USDA ignores pesticide ravaging bee population, threatening global environment

By Mike Barrett, NaturalSociety
12 January 2012

It has recently been reported that certain research was suppressed concerning the bee decline which has been occurring over the past few years. It seems that the large sum of money raked in by Bayer, a maker of pesticides, was enough to kick research under the carpet that linked the company’s pesticide to the massive bee decline. There has been a great deal of cover up and secrecy regarding the ongoing bee deaths, enraging environmentalists and activists alike. About one year ago I reported on how the USDA and EPA knew why a series of ‘mysterious’ downfalls were occurring with crops, birds, and bees. Although technological products like cell phone towers and cell phones are hurting the bee population, it was actually the pesticide brought to you by Bayer which was causing the damage, and the USDA knew of it all along. In my article, I reported:

Just as many potential explanations arose over the mysterious bird deaths, many different theories have been proposed to explain the bee decline. Electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, and climate have all taken the heat of critics looking for answers. Recently, however, a document was leaked revealing that a bee-killing pesticide put in use by the EPA may be to blame. Adding to the controversy, more records have emerged showing that the USDA was fully aware of the pesticide’s threat to not only bees, but humans … Neonicotinoids, the particular type of pesticides used, are absorbed systemically into plants, including the pollen and nectar. Once the bees begin to pollinate, they also absorb the insecticide and die.

Dr. Jeffrey Pettis is a US government researcher and leader at the Beltville, Maryland bee lab. Pettis’ completed his research on how Bayer’s pesticide is contributing to the bee decline was completed 2 years ago, though it was never able to be published. He finally received an opportunity to share his research when he was interviewed for the film, The Strange Disappearance of the Bees. Pettis states:

[It] was completed almost two years ago but it has been too long in getting out. I have submitted my manuscript to a new journal but cannot give a publication date or share more of this with you at this time. […]

USDA Ignores Pesticide Ravaging Bee Population, Threatening Global Environment