The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on July 1 that it has suspended data collection for its Honey Bee Colonies census survey due to budgetary reasons, just weeks after researchers reported that nearly 40% of managed honey bee colonies in the country were lost over the past winter — a 7% increase and the worst winter mortality rate on record. www.nass.usda.gov/...An international survey released in June reported that the number of honey bee colonies fell by 16 percent in the winter of 2017-18 across 38 countries. www.sciencedaily.com/...
"The decision to suspend (quarterly) data collection was not made lightly but was necessary given available fiscal and program resources," a July 1 statement from the USDA read. www.nass.usda.gov/… The announcement indicates that the annual reporting will not be affected. We’ll have to wait and see about that claim.
Tax cuts have consequences and after golf, undoing Obama era programs like this is Trump’s favorite sport.
Alarming honey bee colony losses garnered increased scientific and public policy attention in 2006 as commercial beekeepers began reporting sharp declines in their honey bee colonies. Losses are often attributed to bee pests, parasites (Varroa and tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi)), and disease but in the last 12 years there is a growing perception that bee health has been declining at a faster rate both in the United States and globally. Because of the severity and unusual circumstances of these bee colony declines, scientists named this phenomenon colony collapse disorder (CCD) and began to search for causes. Since then, honey bee colonies have continued to dwindle each year.
The reasons for honey bee decline are uncertain but increased use of certain pesticides — particularly neonicotinoids that may play a significant role in weakening bees and making colonies more susceptible to parasitic mites and diseases.
A 2017 study reported in the journal Science science.sciencemag.org/... found that 34 percent of honey samples were contaminated with "concentrations of neonicotinoids that are known to be detrimental" to bees, and warned that chronic exposure is a threat to bee survival.
This week the stable genius and his minions at EPA will roll back Obama era restrictions and approve the expanded use of a pesticide that is known to harm bees and other pollinators.
The insecticide, called
sulfoxaflor, will be allowed for use on some crops for the first time and in areas that were prohibited under the Obama administration. An
EPA report this week notes that some forms of the pesticide can be "very highly toxic" to bees. Crops that may now be treated include millions of acres of citrus, cotton, alfalfa, corn and other grains as well as cocoa and pineapple.
As reported by CNN, EPA official Alexandra Dapolito Dunn said Friday on a briefing call that the pesticide is the only product that can protect crops to prevent economic losses with a limited environmental impact and "strong protection for pollinators." (maybe farmers will post signs warning the bees to just avoid treated areas).
Like all the previous months, July has been a busy time for Trump as he continues his reelection campaign amidst the skyrockets and flag draped technicolor gas lit orgies of spin — delivering whatever the opposite of the ‘Midas Touch’ is called. In that chaos these policy changes are easy to overlook. They have alarming potential consequences.
There was a time when we worried about the threat of ‘killer bees’ migrating to the US from the south. Now we should worry about whether there will be any bees at all.
I would like to describe this new one two punch policy (don’t count what you kill) as ‘outrageous’ and ‘despicable’ or disgraceful and cravenly ignorant, but those words are a pale and inadequate description of the injustice and short sighted willful disregard for science that pervades the policies of this regime.
Lets just call it Sad and Stupid
Too bad Melania isn’t in charge of US Agriculture policy. In her most inept and meandering vacancy, she could deliver a Bee Best program better than this.