Bee Protections Strengthened

Most people are happy to see a decline in insects as the winter months set in. But beekeepers across America have watched their bees disappearing, and if they go away permanently then the effects could be dire. Last week the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced that it will begin requiring specific label statements restricting use of products containing the active ingredients dinotefuran and imidacloprid, which have been linked to bee deaths.

“The problem is that every year bees are dying and not coming back,” Lisa Arkin, executive director of Beyond Toxics, says. “This is a topic that should be near and dear to everyone’s heart because bees pollinate everyone’s food.”

Beyond Toxics and other organizations cite studies that blame a class of pesticides called neonicotinoids for the drop off in bees. Dinotefuran and imidacloprid belong to the class, which many refer to as “neonics.”

On Nov. 21, Beyond Toxics took 12,000 signatures to the state capitol and presented them to Katy Coba, the director of the ODA. They highlighted a number of problems the epidemic of bee death has presented to Oregon, specifically naming an instance in Wilsonville where 50,000 bees died suddenly in a parking lot where neonics had been sprayed on linden trees.

“We take these incidents seriously and we are stepping up both our regulatory and educational efforts,” Coba said in a Nov. 21 press release. The agency says it will be strengthening its “outreach and education efforts to pesticide users regarding pollinator protection.” ODA is requiring, as a condition of annual registration for 2014, an Oregon-specific label statement on dinotefuran and imidacloprid products being sold or distributed prohibiting these products from being used on linden, basswood or Tilia tree species.

Coba said she also sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency requesting additional evaluation of these and other neonics to determine if national limitations should be placed on these pesticides.

Locally, businesses such as Jerry’s Home Improvement have included information in their pesticides aisle about the dangers of such chemicals as well as putting products known to harm bees in a less prominent position, both actions Arkin says are highly appreciated by activists.

Other groups such as Healthy Bees = Healthy Gardens have taken to grassroots measures to eliminate pesticide use person by person. Doug and Jen Hornaday, founders of Healthy Bees = Healthy Gardens, created a Friends of Healthy Bees pledge, which they say many have signed and has eliminated pesticide use in at least four neighborhoods around Eugene.

“This was a huge win for bees in our area,” Doug Hornaday says.

Beyond Toxics is currently working with the city of Eugene to employ measures to protect beekeepers and agriculture. The group is also working with the Oregon League of Conservation Voters in similar strides.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!