Bee Informed Partnership: A Beekeeper’s Perspective
In this segment of The Neonicotinoid View, host June Stoyer and Colorado beekeeper, Tom Theobald talk to commercial beekeeper, Jim Doan about the new Bee Informed Partnership survey. Jim as some of you may recall, is a New York commercial, migratory beekeeper who at one point managed about 5300 hives.
The first time Jim was on The Neonicotinoid View was exactly 4 years ago when his operation, which was one of the first known beekeeping operations, succumbed to the exposure of neonicotinoids. To listen to the segment, please click the video below.
“The Neonicotinoid View”, which is produced by The Organic View Radio Show is unique, weekly program that explores the impact of neonicotinoids on the environment. Tune in each week as host, June Stoyer and Colorado beekeeper, Tom Theobald, explore the latest research and news from the beekeeping community.
Listen To The First Interview About Jim Doan!
Casualties of the Neonicotinoid War: NYS Commercial Beekeeper Loses Biz To Neonicotinoid Exposure
There has been a huge debate over the impact of Neonicotinoids, which are a class of systemic pesticides with a common mode of action that affects the central nervous system of insects, causing paralysis and death. Neonicotinoids are often applied as seed treatments which means coating the seeds before planting. They also generate billions of dollars for the agro-chemical companies that manufacture these chemicals and are available not only for agricultural applications but also can be found in a myriad of garden products available all over the world.
As the peer-reviewed, independent scientific evidence mounts from reputable scientists around the world that these chemicals are the cause of global honey bee decline, the industry still claims that they are not to blame. In fact, industry is now shifting the blame on the beekeepers insinuating that beekeepers who have been managing hives for generations are at fault.
The industry argues that without these systemic pesticides, agriculture will suffer, resulting in crop failure. Perhaps what should be considered is the number of commercial beekeeping operations that have been operating for generations which will be forced to close due to exposure from Neonicotinoid pesticides.
In this special series called “The Neonicotinoid View”, host, June Stoyer and special guest co-host, Tom Theobald will be joined by New York State commercial beekeeper, Jim Doan to discuss his recent decision to sell his farm after losing his bees to Neonicotinoid exposure. At one point during his tenure, Jim grew his business to manage up to 5300 hives and just a few short years later was reduced to nothing due to a never-ending war against Neonicotinoid exposure. If you would like to hear Jim’s heart-breaking story, play the video below.
Tom hit the nail on the head with his remarks on the PhDs. They read and believe most of what they read that comes from a few accedemics that would be lost if they had to come out to the field and work bees themselves.
At my classes I teach beekeepers to learn from their bees and forget the bee forums. I have never seen a bee read a book or do what the books say they should do on a regular basis.
Commercial beekeepers are on the high end of problem makers when they continue dumping chemicals into their hives. But you can’t fix stupid and they will continue doing the same things until they run themselves out of business.
When honey bee researchers work for chemical companies ( they will never admit this) the results are meant to delay or stop anyone from finding out just how much damage is being done to an industry so the chemical giants can stay in business. In the last decade the chemical companies have thrown millions of dollars to honey bee research to make themselves look good and not to really solve the problem.
I loose less than 5% of my bees each year due to all kinds of problems but not to varroa mites or diseases. Some get robbed out or starve during a dearth if they were not strong but it is hard to inspect every hive when they need it.
I say let the bees be bees and they will out live us all. As a minister I teach that God is in control of what He created. All mankind does is make things worse and worse the more educated we become.
Thanks Tom for pointing the finger of righteousness at the ones that are really responsible for much of the problems our honey bees face year after year.