This year has been a continuation of a challenging time for those of us in the beekeeping field and for all pollinators. Those who attempt to track losses of honeybee colonies (BIP and USDA-NAS) have quantified the honey bee losses that beekeepers know and see on a day-to-day basis. Losses, including managed and unmanaged pollinators, continue at unacceptable levels. Nature is telling us that a change is needed!
How did we get to this point you might ask? Common sense tells us that the simplest answer is probably where we need to start, and the simplest answer is that increased toxicity of pesticidal products results in decreased fitness and death for all pollinators. Entirely new products and new product delivery systems are constantly being developed and marketed as safer and more effective, and as alternatives to older (patent expired) products. Unfortunately, we often find that these new products to be destructive and dangerous to pollinators. Systemics such as neonicotinoids were first approved and marked for just these reasons, but 20 years of field data and independent scientific experiments have told us a very different story and these results have driven regulators in progressive countries to greatly curtail or completely ban these chemistries.
Genetics is an emerging field as well. Early genetic modifications resulted in chemical-resistant plants, i.e. "Roundup ready" or dicamba-resistant plants, which allow spraying of whole fields with herbicides without damage to the planted crop. Courts have to determine if glyphosate and dicamba are “safe” and judgments are indicating that they are not safe, as illustrated by the experience of beekeeper Richard Coy. This year RNAi products were tested in 8 states on potato fields and as a result of those experimental trials, EPA is considering registering their use for the first time anywhere on the planet. The Pollinator Stewardship Council submitted an official public comment to the EPA and put a voice to the beekeeping industry's concerns about deploying yet another new destructive technology. Unlike chemical products, some of the new genetic/biological products cannot be put back in the box and may cause lasting and profound changes in our environment. This is why it is critical to insist on comprehensive testing on genetic/biological products before they are approved and applied.
The challenges are great for pollinators within agriculture and the greater environment, and the need to restore health is even greater. Good farmers have always understood the enormous and essential contribution that a healthy pollinator base can provide to their crops. In the case of crops such as apples, almonds, cherries, pears, cranberries, blueberries, onions, and many others, it may be recognized by the farmer in the form of direct payments of pollinating fees paid to the beekeeper. Other progressive farmers, ranchers, and landowners just instinctively know, “it's just good having the bees around, they help with the garden, and fruit trees and flowers.” Terms like “organic”, “sustainable”, and “regenerative” are becoming increasingly mainstream.
Ultimately we are all in this together: improving bee health will go hand in hand with improved soil health, and improved human health.
The Pollinator Stewardship Council remains committed to using the best science available to inform and direct agricultural policy toward greater health and productivity. To accomplish this goal will take all of us working together. We have secured matching funds to double your donation this December up to $7,000. Please help us fully utilize this opportunity to improve pollinator health. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Steve Ellis
President Pollinator Stewardship Council
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