argylesock says… In my opinion, the whole world needs to bite the bullet about neonics. They kill pollinators. Without pollinators we’d have nothing to eat.
It is clear that neonicotinoid insecticides kill bees. The severity of the problem and what to do about it are under debate. Many countries in Europe have banned the use of one or more neonicotioids. The governments of the US and Canada have moved more slowly.
Most corn and soybean seeds are genetically engineered for herbicide tolerance and pest resistance. These seeds are sold at a premium. To “protect” the investment, these seeds are coated with neonicotinoids. The seed treatments are sticky; many farmers will add talc to the seeds to prevent the seeds from sticking in the equipment. However, neonicotinoids are transferred to the talc which is about the size of a pollen grain. The neonicotinoid contaminated talc is collected by bees along with pollen, stored in the hive and fed to the brood. The bee colony can be killed.
Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) intends to…
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