From: Barry Birkey <barry@birkey.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 01:16:02 -0500
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: The Bottom Line.

From: cslade777@aol.com
> From what you say then, can organic beekeepers ignore what their neighbours
> are planting and spraying?

Absolutely not! Common sense tells us to be aware and concerned about what
is happening around us. Within the last 2 weeks, I've stopped twice along
the roadside, very near where I keep hives, and approached some unknown
person obviously spraying some kind of chemical on the vegetation. Both
times I asked the individual what chemical they were using and on what
plant. I also challenged them about spraying plants that were in bloom and
wanted to know if they were familiar with the label of their herbicide. In
both cases, the applicator didn't know for sure and referred me on to their
supervisors. In the end, I could find no evidence that they were violating
any law, even though common sense would tell anyone that you shouldn't be
spraying plants that are in bloom with herbicide in the middle of the day
when bees are flying.

I will do what I can to educate people and monitor their activities that may
have an impact on the bees. This still shouldn't stop me from being able to
have an organic label if I'm holding up my end of the deal with what I do in
the hives.

Regards, Barry