Posted June 9, 2014
A
bill (HR 2692) temporarily banning
pesticides linked to be deaths has 65 Congressional co-sponsors, according to an article on Roll
Call by Anna Giaritelli available here.
Honeybees
are responsible for pollination and contribute about $30 million each year to
U.S. agriculture. However, honeybees are dying at an alarming rate, which
causes concern among Congress and farming circles.
Approximately
one-third of U.S. commercial bee colonies have died each winter over the last
five years, according to the Department of Agriculture surveys.
The
winter deaths may be related to the syndrome known as Colony Collapse
Disorder,
which causes bees to leave their hives and never return. In 2007, lawmakers first noticed this disorder that resulted in three
subcommittee hearings in 2007 and 2008.
The
farm bill also contains language to “find strategies addressing bee declines,
and orders the department to work with the EPA to publish guidance on enhancing
pollinator health.”
A
House Agriculture subcommittee held a hearing on pollinators in April.
“The
issue of pollinator protection is one that has significantly grown in its
momentum on the Hill,” said Larissa Walker, policy and campaign director for
the Center for Food Safety, “especially in the last year.”
“Bayer
CropScience is working with state, federal and agricultural stakeholders to
develop a comprehensive effort to promote bee health,” Christopher Loder, a
company spokesman, said in an email. “These efforts include expanding available
forage for pollinators, adoption of best management practices for agriculture
and apiculture, and more focused research on protecting bees from the invasive
Varroa mite.”
Critics
claim these efforts are an attempt to distract Congress from the pesticides
issue and sway their votes.
For more information on
environmental law, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
