Planned new aerial insecticide spraying in N.Cali this summer

[Dane Bramage]

Just an advisory for my California brethren & sistren beeks.  I'm unsure on the ramifications (if any) for your health and your bees, but I just read that there is a new insecticide formulation ((E)-11-Tetradecen-l-y Acetate) to be sprayed this summer, purportedly to combat the light brown apple moth.

Official Press release ~> cdfa.ca.gov article

"Aerial treatments are expected to begin June 1 in the infested areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, with subsequent aerial treatments expected to begin August 1 in San Francisco, Daly City, Colma, Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Tiburon and Belvedere. The treatments in these areas are designed to be reapplied at 30- to 90-day intervals while the moths are active."

CDFA Light Brown Apple Moth Project home page

From naturalnews.com ~> Plan To Spray Toxic Biological Chemicals Over San Francisco Announced

[Kathyp]

just the person i wanted to reach.  i am leaving you a pm.

[annette]

Thanks Dane

It is good to know this, although they are staying down in the Bay Area and nothing mentioned about coming up to the mountains. I pray this never happens here where I live. It sounds so aweful.

How are you Dane, was wondering how you have been. Long time and no posting. How are the hives doing???

Annette

[jimmy_in_texas]

From Wikipedia

[edit] Eradication measures in California
Main article: Light brown apple moth controversy
After the moth was confirmed by DNA testing to be present in California in 2007, quarantine measures and a controversial aerial spraying program of a pesticide with synthetic pheromones, were begun. CDFA and USDA officials described the situation as an emergency, which allowed them to bypass normal rules for the use of pesticides which require a state environmental impact report and public notice. Following an initial round of aerial spraying, hundreds of accounts of adverse health effects were reported, sparking a large public outcry, multiple state legislative responses and significant media coverage. James Carey, a professor of entomology at the University of California-Davis, believes the moth has been in California for decades.[7]


[edit] References
^ Bellas, T.E., Bartell, R.J. and Hill, A. (1983) Identification of two components of the sex pheromone of the moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) Journal of Chemical Ecology 9, 503-511
^ Thomas, W. P. (1989) Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), light brown apple moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Pages 187-195 of: A review of biological control of invertebrate pests & weeds in New Zealand (Cameron, P. J., Hill, R. L., Bain, J. and Thomas, W. P., eds) CAB International, London.
^ Wearing, C. and Thomas, W. and Dugdale, J. and Danthanarayana, W. (1991) Tortricid pests of pome and stone fruits, Australian and New Zealand species. Pages 453-472 of: Tortricid pests, their biology, natural enemies and control (Van der Geest, L. P. S. and Evenhuis, H. H., eds) Vol 5. Elsevier Amsterdam IBSN 0-444-88000-3.
^ News Release - NR07-09 - May 2, 2007 â€" Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.

[Dane Bramage]

Thanks Dane

It is good to know this, although they are staying down in the Bay Area and nothing mentioned about coming up to the mountains. I pray this never happens here where I live. It sounds so aweful.

How are you Dane, was wondering how you have been. Long time and no posting. How are the hives doing???

Annette

It sure does seem it has a lot of downside potential eh?   :shock:  I'm happy I'm up here and clear of it as well (I use to reside in Burlingame, CA). 

I've been busy with other projects but the bees are picking up again.  My first year was epic so I am ramping up and increasing my hive count ~ 4x (to ~40) :-D  as soon as the almonds are done (I'll be driving through your area on the way to pick up some hives).  8-)
Winter was tough on my hives.. I lost a few due to (what I suspect) was a combination of cold, windy, wet and the relentless yellow-jackets just prior to that.  I've found and removed many YJ hives and hive-hiding spots (got rid of above-ground pool, YJ nests in the support posts and putting in a yurt).  I've also decided to place a protective structure (from wind & rain) around the hives for next winter. 

I now have an HD vid cam and have started learning the production software - so I'll be posting some youtube, etc., from the apiaries as well as much more detailed photo-journaling this season.  I just learned that my apiary (& home) is located in an old Walnut orchard (there are only a few old remaining walnut trees here and there).  I'm very excited for this season!

KathyP ~> PM back atchya  :)

Cheers,
Dane

[DayValleyDahlias]

I live in the heart of this mess...it is extremely political...I have tohave my farm inspected every 2 weeks by  the feds...they are some nice folks, mostly from the East coast who meander though the rows of dahlias...they have found nary a one...I am an organic grower...the hoopla over the moth is getting crazy...It has been in California FOR YEARS...It really didn't get much press until the SF Bay area came into play...They have already sprayed parts of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties...we fought it tooth and nail, but to no avail...Now that SF may be sprayed, it is getting more press...guess the small folk don't really matter in the"big picture"..I am counting on SF to END the insanity...

Oneof our local grower Jeff Rosendal and a UCSC Professor have studied the moth in New Zealand, and have come up with alternative methods...this thing cannot be eradicated, it can only be  controlled...

The thing can be safely controled by spraying crops with BT or Spinosad! Don't SPRAY ME!!!!!!!!!  Or my land or bees or pets or waterways...ggggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr