Some beekeeping and environmental groups want to ban the usage of neonicotinoid (“neonic”) insecticides.
Neonics are used to protect food crops from insect damage, to control fleas on pets and to protect ash trees.
As a farmer using neonic seed treatments during springtime planting to protect my corn plants, I decided to dig deeper – talking to bee professionals and researchers, and reading the underlying science.
There are sure two sides to this story – with only one being told.
Public claims about a neonic-induced honey bee “Armageddon” seem much exaggerated. Statistics show that bee colony numbers are increasing, climbing almost 50% in Ontario since neonic seed treatments were introduced in 2004.
Ontario fruit and vegetable farmers report no problems in securing honey bee colonies for crop pollination. Ontario even sends thousands of hives for pollination to Atlantic Canada.
In France, the number of bee colonies dropped by 25% after a neonic ban was imposed in 1999.
While some beekeepers have experienced sizable losses, many others have not, even when locating hives beside corn. The beekeeper with hives on my corn farm reports no unusual losses.
Beekeeper associations in Western Canada, where 80% of Canadian honey is produced and 80% of Canadian neonic seed treatment occurs, say neonics aren’t a problem. They oppose a ban.
Anti-neonic campaigners say neonics caused a 37% bee loss last winter. But the Ontario bee loss was only 12% the previous winter, and crop neonic usage was about the same in both preceding seasons. Losses are usually made up quickly in springtime by bee multiplication.
Nevertheless, some beekeepers are experiencing large losses. From my perspective, there are at least three reasons.
One major problem is new diseases and bee pests, including the devastating varroa mite. While beekeepers often say these parasites are “under control,” varroa mites are carriers for devastating viruses that are poorly understood and rarely monitored.
Researchers say only three mites per 100 bees ensure overwinter colony death. Chemicals used by bee keepers to combat the mites can also cause bee deaths.
A second problem is that corn and soybean crops produce little or no nectar and malnourished bees living nearby are especially vulnerable to death.
A third factor can be untended neonic exposure. Certain types of corn seeders can expel seed-treatment dust into the air during planting. This dust can cause bee deaths if the wind is blowing the wrong way. Short-term losses may be large, though bee numbers can normally recover quite quickly.
Some claim that seeding-time exposure causes massive overwinter mortality months later. But that’s highly unlikely; living bees break down neonics within hours.
Advocates claim bees die later in the season because of neonic residues in plant pollen, soil and surface water, but experts say amounts detected are far too minute to harm bees. Health Canada detected none in most soil and water samples it collected near corn fields in 2013.
Farmers, seed and corn planter companies and governments are all working actively to eliminate planter dust emissions.
Those demanding a ban on neonics ignore the realities facing farmers: insects can severely damage seedling corn plants and crop yield. Corn is an important source of Canadian food and feed. Farmers need to protect their crops.
A neonic ban would drive many farmers to use other compounds (yes, including organic ones) more hazardous to health and the environment.
Terry Daynard is a Wellington County corn farmer, and former associate dean for research and innovation at the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph.
