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Your Health Depends on Pollinators

3. Pesticides

Globally: Decline of pollinators

- Loss of habitat - Disease - Parasites - Invasive species - Climate change - Pesticide misuse

Documenting decline is difficult

• Honey bees CCD, parasites, diseases, pesticide dust, and other

problems –in US, Canada and Europe

• 4 Bumble bee species in severe decline

– B. franklini, B. occidentalis, B. terricola, B. affinis

• Monarch migration in jeopardy

• Fruit bat declines

What is the pesticide problem?

• Exposure points – direct and indirect – DRIFT – Systemic pesticide residues – Herbicide applications on forage – Pollen, nectar, dust, guttation

• Exposure problems not currently examined at registration – Sub-lethal effects – Non-adult – Non-Apis insects/animals – Chronic exposure – Combinations – Possible persistence

• Label confusion – Difficult to read – Symbols vs. languages – Inconsistent location of information – Trigger words don’t communicate

• Professionals vs. Homeowner • Disposal

Pesticides can impact pollinators in multiple ways

• 1881 – paris green

• 1889 – 1896 – arsenical pesticides

• 1920 – calcium arsenate dust/airplane application

• 1946 – DDT • 1950’s – carbaryl

• 1975 – micro-encapsulation

• 1986 – Varroa destructor

• 2006 – CCD – many contributing factors

History of Bee Kills/Die Offs

• Science • Emotion and Empathy • Economics

Policy decision drivers

Protection + Productivity = BALANCE SCIENCE

Pollinator Partnership’s View

Dealing with Neonicotinoids. Is there a way to use and reduce impact?

• Acetamiprid • Clothianidin • Imidacloprid • Nitenpyram • Nithiazine • Thiacloprid • Thiamethoxam

Can some be treated differently? Nitroguanidines?

• Acetamiprid • Clothianidin • Dinotefuron • Imidacloprid • Nitenpyram • Nithiazine • Thiacloprid • Thiamethoxam

Multiple groups need to engage to reduce impact

• Regulatory Agencies • Registrants/Manufacturers • Certified Applicators/Farmers • Homeowners/Consumers

4. A Collaborative Approach

Case Study: Corn Dust Research Consortium

• Focused analysis

• Leads to best-practices and change • Collaborative, inclusive problem-solving • Unique response to the problem

CDRC

OPERA

Previous treated corn incidents

2008 Germany – incidents in flowers adjacent to fields during maize sowing – issue was the coating

2012 Ontario - 38 beekeepers reported incidents during April and May (coincident with corn planting)

The US issue in the is the planting not the plant

US and Canadian corn planting background

• Most planting throughout the Midwest occurs in late April – early May

• Fields must be dry to be planted • Treated seeds are sticky – require talc in planter

to ensure uniform planting

American Beekeeping Federation American Seed Trade Association American Honey Producers Association Association of Equipment Manufacturers Bayer CropScience Canadian Honey Council Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association National Corn Growers Association Pollinator Partnership Syngenta University of Maryland PLUS protocol review from USDA ARS, Canadian PMRA, EPA

Corn Dust Research Consortium CDRC

Focus on 2 Questions

1. What are the foraging circumstances during corn planting for honey bees?

2. How does a substitute lubricant compare to talc and graphite (current practice) during corn planting?

CDC CDRC

Three Institutions

Iowa State University, USA Ohio State University, USA University of Guelph, Canada

CDC CDRC

What CDRC is not:

1. An endorsement of seed treatment, neonicotinoids, or any practice

2. A study involving any pollinator other than honey bees or any other crop than maize

3. A CCD examination 4. An examination of all the routes of exposure 5. An examination of synergistic relationships (i.e.

insecticides and fungicides)

CDRC

• Comprehensive response to a specific problem • Collaborative input and oversight • Addressed quickly – in time to be helpful • Private and NGO funding for major research • Model for future problem solving

CDRC What CDRC is:

Other NAPPC Efforts

Learning from behavior-change science

NAPPC Pesticide Task Force

Certified Applicator Training – Continuing Education

Certified Applicator Training – Continuing Education

Certified Applicator Training – Continuing Education

Certified Applicator Training – Continuing Education

Film - advice from a reliable source

CPBMPA Crop Protection Best Management Practice Analysis

•Maize

•Almonds

•Apples

•Melon

SETAC Pellston supported by EPA – Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Convened in September 2013

PPDC The start of EPA labeling changes

• Differentiating landscapes • Nuanced approach

5. Challenges

1. Reduce the Exposure

• Encourage best practices

• Develop smart formulations

2. Reduce Confusion

• Promote good science

• Lead on clearer labeling • Emphasize training

• Test non-treated solutions

3. Reduce Carbon Footprint

• Export great ideas from other countries

• Demonstrate leadership

• Engage employees and customers as well as governments

4. Increase Habitat

• Support good programs

• Support best practices

• Engage producers in creating habitat

5. Increase Collaboration

• Seek common ground and balance

• Progress over perfection

• Share responsibility

• Support effective programs

• Expect the unexpected

Are we asking the right questions?

• Are we observing the total picture of the field experience?

• Are we assessing the environmental milleau – the total volume of chemical exposure and the interactions of the chemicals?

• Must every seed be treated, every year and re untreated seeds a viable and available option?

1. Reduce Exposure 2. Reduce Confusion 3. Reduce Carbon Footprint 4. Increase Habitat 5. Increase Collaboration

Challenges

www.pollinator.org

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