets and hornets get the tennis-racket death if they bypass the traps. Amend that- the hornets get whacked, but seem to still survive a zillion-volts to their ends more than not, unless you hit it hard enough. My husband found an underground yellow-jacket nest that was bigger than a football. Vinegar, “neat”, did it in. The commercial spray only irked the hive.
I think this would be a great idea:
Test all pesticides on politicians first. Dip themin it, roll them in it. Put it in their food and drink. No additive-free ‘baccy either.
If they live afterwards with no apparent side-effects, then commence with human trials.
Cereals don't require bees.
metmom ~ On the surface, I'd almost have to agree.
But considering it's something obama is behind and for, I just can't shake the creeping suspicion that this is going to backfire in a way that we can't even comprehend yet.
EVERYTHING obama does either:
a) Weakens America/AmericansI have yet to have anyone raise a single substantive counter example in several years of posting this.
b) Distances America's allies
c) Strengthens America's enemies
d) Serves Islam
e) Harms Israel
Or some combination of the above.
How do you see this bee task force as fitting that meme?
Eliminate pesticides and roughly one third of all food grown is consumed or damaged by insects.
Food prices for Americans skyrocket, weakening our economy.
Food exports to our friends and allies plummet. Weakening our relations with our allies.
Our allies are forced to trade with our enemies, strengthening their economies and influence.
The “progressives” couldn’t care less how many 3rd worlders starve, any more than they give a wit how many millions of 3rd worlder die year after year after year because if the DDT ban.
Historical footnote:
Do you know why Indonesia is predominantly muslim? Krakatoa. The volcanic ash wiped out agriculture. Muslims brought “charity”, convert to islam and we’ll feed you. Otherwise, starve infidel, starve.
Nobody is suggesting that all pesticides be banned.
Yet.......
It seems to me that we have a honey bee catastrophic population lost about once a decade. It appears rather cyclical to me....
Too bad you can’t buy GMO-ready bees.
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