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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News Record, 2014-02-12, Page 88 News Record • Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Bees overworked, underfed in North America Ag producers talk globally and locally Gerard Creces Clinton News -Record Local farm producers had an opportunity to talk about the global and local direction of agriculture at a producer informa- tion day put on by Hill and Hill Farms and Varna Grain Friday, Jan. 31. The panel of speakers included crop advisors, agricultural publishers, growers and grain analysts, painting a global picture for the crops grown here at home. Speaker Mervyn Erb tackled another issue making headlines around the globe - the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on massive bee colony collapses. The fallout has effectively pitted THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year's Walk for Memories! You've raised an incredible $45,000 to support those living in Huron with dementia and research for the cure. We're still fighting and hope to reach our goal by the end of the month. If you've collected pledges but couldn't attend, or if you'd like to make a donation, please mail your donations to Alzheimer Society of Huron County: PO Box 639, 317 Huron Road, Clinton ON NOM 1L0 or call the office (519) 482-1482 and we can make arrangements for pick up. AlLkeirn :r' C A 11 A 0 A. .. Birthday lit- Club organ McKenzie Feb 13th Jack McCowan Feb 13th Cherie Edward Feb 16th Katelynn Langendoen Feb 16th Isaac Brownridge/ Feb 17th McKenzie Vincent Eveland Feb 17th Alexis Eveland Feb 17h Austin Meade Feb 17th Tolson Taylor Feb 17th Lukas Brand Feb 18th Lucas Goetz Feb 18th Call our In -Store Bakery to Order BIRTHDAY CAKES OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION CAKE • MAGIC CAKES • CHARACTER CAKES - • BIRTHDAY CAKES • Moore,sMade to your specification. r-OODLAN 6 Mary St., Clinton • 482-9341 agriculture and beekeeping industries against each other. "I made it my business to learn the story," he told the audience. While other countries in the European Union ban neonics, Erb said in Canada there is still work to be done on finding ways to apply the chemical safely to seeds. Brands such as Cruise, Poncho or Stress Shield came out in the early 1990s, as a safer alternative for seed treatment. "We were told it was safer to handle, safer for the environment and safe for humans," he said. "Someone forgot to tell the bees:' The lack of a Canadian ban on the pesticide has given farmers in this country some bad press, but understanding how seed coating works, Erb said, shows just how far the country has come. Progressive years of research and refinement have brought pesticides a long way, Erb explained. Neonicotinoids are the lat- est, and relatively safest, pesticides. Neonicotinoids are applied on the seed and again in the early stages of a plant's development. The dust that rises from air planters carries the pesticide due to the abrasion of talc or graphite, which are used as lubricants for the seeder. A waxier coating that still allows the seed to split open has the potential to reduce this type of dust, he said. In 2012, beekeepers in Ontario faced one of their worst years. Trace amounts of neonicotinoid were founding 70 per cent of bee deaths. However, massive bee kills are quite often due to mites or fungus, and Erb cited examples of Swiss, Californian and French problems with bee deaths. France has had a neonics ban since 1999. Erb also explained that bee populations also have to deal with being overworked and underfed. Billions of bees are shipped around the continent pollinating different crops, and the demand for bees has contributed to the shortage. Ontario bees have a relatively poor diet where crops are con- cerned. Corn, soy and wheat all offer poor nutrition for bees, with canola being the best protein food with the most pollen. Bees shipped to the Maritimes to pollinate berry crops are get- ting very little nutrition at all. Still, in such a polarized environment, Erb said farmers "don't want one more bee dead than last year:' The North American supply and demand chain and the effects of global exports was the topic of Cal Whewell's presenta- tion. Whewell is a gain analyst with commodity firm FC Stone. He showed a direct link between markets and crops in China, Argentina and Brazil and the effects on Canadian growers and futures. While the drive for ethanol is large thanks to United States government regulations, the high price deters exports. In order to take advantage of global demand, he said "exports need to go to China." Other speakers included Peter Johnson, OMAF crop advisor and John DePutter of DePutter Publishing. nurryi 6://yL'f,e-/,,o(J ?4/e Twee *aa 76. Vow/4 S`r at 7e4e t42ea ek.eite, Clinton United Church 105 Ontario Street Minister Rev. Randy Covey Director of Music: Louise Dockstader Church Office: 519-482-9553 www.clintonunited.ca SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 10:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE PULPIT EXCHANGE SUNDAY REV BRIAN HYMERS =NURSERY & SUNDAY SCHOOL EVERYONE WELCOME Christian Reformed Church 243 Princess St. E., Clinton Pastor Ron Luchies 519-482-5264 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2014 10:00 AM- Morning_Service 7:00 PM- Evening ervice Thursday's- 7:00 pm Girls and Boys Ages 9-13 Gems and Cadets "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8 vs 1 All Visitors Welcome!! St. Paul's Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit 49 Ontario St., Clinton Th ReverendKarine Farmer BA, M.Div Organist & Choir Master: Dana Prouse SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 WORSHIP AT 11:15 AM EVERYONE WELCOME TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE CALL CHRISTY 519-4$2-3443 clinton-clasOieds @ sunmedia.ca BIBLE MISSIONARY CHURCH 35 Toronto Blvd., Vanastra (519) 482-8183 FEBRUARY 16, 2014 Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Sunday Evening Worship 7:00 PM Pastor Josh McCarthy Everyone Welcome! Heartland Community Church (52 Victoria Street, Clinton, Ontario) For information see www.heartlandemc.com Church 519-606-1015 SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2014 10:00 AM FAMILY SERVICE : Worship as a family with us. Then the chil- dren enjoy their program while adults are blessed by a message for them. 7:00 PM SHARE & PRAYER SERVICE Expect a welcome and a blessing! Fellowship Bible Chapel 220 KING ST., LONDESBOROUGH www.fellowshipbiblechapel.ca SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2014 9:45 am: Breaking of read 11:00 am: Family Bible Hour ALL WELCOME! First Baptist Church 85 Huron St., Clinton 482-3598 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2014 MORNING SERVICE 10:30AM Lay Pastor - Wally DeWolfe Bible Study Wednesday 7:30 PM