Keep the Hives Alive - A must watch! It is bigger than just bees
I am sharing this video that I believe anyone who cares about the environment must watch. Although it focuses around the plight of commercial beekeeper James Cook and his effort to take changes to Warshington, DC, the message is much bigger than honeybees and beekeeping.
Cook had 1/2 the bees in his 2300 colonies die within days of a neighboring farm planting pesticide treated corn seed. Although the Minnesota Dept of Agriculture confirmed the die off was related to systemic pesticides, it was deemed an acceptable loss as it was early in the season and they would rebound. They did NOT! Cook lost 70% of his hives.
He then decided to document his journey cross county meeting and talking with other farmers and concerned citizen and ultimately ending up in Washington DC with millions of dead bees to hold a demonstration at the capital.
However, the most important message in the video comes from agroecologist Dr Jonathan Lundgren. Dr. Lundgren estimates that 13% of North America land mass is treated with systemic pesticides. So it is hard to avoid. But he points out that pesticide use is just a symptom and not the problem. Only addressing pesticides will not solve the problem.
I have been concerned for years that too many people look at pesticides as the smoking gun and both sides have their research data to back them up. It has become a political battle. My fear was that focusing on just pesticides was potentially missing parts or even bigger pieces of the picture. I do believe Dr. Lundgren has bought my concerns to fruition.
Dr. Lungren believes that the problem is not enough diversity in our landscape and too much disturbance. We have lost most of the biology in our soil by continuous tilling. He is promoting regenerative agriculture (stop tilling) as the only answer for our future.
The rest of the video takes a look at farmers/ranchers that have returned to no-till farming and the rewards they are reaping.
I encourage everyone to watch this video and leave a comment on their thoughts.
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@bushkill
We are definitely killing the bees with the chemicals. What other creatures are we killing too. These same chemicals will eventually kill us too.
Very true, there is no one looking out for the other insects and small animals. I think everything is being effected.
There seems to be a growing number of organic farmers in my area, but if I drive a bit south or west and the landscape gives way to vast fields as far as the eye can see, the majority tilled and sprayed. The land is being raped of anything and everything that is good. Even the ponds and swamps are leveled out to make room for more fields (then they wonder why the flooding has worsened).
On my small acreage, I am in the beginning stages of practicing no till. Neighbors to both sides of me have their larger acreages in CRP, so I am really hoping my bees will be very happy bees with all that natural foliage to forage through.
It is not going to be an easy task, but homesteading is booming which is a step in the right direction. Although they manage to get agriculture to producing on the dying soil, the nutritional value is very poor. That is one of the battles the bees that do survive are facing, lack of nutrition they need.
I really admire you buddy with your knowledge about bees... Amazing really
thanks my masked man friend 👀
Truly chemicals are killing even for crops. We need to be careful.
Unfortunately we are kill the planet 😟
Fascinating topic mate. As an environmental scientist this is a topic that is close at hand to me.
There is a lot happening in the agricultural sector that is scary, corrupt, and insanely damaging to our natural environment.
I write about these topics from time to time as well and I appreciate you getting this message out here.
I haven't watched the video yet but will get to it once this curation stream is over.
Yes take a watch. As much as I like posting my own content, sometimes the message of others is so powerful it needs to be shared.
Completely agree. :)
Who are they to deem 70% of his Hive as an acceptable loss. That is messed up the idea that they would give themselves the authority to deem that. That's horrible he should have the right to contest that.
in fairness the colonies were not dead when they inspected, but the damage was way more than what tehy could recover from. I do agree they Ag dept blew it on this one, but I'm sure they have their hands tied by politics and big money.
Paul stamets has some great ideas to fix this problem . He's tested a few mushroom extracts and had amazing results.
Yes, Paul has done some great work with shrooms and bees, unfortunately unless we stop destroying the planet, I'm not so sure there is any 'fix'
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