A Good Start: Northwest wildlife refuges to phase out neonicotinoids

[jongosch]

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Federal wildlife refuges in the Northwest and Hawaii will phase out a class of pesticides that are chemically similar to nicotine because they pose a threat to bees and other pollinators key to crop growth.

The region covering Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Hawaii is the first in the agency to ban neonicotinoids. There is room for exemptions, but the goal is to phase out the pesticides by January 2016, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokeswoman Miel Corbett said Monday.

http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20140721/NEWS03/140729922/Northwest-wildlife-refuges-to-phase-out-neonicotinoids-

[snowpack]

This sounds like a good move, but I have to wonder about the 'unintended consequences'.  Will they compensate by spraying a few extra tons of something else nasty?  Atrazine?

[Sandberm]

This sounds like a good move, but I have to wonder about the 'unintended consequences'.  Will they compensate by spraying a few extra tons of something else nasty?  Atrazine?

I wouldnt think so. The crops on a wildlife refuge arent grown to be harvested so there is no need for a bumper crop. If there is a 50% crop loss due to not using this pesticide it probably wouldnt matter much. However a 50% crop loss for a farmer would be a huge financial loss.

It will be interesting in the years to come how the battle between big ag and sound science plays out here in America. Hopefully decisions will be made based on sound science and not paying off government officials.

[t6]

As long as they have big money to spend, there will always be someone willing to take it. 

If people are careful in their buying and avoid products that are grown in these chemicals, hopefully the growers will get the clue. 

If they cant sell their goods they wont buy chemicals to spray. 

Its a vicious circle that just needs the consumer to break.