Pollinating Problem: Disappearing Bees Could Have Devastating Effects

Jeff Koch, a biology teacher at Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences, starting keeping bees two years ago as a hobby because he is very interested in farming.

At the time, he never considered that his activity might be impacting a worldwide problem, as well as one local gardeners are also reporting — the disappearance of bees.

“Bees pollinate 80 percent of our crops,” Koch said, adding that some crops, like almonds, are pollinated only by them.

Koch’s own experience with bees illustrates one of the problems believed to be affecting the pollinators: colony collapse disorder.

Read more:

http://standardspeaker.com/news/pollinating-problem-disappearing-bees-could-have-devastating-effects-1.1879442

DuPont Rises On Plan To Split The Company

Map of Delaware

Map of Delaware (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Shares of DuPont Co. rose modestly this morning to above $65.50 — a 13-year high — after last night’s announcement that the Wilmington-based chemical giant plans to spin off its profitable but volatile Performance Chemicals business, and its related fluorochemicals and titanium-dioxide (white-paint-base) factories, including a TiO2 plant at Edge Moor, Del., over the next year and a half. The new company will have sales of around $7 billion a year, vs. $28 billion for what’s left of DuPont.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/DuPont-rises.html#O1lLQVZKVo1HmYO2.99

Stink Bug News

There’s a new sheriff in town for stink bugs. The EPA is temporarily permitting orchards to use the pesticide dinotefuran. Dinotefuran is normally used on leafy plants but the EPA is allowing orchards to use this weapon to combat stink bugs in PA, MD and NJ. The pesky bugs have been responsible for destroying as much as 40% of some orchards crop!

Back at the ranch, the USDA is working away on a biological weapon but that is at least a year away from being ready. This temporary pesticide exemption is to help farmers combat the voracious stink bugs until the biological weapon can be deployed.

For more information on dinotefuran, click here:
http://www.mitsuichemicals.com/dinotefuran.htm