Tuesday, May 23, 2017

When the Justification for GMO Crops is What They're Not - Science

Nearly every foraging honey bee in the state of Indiana will encounter neonicotinoids during corn planting season, and the common seed treatments produced no improvement in crop yield, according to a Purdue University study.

Neonicotinoids, including clothianidin and thiamethoxam, are a class of insecticide commonly applied as a coating to corn and soybean seeds to protect them from early-season pests. Since the coatings are sticky, a talc or graphite powder is added to vacuum systems in planters to keep the seeds from clumping. Powder exhausted from the planter contains neonicotinoids.

The United States is losing about one-third of its honeybee hives each year, a significant problem since the bees pollinate many crops used to feed people and livestock. Neonicotinoids, which are highly toxic to honeybees, are being scrutinized as a possible contributor to the losses.

Phys.org:  Corn seed treatment insecticides pose risks to honey bees, yield benefits elusive


Does that sound like habitual drug abuse which doesn't even give a good buzz anymore; it's just habit to stave off the sickness which keeps coming back anyway.


The Rockhouse is not defensive for GMO for anything and that's not the point.  There are additional reasons to consider the actual point based on yet another report of the damage from neonicotinoid pesticides.  At this point, there's so much circumstantial evidence, why would you not cease use of the neonicotinoid pesticide products to find the final proof.


The interested student is invited to review the extensive research case made for elimination of such pesticides and this is their conclusion.

"The good news is that because farmers often don't need these additions to seeds or benefit from them, we can easily and rapidly reduce the risk simply by having untreated seeds available," Krupke said. "That would also allow farmers to make some side-by-side comparisons in their own fields."

- PO

The question is will they do it.

Farmers aren't stupid and will go with whatever yields the best crop unless there is external interference from outfits such as Monsanto.  Why anyone trusts Monsanto is unfathomable when it's the same outfit which gave the world Agent Orange; nevertheless, that's the state of play.

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