Yesterday, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand proposed an amendment to the Senate version of the Farm Bill that would prohibit public schools from serving fruits and vegetables that contain ANY residue of chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate that can increase risk for cognitive and developmental delays in young children.

Nearly twenty years ago, chlorpyrifos was banned from household use, but it is still widely used as a pesticide. Although the proposal was voted down last night, we applaud Senator Gillibrand’s efforts to protect children’s health and eliminate exposure to this dangerous pesticide. We also applaud Costco’s recent decision to expand organic offerings and urge suppliers to phase out chlorpyrifos and neonicotinoid pesticides.

Tell your lawmakers! Tell your retailers! Everyone deserves safe food.

By Patricia Patterson, Toxic Free NC Policy Advocacy Intern

In July of 2015, among growing concern for pollinator populations and the need for growers and beekeepers to communicate more effectively about pesticide application, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture requested $27,750 from the Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund to register the state for online mapping programs through FieldWatch. FieldWatch, Inc., formerly known as DriftWatch, is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting pollinator protection and human health and safety through the implementation of mapping registry programs. DriftWatch and BeeCheck are programs under FieldWatch, Inc. that map and track specialty crops and beehives. These online programs allow both organic and conventional farmers to register the location of their fields and/or beehives as well as access locations of surrounding fields and apiaries.

The FieldWatch map mimics Google Earth with registered locations displayed as color-coded pins. While it may be simple to filter between conventional and organic growing conditions and crop types on the map, users are deprived of distance accuracy in heavy-registered areas. Pesticide applicators may not access all surrounding apiary/field locations on FieldWatch due to the voluntary registration policy and location overload. Aside from the location pins on the map, FieldWatch does not provide a method for gauging the relative distance from an apiary or field to a user’s location, and it does not provide the exact location of a beehive (see Figure 1). Beekeepers may register several hives under one address, but FieldWatch does not monitor the exact location of each hive. Oversights such as these can lead to misinformation, pesticide drift, and can cause harmful pollinator and crop damage.

Figure 1. Registered Beehives in North Carolina (June 2017, retrieved from https://nc.driftwatch.org/map)

In North Carolina, approximately 34 fields are registered in FieldWatch as “organically grown” or certified organic; 16 of those are certified organic, and 18 are “organically grown.” About 250 fields are registered as “conventionally grown” (see Figure 2). Unlike organic farmers, conventional farmers apply synthetic chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides to their crops. The mishandling of pesticides by conventional farmers, including unregistered conventional farmers, can impact the health of pollinators in North Carolina and damage surrounding crops. The prevalence of conventional farming indicates a need for greater communication between beekeepers and farmers that choose to use pesticides, a need that may not be met due to the lack of total participation by all farmers and beekeepers in North Carolina.

 Figure 2. Registered “Conventionally Grown” Crops in North Carolina (June 2017, retrieved from https://nc.driftwatch.org/map)

Thousands of North Carolinian farmers and beekeepers may not be registered in FieldWatch because of technological and educational barriers. FieldWatch states that those who do not own a computer should contact their state’s data steward to create an account. For non-computer users, this contact information, provided online under FieldWatch’s “Contact Us” page, may not be accessible. Potential users may also be unaware of FieldWatch due to its current voluntary policy for crop site registration and insufficient marketing for farmers without access to a computer. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture promotes the use of FieldWatch when they are doing outreach with beekeepers. This effort has led to the registration of 6,180 beehives, approximately 1,452 apiary locations, on FieldWatch. However, only a few hundred pesticide applicators have registered among over 50,000 farmers across the state. This is a prime example of how beekeepers disproportionately bare the burden of keeping their bees away from pesticides. The state of North Carolina possess the opportunity to reduce local crop damage and promote pollinator protection, but operating under a voluntary crop site registration policy restricts the potential for positive change for our environment and food systems.

In attendance: Dr. Allen Scarborough (Vice Chair and presiding); Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise; Dr. Benson Kirkman; Mr. Shawn Harding; Mr. Don Rodgers; Mr. Jim Burnette (Secretary)

Not in attendance: Dr. Rick Langley (Chair)

Consider Board Minutes from December 12, 2016

Mr. Harding moved that the minutes be approved as is, which Dr. Kirkman seconding. Unanimously approved.

Inquiry into follow-up from Dr. Melissa Perry

Dr. Scarborough asked Mr. Burnette if there had been any follow-up from questions that he asked Dr. Perry after her presentation on the human health effects of neonics. Mr. Burnette replied that there had been none.

Consider Exemption Request from the Requirements of 02 NCAC 09L.1003(3)

Chris Elder of the Plant Industry Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) requests an exemption to dispense particles above the set threshold of 40ft because the Department dispenses mating disruption pheromones at 100ft to combat the gypsy moth.

Mr. Rodgers commented that the gypsy moth was expected to take over North Carolina, but through these efforts, that coverage has been limited.

Dr. Hudak-Wise made a motion to accept the request for exemption, Mr. Rodgers second the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

Consider Elimination of the NC WPS Designated Trainer Exam

Renee Woody of the NCDA&CS, Pesticide Division, requested elimination of the WPS Designated Trainer Exam do to the revised WPS requiring annual trainings. Ms. Woody said that up-to-date, EPA approved train-the-trainer materials are available on the Pesticide Education Research Collaborative (PERC) website that can meet the same requirements as the State’s exam. The State’s exam was not set in rule, but the Department was requesting consent to not offer the exam from the Board.

Dr. Kirkman made the motion to eliminate the WPS Designated Trainer Exam in North Carolina. Mr. Harding second the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund, Request for Funding

Ms. Woody also put forth a request for funding from the Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund for the pesticide contain recycling program. Currently there are 67 counties across North Carolina that have active pesticide recycling programs. For 2016, 557,310 pounds of pesticide containers were recycled into agricultural drainage pipes.

Ms. Woody requested $60,000 for the program that would be transferred in county grants to run their programs ($51,875), promotional materials ($5000), and for the John L. Smith Award ($3,125).

Dr. Kirkman made a motion to accept the request, and Dr. Hudak-Wise second the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.

Settlement Agreements

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For a full description of the Settlement Agreements, please click the following link: March 2017 Board Settlement Agreements

Presentation from Dr. Jay Overmyer, Syngenta, titled “Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Focus on Syngenta Studies with Thiamethoxam”

Dr. Jay Overmyer presented to the Board on the work that Syngenta is doing with neonicotinoid insecticides, honeybee health, and the effects of Syngenta’s product, thiamethoxam, on honeybees, aquatic species, and birds. Dr. Overmyer highlighted the importance of this class of insecticides to growers and the work that Syngenta is doing to replicate full field studies with honeybees and their neonicotinoid products. Dr. Overmyer also went on to talk about the multiple factors that affect honeybee health, with pesticides being one of them.

The majority of the presentation concentrated on the field studies that Syngenta conducted between 2014 and 2015 near Mebane, North Carolina.   The studies showed that there was a decrease in pollen storage leading to less brood and lower adult population numbers. However, Syngenta was not allowed by the EPA to feed the hives over the winter season, so there were losses across the study, including the control hives, leading to less than significant results. The EPA ordered the study to be supplementary and for Syngenta to redo the full field study, which they are in the process of doing.

Dr. Overmyer also concluded that the risk of thiamethoxam to honeybees and birds is relatively minimal, and that although aquatic insects are sensitive to neonicotinoids, the exposure rates are usually not in concentrations that would have a great impact on them.

Presentation from Dr. Jill Sidebottom, NC Agricultural Extension, titled “Neonics and Mountain Conifers”

Dr. Jill Sidebottom presented to the Board about how nenoicotinoids are being used to fight the Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) in Western North Carolina. Right now, imidacloprid and dinotefuran are primarily being used for control. Imidacloprid is being used as a foliar application, whereas dinotefuran is primarily used as a root treatment. Dr. Sidebottom also expressed that there is concern amongst the general public and beekeepers in Western NC about the use of neonicotinoid products. Dr. Sidebottom noted that the Agriculture Extension office promotes Integrated Pest Management through ground covers at Christmas tree operations to reduce pesticide inputs and provide habitat for beneficial insects, like pollinators.

Dr. Sidebottom also discussed the more recent threats from Elongate hemlock scale (EHS), which was introduced from Asia in 1908 and creates an armored scale that buries itself under the wax of the needle. This has created an additional problem for Agricultural Extension, which has added to the problems that still exist after 60 years of research and 23 chemicals that have been used to try to treat these various pests. EHS has caused problems between North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Florida’s Department of Agriculture because Florida purchases over a million trees from North Carolina and EHS could potentially harm two of Florida’s native conifers (torreya tree and the Florida yew). Dr. Sidebottom concluded that EHS is more of a regulatory problem than a destructive pest, but that she is trying different chemical and non-chemical approaches to managing EHS.

NC Pesticide Board chooses no regulatory action on neonics

After the completion of Dr. Sidebottom’s presentation, Mr. Harding moved that the Board take no action on the neonicotinoid class of chemicals at this time. Dr. Kirkman proposed an education campaign as opposed to “no action”, with the Department of Agriculture assisting to make sure that neonicotinoids are not overused. Dr. Hudak-Wise then proposed as a clarifying point that the Board takes no regulatory action. Mr. Harding said that was fine as an amendment, but was supportive of educational efforts. Mr. Rodgers noted that the EPA still is conducting reviews and that that information should be provided to the Board upon completion. Mr. Harding agreed and felt that there was no “need to get out ahead of the EPA” on the subject, which is suppose to have a full assessments of nenoicotinoids out by the end of 2017. Dr. Hudak-Wise suggested to amend the motion to be “no regulatory action, but would like staff to consider educational opportunities.” Mr. Rodgers second the motion. Dr. Hudak-Wise suggested, “if something were to come up pertinent to this information, then we [the Board] would reexamine.” Mr. Harding agreed and also stated though that neonicotinoids are “an important class of chemistry for their growers.” Dr. Kirkman said that he felt that this issue would not be going away and as researchers found out more information that there was potential for the Board to look at it again. The final motion was unanimously approved.

In attendance: Dr. Rick Langly (Chair); Dr. Allen Scarborough (Vice Chair); Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise; Dr. Benson Kirkman; Mr. Shawn Harding; Mr. Jim Burnette (Secretary)

Not in attendance: Mr. Don Rodgers

Ethics Reminder

Dr. Langley read the mandatory ethics statement, requiring any members to disclose conflicts of interests. Dr. Scarborough stated that as a current employee of the agrochemical sector he would participate in the discussion regarding future speakers on the topic of neonicotinoids from industry, but recuse himself from voting.

Consider Board Minutes from July 12, 2016

Mr. Harding moved that the minutes be approved as is, which Dr. Scarborough seconding. Unanimously approved.

Update on NCDA&CS Pollinator Protection Efforts

Pat Jones, Deputy Director of the Pesticide Division within NCDOA&CS, gave an update on outreach and registration for beekeepers to register their hives voluntarily with BeeCheck (a program of DriftWatch), which allows pesticide applicators to see where beehives are across the state so that they can take precautionary steps. Currently, there are 1,056 apiaries registered across the state, making North Carolina the state with the second highest registered apiaries out of 13 U.S. states enrolled in the program and one Canadian province.

NCDOA&CS will continue outreach and education about the registration program into 2017.

Consider recommendations for neonicotinoid presentations

Per the Board’s request at their July 12^th meeting, the Board received 14 nominations for presentations on the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on pollinators, aquatic invertebrates, and their environmental fate. The Board Chair, Dr. Langley, categorized these nominees into three sectors being, “Academia”, “Industry”, and “Other”. The Chair then suggested to hear from two nominees at each of the next three Board meetings resulting in six total presentations. Dr. Hudak-Wise noted that the door will remain open to the rest of the nominees, but this will be the first batch. Selected individuals to present were:

Academia

Dr. Melissa Perry, Professor and Chair of Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University

Dr. Dave Buchwalter, Associate Professor in Toxicology, NC State

Industry

Dr. Jay Overmyer – Technical Team I, Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment, Syngenta

Dr. David Fischer, Director Pollinator Safety Group, Bayer Crop Science

Other

Dr. Jill Sidebottom, Mountain Conifer IPM Specialist, NC Agricultural Extension

Dave Penrose, MPH, Contract Professor on Aquatic Insect Ecology, NC State

The Chair, Dr. Langley, explicitly prohibited public comments after the selection process.

Settlement Agreements

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Settlement Agreements

Board members present: Dr. Colleen Hudak-Wise, Dr. Ricky Langley (Chair), Dr. Thomas Scarborough (Vice-Chair), Shawn Harding, Don Rodgers, Dr. W. Benson Kirkman

The July 12, 2016 meeting of the North Carolina Pesticide Board began with a reading of the Mandatory Ethics Inquiry, which asks Board members to recuse themselves from actions in the event of a conflict of interest. None of the Board members recused themselves. Several presentations followed the reading of this inquiry, beginning with Brian Pointer of the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources, who spoke about the DWR’s Random Ambient Monitoring System, which monitors waterways for pesticides and other contaminants such as metals, coliform bacteria, cyanide, sulfides, and PCBs. In this presentation, Pointer provided an overview of the methods used in RAMS, as well as the limitations of this system. Of particular note is the fact that while RAMS does test for pesticides on a bi-monthly basis, it does not test for neonicotinoids. Pointer noted that the DWR does not have the funding capacity to conduct neonic testing of its samples.

Following Pointer’s presentation, Toxic Free NC intern Elisa Lazzarino presented on the methodological problems with both RAMS with respect to neonicotinoid contamination in aquatic invertebrate habitats – including those of endangered species – and the Bee-Informed Partnership Survey as a measure of pollinator decline and its causes. Ms. Lazzarino’s presentation also drew the Board’s attention to the widespread problem of consumer misuse of these highly toxic substances. Ms. Lazzarino remarked on the recently passed Maryland Pollinator Protection Act, which reclassified neonics as restricted use pesticides (RUPs) for professional use only, and pressed the Board to adopt a similar policy, through their authority under the NC Pesticide Law of 1971. After this presentation, Toxic Free NC Policy Advocate, Preston Peck, addressed the Board and noted their inaction after three previous presentations on these issues, and urged them to consider the growing body of evidence that strongly connects neonics to both pollinator decline and adverse health in aquatic invertebrates, particularly in view of the enormous economic value of North Carolina’s blue crab industry. Following these comments, the Board unanimously agreed to organize a task force of scientists to investigate the harms of neonics. The Board will accept nominations, and will then vote to approve these nominations.

Also presenting at the meeting were researchers from Preventing Agricultural Chemical Exposure (PACE) at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, who spoke about the neurological effects on farmworkers exposed to pesticides. Dr. Thomas Arcury spoke about the subclinical symptoms (i.e. not manifested physically) of pesticide exposure, and Dr. Sara Quandt spoke more directly to olfactory impairment in farmworkers exposed to pesticides as a likely marker of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. Dr. Paul Laurienti, also of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, spoke briefly about the strong correlation in pesticide-exposed farmworkers between exposure, balance, and brain anatomy. While Dr. Laurienti’s findings are not conclusive as a sign of ill-health in pesticide-exposed farmworkers, he stressed to the Board that the findings warrant further research.

Settlement Agreements for Violations of Pesticide Law

N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Structural Pest Control and Pesticide Division v.

Pesticide Board Settlements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local contact: Preston Peck, 919-833-1123 (O); 256-483-9503 (C), preston@toxicfreenc.org
National contact: Tiffany Finck-Haynes, (202) 222-0715, tfinckhaynes@foe.org
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, kcolwell@foe.org

Dozens of people and 2.5M dead bees gather at Bayer Crop Science to call on corporate responsibility for global pollinator decline

Research Triangle Park, NC – Dozens of people from across North Carolina and the nation gathered at Bayer Crop Science North American Headquarters in Research Triangle Park on Monday to bring awareness to global pollinator decline. The group gathered around 2.5M dead bees that were trucked across the nation to represent the kills that many beekeepers face due to pesticides every year.

The rally and press conference was part of the national Keep the Hives Alive Tour that stopped in cities in California, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina during National Pollinator Week, June 13-23. Later this week, beekeepers, farmers, farmworkers, scientists and advocates will bring the truck load dead bees to Washington, D.C. to urge the EPA, the USDA and Congress to take action on toxic pesticides and support sustainable agriculture.

“Personally, I think pesticide loads are something that need to be looked at a lot more. That’s one thing that the (chemical) industry…it’s like a red herring or a giant elephant in the room for them,” said James Cook, a Minnesota-based commercial beekeeper, who drove the dead bees to North Carolina. “They don’t really want to talk about and look at what is actually going on with the relationship between pollinators and pesticides because I think they know what they would find. It would show a lot of issues going on there.”

Raleigh based non-profit, Toxic Free North Carolina, hosted the rally and press conference in front of Bayer Crop Science North American Headquarters in Research Triangle Park. This beekeeper, farmer, and activist led action called on major pesticide-producing companies, such as Bayer Crop Science, to take on more corporate responsibility by phasing out bee-killing pesticides that researchers are finding in our soil, water, and disrupting various ecosystems. Speakers included beekeepers, activists, and farmers like Charles McNair, founder of Freedom Farm in Goldsboro that promotes youth empowerment though agriculture.

“We don’t just grow food, we grow soil.” said McNair. “Everything we need to protect food cultivation can be found in nature.”

Other speakers included, Representative John Ager from Buncombe County, Liz Lindsey, NC Master Beekeeper, Tony Kleese, farmer and owner of Earthwise Organics, and Nick Wood, State Organizer with Appalachian Voices.

Bayer representatives were on site, but declined to come to the event to listen to the stories presented by the speakers despite numerous invitations.

The truck transporting the bees is now on the way to Washington D.C. for a similar event outside of the EPA where farmers, beekeepers, and other supporters will meet with agency officials and have a Congressional Briefing on Thursday.

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Toxic Free NC’s mission is to engage North Carolinians in the transition to a toxic free society through initiatives that promote human and environmental health.

Keep the Hives Alive is supported through Pollinator Stewardship Council, Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety, Minnesota-California Honey Company, and Organic Consumers Association

The following is an article written by Toxic Free NC policy intern, Elisa Lazzarino:

Published in The Technician on June 11, 2016.

Elisa Lazzarino, Guest Columnist

Bees and beekeepers across the U.S. and the world are in trouble.  Once again, beekeepers reported an unsustainable colony loss at 44% for 2015-2016.  While there are many contributing factors, one that scientists continue to point out is the extensive use of systemic insecticides, specifically neonicotinoids, in our agricultural production.  The EPA has failed us in regulating these bee-killing pesticides, the USDA continues to suppress science showing their effects, and Congress has not passed a meaningful piece of legislation to adequately protect pollinators and the $24 billion they contribute to our agricultural industry every year. Furthermore, pesticide-producing companies like Bayer Crop Science continue to manufacture these pesticides at alarming rates.  Beekeepers, scientists, farmers, and activists are coming together from across the nation to join together to say enough is enough, and we must Keep the Hives Alive!

That’s why Toxic Free NC is hosting a rally and press conference right here in North Carolina in Research Triangle Park outside of Bayer Crop Science’s North American Headquarters on Monday, June 20th, at 11:00AM.  This will bring attention from across the country to North Carolina and the problems beekeepers, farmers, and others are facing every day here, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP!  This event will cost Toxic Free NC $2,500 for materials, outreach to partners, and transportations from supporters that have committed to join us from Asheville and Charlotte.

Will you contribute $10, $25, $50, or $100 today to Keep the Hives Alive?  

Toxic Free NC is proud to announce its support for the Keep the Hive Alive Tour, scheduled to start June 2016!  This beekeeper-led tour, spanning six cities across the US (including Raleigh, NC), will expose the issues facing beekeepers in the US today, how regulatory agencies could do more, and how industry has to own up to these bee toxic pesticides.

The Tour will occur right before and during 2016 National Pollinator Week.  We aim to give pesticide companies, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the general public an accurate portrayal of the impact bee-toxic chemicals have had on the livelihoods of American beekeepers. The Tour will travel across the United States, holding rallies and events to raise awareness about pollinator decline, and end up at the EPA to rally our supporters, and urge action on bee-toxic pesticides to safe guard our food supply.

Donate today to Keep the Hives Alive!

We want beekeepers, consumers, food advocates, environmental advocates, and anyone who cares about the future of our food supply, and our planet, to attend events and rallies at tour stops across the country (especially in NC!).

As a visual representation of the large number of bees that die every year, we ask that beekeepers bring their preserved dead bees or emptied out bee boxes to the rallies. The bees and representative boxes will then continue the tour, where we will drop them off at the Bayer Bee Care Center here in Raleigh, and host a memorial to all the bees that have died. We will also use them for a similar visual display at EPA’s headquarters a few days later to kick off National Pollinator Week.

Pesticide companies profit in billions of dollars each year manufacturing the most commonly used bee-toxic pesticides. As research linking toxic-pesticides to pollinator decline grows, pesticide manufacturers like Bayer and Syngenta, have launched misinformation campaigns trying to convince people the company’s care about bees.  While many of the large ag-chem companies have poured money into PR campaigns, in attempts to spin the science, Bayer took it a step further, building a “bee-care” facility in North Carolina and conducting a “bee care” tour across the country— to promote itself as a bee-friendly corporation, while doing everything in its power to delay regulatory action on the pesticides it manufactures to protect its profits.

The goal of the tour is to expose the truth about pesticide manufacturers like Bayer; educate the public of the dangers of bee-toxic pesticides; share the stories of beekeepers whose livelihoods have been jeopardized (and some lost) by the continued use of these products;  and urge our EPA to take action to protect the health of pollinators and protect them from bee toxic pesticides.

The tour consists of a collaborative group of beekeepers, consumers, and environmental and food advocacy non-governmental organizations (NGOs), demanding strong action be taken to regulate and restrict the use of bee-toxic pesticides that harm pollinators and the environment. We believe the pesticide manufacturers need to take responsibility for their role in the massive honey bee die-offs.  Let’s work together to Keep the Hives Alive!