Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[IanT]

So I am curious about which countries exactly banned the use of neonicotinoids. The ban actually take effect this year, correct? Making this growing season the first where we may see some effects, yes?

[Che Guebuddha]

I cant remember all the countries involved but we will not see any effects just yet because farmers by right could use seeds coated with Neonics until december last year meaning that certain crops will contain Neonics!

The farmers had the right to use up any coated seed stock they had until the end of last year. Since Neonics can remain active in the soil for up to 1200 days we will not see any true results until those days have passed.

My view that is

[flybry]

I think the winter rape will have been sprayed with it so it will be around for a while yet.

Bryan.

[madasafish]

Rape seed is precoated.

[Che Guebuddha]

Winter canola has no coatings in Sweden only the spring canola. Not sure about Denmark though. Its different from country to country.

The farm we own now has a piece of land which one farmer got to use for this season (wheat coated with neonics). The previous owner gave him the permission. I asked him nicely not to spray this year with anything because I will be creating an organic farm. He agreed

But still, I will not be able to call it organic for at least 3 more years

[zaunreiter]

Banned in Germany. The winter rape/canola is coated with Clothianidin. So this year, this growing season the canola still is treated with Clothianidin. I spoke to 14 farmers near my apiaries that grow canola and all of them used seed that was coated with Clothianidin. No one of the farmer knew neither that the seed was treated nor did they know the active ingredient. Only one has "heared of it before but can't remember the name". We went into their sheds and pulled out the bags that contained the seeds to find out if and what it was treated with. It turned out that the farmers did not care. They walk into the next farmer's supply, and buy what is recommended.

Effectively this year is not neonic free at all. And still the leftovers in the bags will be sown for the next season. (Although it is forbidden...) And it stucks in the soil for a long time.

So a two year ban is not enough to see any effects.

Because there is no scientific research done that observes what happens during the ban, the ban alone is worthless anyway.

[zaunreiter]

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pbCGDWed68

May open your eyes why nothing happens.

[fairyanna]

There is no doubt that the beekeepers' associations have entrenched "pro chemical" members who have held sway for some years - one only has to look at the way the BBKA politburo used every arcane tactic going to keep the Bayer/Syngenta funding deal going until they eventually gave that up, and just crawled straight into bed with the CPA (the pesticide industry's propaganda wing). Since that time there have been no resignations, no apologies, just "business as usual" representing the best interests of Big Pestco - witness the recent pronouncements from the BBKA chairman and the odious Lovett....


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Lily lara