UK government to be over ruled by EU on pesticides

[green thing]

BBC News - Bee deaths: EU to ban neonicotinoid pesticides

Look like the EU has its uses.

[dandalady]

that is really good news.

[veggiechicken]

Its just for 2 years though - but its a good start

[VirginVegGrower]

Thank goodness.

[alldigging]

Now we need some better weather.

[elizajay]

Good on Europe for getting it through, but BAD on UK for voting against it despite all the lobbying.

[chris]

Some of those comments on the news article are shocking .

Still, at least we've 2 years - perhaps more people will take up bee keeping - due to the exposure. I'd love to, if I had the space!

[Vince G]

These chemicals are bad, but does anyone know what farmers will use instead, and whether the replacements will be worse. Will they simply go back to what they were using before? Do we have any farmers on here who can comment? Genuine question as I don't know enough about the subject, but am concerned about the drop in bee numbers.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Some of those comments on the news article are shocking .

Still, at least we've 2 years - perhaps more people will take up bee keeping - due to the exposure. I'd love to, if I had the space!

I would too Chris but unfortunately I am allergic to bee stings and each sting is cumulatively worse than the last one .

[bearded bloke]

These chemicals are bad, but does anyone know what farmers will use instead, and whether the replacements will be worse. Will they simply go back to what they were using before? Do we have any farmers on here who can comment? Genuine question as I don't know enough about the subject, but am concerned about the drop in bee numbers.

The latest press release from The British Bee Keepers Association ..........

29 April 2013
Further statement re EU vote on neonicotinoids
Following today’s EU vote whereby a two year ban is to be imposed on the use of the
neonicotinoid group of pesticides, the BBKA continues to have serious concerns about the
consequences of the ban and awaits with interest sight of the details relating to the
imposition of the ban and the UK Government’s response.
The BBKA reiterates its call to the Government to get on and carry out the necessary
research to establish the true effect of neonicotinoid pesticides. The requirement for an
impact assessment of the alternative agents that farmers will now be obliged to use is even
more urgent. It is absolutely vital that a full evaluation of the older products now likely to
be employed in crop protection and their stewardship is undertaken in an attempt to
minimise damage to bee populations

... shares your concerns Vince


BBKA press releases can be found here ..... Press Releases and Statements - British Beekeepers Association (BBKA)

[ugley_matt]

Is there any hard evidence that this chemical is what is the cause of the drop in bee population? Or is it a suspect?

[planetologist]

These chemicals are bad, but does anyone know what farmers will use instead

Polycultures, crop rotation, volunteer labour from CSA co-owners, kvik up, ...

Will they simply go back to what they were using before?

How long before? This so called "conventional" farming is completely misnamed. For ~13,000 years, we've been farming without human-made chemicals, and for about 70 years with, and the Soil Association was basically started before it became widespread, because it was so apparent that it was a lousy idea.

[Glutton4...]

These chemicals are bad, but does anyone know what farmers will use instead, and whether the replacements will be worse. Will they simply go back to what they were using before? Do we have any farmers on here who can comment? Genuine question as I don't know enough about the subject, but am concerned about the drop in bee numbers.

This was being discussed on the radio, yesterday. The chap was saying that the farmers will just go back to what they were using previously, and that they were just as harmful to Bees...

A hollow victory, really.

[Madasafish]

Is there any hard evidence that this chemical is what is the cause of the drop in bee population? Or is it a suspect?

The major causes of bee losses are:

1. varroa mite: introduced in UK around 1993. Most untreated colonies weaken and dies from viruses introduced through mites sucking bee blood (like malaria). As a result most wild bee colonies have died out and many old style beekeepers gave up.. Beekeeping went from a "leave and collect honey " style to a managed one.
2. Monoculture, farming deserts and loss of habitat : see hedgerows and wooden decking in gardens and draining land to build houses.
3. Climate variability . See 2012 which was bad for bees and the following winter which was even worse.

Neonicotinoids do kill bees if improperly applied. Apart from the environmental fascists , most UK beekeepers on Oil Seed Rape - which is treated with insecticide - see zero or minimal effect. Hence the BBKA not being keen on a ban.

[bearded bloke]

Yep ^^, did you see the BBC documentary Who Killed The Honey Bee? last November ? if not or you want a memory jog .............

From that I ask myself other than the lack of Varroa Mite what else do they do differently in Australia,are Neonicotinoids already banned there ?