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Re: Cotton chemicals and environmental impact
In article <593u6c$bpf$1@news1.inlink.com>, bbbean@sheltonlink.com writes:
>Problems arise when unlicensed, uneducated, or inconsiderate chemical
>users (no cotton required) increase application beyond recommended
>rates, apply on hot or windy days, or dispose of excess chemicals and
>trash imporperly. This can happen as easily with a suburban neighbor
>whose grass is green all year long as it can with a cotton farmer.
>
>Your concerns are justified to a certain extent, but I wouldn't look
>to a wholesale condemnation of cotton farmers or ag chemicals. You
>should instead insist your tenants abide by federal and state
>regulations regarding chemical application, and use up-to-date
>equipment and techniques.
One common violation is insecticide applications while bees are
foraging (forbidden by label directions when the material is toxic to
bees). My personal estimate is that about 30% of cotton insecticide
applications in coastal South Carolina are in violation of bee-protection
label directions. This has led to severe loss of wild and domestic bees
around here (including mine). Bumblebees are quite rare, wild honeybees
are gone (though mites are also a factor here), and any solitary bees
whose life cycle intersects with cotton bloom are in danger.
Needed: training by extension and pesticide authorities to show
applicators how to identify the times bees are foraging. This they are
extremely reluctant to do; they will inconvenience a powerful group. But
the long term repercussions of loss of pollinators is of more importance
than the inconvenience of requiring applicators to obey the law that
protects them.
Pesticide authorites often advise a means to circumvent the label
directions by notification of beekeepers. But this does not comply with
the law. All bees are referred to, and the placement of the label
directions under environmental hazards makes that clear. Bees of all
kinds are thus recognized as an environmental resource.
A good means of protecting the pollinators is to videotape any
applications in progress on blooming cotton. Then tape pollinators in
action on the blossoms at the same time. If possible, tape the dying bees
as well. Then report to pesticide enforcement authorities as a
*suspected* violation.
They will ascertain if the pesticide had label directions which
prohibit application while bees are foraging. If so, they HAVE to cite
the applicator.
Next year applicators will be more careful !!!!
Pollinator@aol.com Dave Green, PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC
29554 (Dave & Jan's Pollination Service, Pot o'Gold Honey Co.)
Practical Pollination Home Page Dave & Janice Green
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
Jan's Sweetness and Light Varietal Honeys and Gift Sets
http://users.aol.com/SweetnessL/sweetlit.htm
Pollinator@aol.com Dave and Janice Green
Practical Pollination Home Page
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html
PO Box 1200, Hemingway, SC 29554