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Neonicotinoid Pesticide Use Reduced in Ontario

Wednesday, 25 March 2015 05:14

The Ontario government's plan to reduce the use of neonicotinoid pesticides by 80 per cent by 2017 could help the honey bee population to recover from their alarming loses over the last few years.

INGERSOLL - The Ontario government's plan to reduce the use of neonicotinoid pesticides by 80 per cent by 2017 is getting a thumbs up from the Ingersoll Nature Club. 

Executive member Wayne Walden says the bees will not be as damaged or limited as they are today. 

"There is very few honeybees around. There is wasps and so on and other species but as far as the honey bee, there is very few around. Everybody I talk to says they have only seen a few in their gardens over the last few years."

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in the winter of 2013/14, bee deaths in the province reached 58 percent, which is 43 percent higher than the generally accepted level by those who care for and breed bees.  

Walden says he's 100 percent in favour of the new rules. 

Walden says the 80 percent reduction is a good place to start. 

"I understand that in some cases the farmers would really, really have difficulty if they don't have some sort of support and deal with some of the needs of this issue but I think as it becomes more and more clear about the science, they will see that this is causing damage." 

Walden says more and more people are getting into organic foods and the government needs to find a better way of supporting farmers with methods that help the natural environment, particularly the honey bee. 

Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal says the proposed regulation is balanced and practical and will ensure farmers have access to treated seeds when needed. 

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