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The province releases draft action plan to improve pollinator health
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The Ontario government is seeking public feedback on a draft action plan to improve pollinator health and reduce pollinator losses. The proposed plan will be posted on the Environmental Registry until March 7, 2016. They have also provided a survey that members of the public can complete.
The plan is part of Ontario's Pollinator Health Strategy which was announced in 2014 as a multi-pronged, phased approach designed to address key stressors related to pollinator health.
As a first step, effective July 1, 2015, Ontario introduced new rules that restrict the use of corn and soybean seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides to where there is a demonstrated need. This action plan also addresses habitat and nutrition; diseases, pests and genetics; and climate change. OBA representatives met with OMAFRA officials this morning to review the report and to receive and provide clarification on some of the points and issues raised in the report. Subsequently, OBA will prepare a written response which we will make publicly available within the next few weeks.
OBA appreciates the Ontario government's leadership on this important topic. However, we want to ensure that the strategy reflects the complexity and interconnectedness of these issues and that actions are based on relevant science and an understanding of the systemic forces influencing pollinator health. |
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Canada's auditor general's report criticizes PMRA
The Office of the Auditor General recently conducted an independent examination of PMRA's management of pesticides to determine whether it was managing conditional registrations, re-evaluations, special reviews, and the removal of pesticides from the market to prevent unacceptable risks to the health of Canadians and the environment.
Briefly, the Auditor General found that PMRA:
- Had not made progress in limiting the duration of some conditional registrations.
- Did not promptly cancel the registrations of some pesticides when it determined they posed unacceptable risks. In some cases, the cancellations were delayed "to allow suppliers and users to exhaust their inventories."
- Did not provide the public with complete information on conditional registrations or communicate new information on pesticide risks.
- Made insufficient progress in completing re-evaluations of older pesticides.
- Had not assessed their cumulative health effects when required.
Health Canada has recently announced that conditional registrations of pesticides will no longer be granted, effective June 1, 2016.
OBA will be providing analysis and a response on this in the upcoming OBJ.
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Health Canada provides value assessment of corn and soybean seed treatment
This report is intended to assess the actual or potential contribution of a pesticide to pest management, in this case clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. It's an interesting read; their conclusion, in a nutshell, is that the value of neonics to the corn and soybean industries is 2.9%. They note, however, that this is higher than the AgInfomatics assessment of 1.5% of the Canadian corn industry value and 1.9% of the Canadian soybean industry.
However, as Tibor notes in his comment above, to assess the benefit without the corresponding costs is like the sound of one hand clapping. Did they consider the additional cost of treated seed? But more to the point, is 2.9% (or 1.9%) worth the impact to bees and other pollinators? Worth contaminating water and soil? How does it compare to the losses for the beekeeping industry? What do you think?
Have you renewed your OBA membership? There is a lot going on in Ontario's 'Bee World'. If you aren't a member you may miss out on timely analysis of key issues. You don't want to miss the next edition of the Ontario Bee Journal, either, not only will we be examining recent studies and reports but we're continuing our new beekeeper calendar feature; profiling Alison VanAlten's bee breeding techniques; featuring Dr. Guzman's work on varroa, and much more. Join or renew today.
This is the time to get nuc boxes for springThe Ontario Nuc Box is a lightweight but strong nuc shipping box made of 3mm polypropylene that is rain resistant when left in the bee yard. The nuc box can also be used when making splits and swarm catching. And it's recyclable! Order forms are available now but keep in mind that orders and payment must be in by the end of February for late March pickup or delivery. Profits go to the OBA Tech-Transfer Program.
| And now for something light...In case you're getting a brain cramp with all these heavy reports, here is something cute we found on the Beekeeping Like a Girl blog, The 10 Stages of Beekeeping Addiction. If you look for 'your' bees on nearby flowers, or often think, "I could put a hive there" or hear buzzing when there are no bees around, you could be, you know...addicted. |
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Recent News & Updates
Recent News & Updates |
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