Comes with eating "an apple a day!"
D. Del Boca
I never realized pomologists were such great philosophers !
W. H."Butch" Palmer
-----Original Message-----
From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf OfDave Rosenberger
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 11:15 PM
To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
Subject: Apple-Crop: Re: BEES & COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER
The only way to avoid "possible negative ramifications of man's
meddling with the natural order of things" would be for us to revert
to a hunter-gatherer social structure, and even that would have its
impacts! All of agriculture including organic agriculture has
negative impacts if one defines negative as being anything other than
an untouched ecosystem. And if that is not where the line should be
drawn, then who gets to decide where in fact the line does get drawn?
Concerning bee activity, we have about 20 acres of research orchards
at the Hudson Valley Lab and we have never brought in bees for
pollination, nor am I aware of any neighbors within a quarter mile who
keep bees. We still seem to get plenty of wild bees and other kinds
of pollinators coming out of the woods that surround our orchards,
although the honeybee population dropped off dramatically several
years ago when the mite problems were killing both domestic and wild
bees. This year, we had more honeybee activity than I have seen in
many years.
My point is that domesticated honeybees tended by beekeepers are not
the only source of honeybee pollinators (or is it pollenizers? I can
never remember). Managed hives are undoubtedly important on large
farms, in areas where crops are grown in artificial climates (i.e.,
irrigated deserts), or in regions where agriculture has removed all
of the natural habitat for wild bees. Nevertheless, my experience in
watching bees suggests that wild bees would be around for many years
even if all of the beekeepers suddenly collapsed over night.
I suppose the possibility of Frankenbees exists and I would to hear
from an expert about all the possible negative ramifications of mans
medalling with the natural order of things.
Jim Friedler
-----Original Message-----
From: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Philip Smith
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 11:13 AM
To: Apple-Crop
Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: Re: BEES & COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER
Are you suggesting the possibility of Frankenbees? I can see an issue
with bees spreading pollen from GM crops to non-GM crops, but I
don't see what effect it would have on the bees, themselves.
--
**************************************************************
Dave Rosenberger
Professor of Plant Pathology Office: 845-691-7231
Cornell University's Hudson Valley Lab Fax: 845-691-2719
P.O. Box 727, Highland, NY 12528 Cell: 845-594-3060
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/pp/faculty/rosenberger/
