CATCH THE BUZZ How To Report Bee Kills

CATCH THE BUZZ

Bee Damage Data Lacking

Dr. Eric Mussen, at U.C. Davis, puts out a newsletter that is always full of good information. I've referenced it before here, and will again I'm sure. This time he talks about reporting problems with bees and pesticides...worth reading for sure. Thanks Eric.

A group of forward-looking commercial beekeepers took it upon themselves to contact administrators from EPA and asked to discuss their concerns about honey bee-pesticide interactions. Given the history of previous, explosive exchanges, both sides had to take a deep breath and approach the concerns cautiously.

One detail that really caught the attention of the beekeepers was the fact that, at their reporting level, EPA lists only two reports of bee kills in 2006 and none between 2003 and 2005. Therefore, it seemed a bit odd to EPA representatives that the beekeepers felt so strongly about this issue.

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In theory, there should be a mechanism by which any person, who believes that an application of pesticide caused a problem, can file an official state document detailing the purported loss. That document should become part of the state’s permanent record and should be transmitted to the federal office on an annual basis.

In California, that form is called “Report of Loss, Nonperformance or Damage” (PR-ENF-008). The form can be obtained at the office of any of the county agricultural commissioners or on the Web, if you search long enough. In California, the Reports of Loss are usually taken in to the ag commissioner’s office, to become part of the permanent file for that year. The last thing a commissioner wants is a drawer full of loss reports. It suggests that things are not being handled well in the county. It is likely that you will meet resistance to submitting a bunch of loss reports, but this is the ONLY WAY beekeepers can document how much loss actually is being encountered. When asked, I tell anyone that California beekeepers lose, or have severely damaged, an average of 10% of the state’s bee colonies. Not everyone suffers losses each year, but some of the losses are very large.

You may have to explain to the ag commissioner that you do not believe that these losses were misuses of the products, but the data is essential to document how much bee loss actually is occurring.

To prove the sincerity of the EPA to collect this data, the following two individuals wish to see copies of the all loss reports as they are being filed in the states:

F. Nicholas Mastrota

USEPA Headquarters

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code: 7507P

Washington, DC 20460

703-305-5247

Mastrota.nicholas@epa.gov

Norman Spurling

USEPA Headquarters

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code: 7502P

Washington, DC 20460

703-305-5835

Spurling.norman@epa.gov

A third person is interested in keeping track of any possible problems with fungicide applications. If you believe that you have encountered bee problems following a fungicide application next year, report that to your state and to:

Tony Kish

USEPA Headquarters

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code: 7505P

Washington, DC 20460

703-308-9443

Kish.tony@epa.gov

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