Are your summer plants coated with an insecticide?

All gardeners want to have the best flowers and plants possible for their garden. And one of the best ways to have a growing and healthy garden is to have pollinators like bees around. In an attempt to help support bees new "bee friendly plants" have been created. But a recently released report shows that we must all take some precaution in buying such products. The report released from the Pesticide Research Institute in the United States found that 7 of 13 types of garden plants purchased at top retailers contained neonicotinoids, which is a neurotoxic pesticide that is harming or killing bees and other pollinators.

The report also showed another troubling issue. That neonicotinoids were found in tomatoes and squash plants that were sold. This is important as not only are pollinators at risk, but people who eat these products are then being exposed to these harmful pesticides. Further to this it has been discovered that neonicotinoids can stay in the soil for months and years after.

And there is growing evidence to show just how harmful neonicotinoids really are to the bee population. Last year, after a significant number of bees had died during the spring Health Canada looked into the matter. After conducing their tests they found that 70% of the bees had traces of neonicotinoids. This added to an already declining bee population and has had a great impact on some bee keepers in Canada who are losing their hives at alarming rates of between 70-90%.

This is important to note considering the important role bees play in the economy and our own food production. A United States Drug Administration report found that "a third of all food and beverages are made possible by pollination, mainly by honeybees. Pollination contributes to an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion in U.S. agricultural production each year."

In response to the dangers of neonicotinoids the European Union has passed a two year ban on its use to allow for further study on its use. In Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne is forming a committee to launch an investigation into its effects.

So next spring when you head out to buy your plants for the season make sure to take extra care and avoid plants with neonicotinoids. Your garden will thank you...and so will the bees.

Brett

For more information on neonicotinoids go to the following links:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/story/2013/08/14/kitchener-bees-deaths-pesticide.html

http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/08/13/3439847/study-plants-from-top-retailers.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/07/03/f-dead-bees.html

And for more information on pesticides and ways you can reduce your use go to:

www.pesticidefreeforlife.ca

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