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Why we need bees Wednesday Mar 22, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Kristina Lefever and Donna Breedlove If you eat food, you need bees. Pollinators of all types are needed for the reproduction of nearly 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants, and in agriculture, more than one out of every three bites of food is because of pollination. Bees contribute to the production of at least $15 billion of food crops in the United States every year. But populations of bees and other pollinators, as well as the number of individual bee colonies, have been in decline for decades because of a number of threats. Scientists, farmers, gardeners and environmental activists gathered Feb. 11 for a pollinator Forum at Oregon State University’s Extension office in Central Point. Hosted by the nonprofit groups Pollinator Project Rogue Valley and Beyond Toxics, speakers discussed problems facing pollinators and offered solutions designed to protect our most valuable insect allies. One of the things killing bees is a group of systemic insecticides called Neonicotinoids (neonics for short). While neonics are less acutely toxic to humans, they are very toxic to insects, including bees and other pollinators. According to speakers from The Xerces Society, Center for Biological Diversity, Trout Unlimited, and Beyond Toxics, neonics are a major contributor to the decline of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Small amounts of neonic exposure can kill bees on contact, and treated plants can remain toxic to pollinators for years afterwards. The entire plant, including the pollen and nectar, becomes toxic, and cannot be washed off. Neonics are the most widely used insecticides in the world, and because they migrate into streams and rivers, they also poison the insects eaten by fish and further disrupt natural ecosystems. Keynote speaker Dr. Susan Kegley, principle scientist and founder of the Pesticide Research Institute in Berkeley, California, talked about how fruits and vegetables we eat can be tested for neonic residues. Dr. Kegley shared a story about how she and several colleagues, while visiting the congressional dining hall in Washington, D.C., decided to collect samples of the fruits and vegetables eaten by our lawmakers. Of the 66 samples collected, 91 percent tested positive for neonics. The organic produce tested had little to no residues. Their report, published by the American Bird Conservancy, can be found here. Neonics have been banned in the European Union and some Canadian provinces and cities for years, while the U.S. is just beginning to respond to the issue. Maryland is the first state to  ban the use of neonicotinoids for cosmetic use. Recommendations made by the panelists at the Forum include: Avoid using all insecticides that poison pollinators and do not buy products containing neonics, including pet flea collars. Plant native plants to provide food and habitat for native bee species (some of which are endangered). Plant a variety of flowers that bloom from spring to fall to provide food for bees. Avoid planting monoculture (large-scale single plant species plantings). Grass lawns (a type of flowerless monoculture) do not provide food for pollinators. Oregon already has rules to keep nearly 500 dangerous pesticides out of the home consumer market; the panelists agreed that neonicotinoids should be added to this list of Restricted Use Pesticides. This legislative session, Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, and Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, introduced the Oregon Pollinator Protection Act, Senate Bill 929. This bill would classify neonicotinoids as Restricted Use Pesticides, meaning only professional licensed applicators would be able to use neonic insecticides for nurseries, farms, orchards and landscapes. Lisa Arkin, executive director of Beyond Toxics, said, “We are thrilled to have such strong support from Southern Oregon for the Oregon Pollinator Protection Act. SB 929 is a popular bill — many legislators are endorsing it because they understand how critical it is to support our bees. Passing this bill will ensure that unsuspecting consumers can't find bee-killing pesticides on store shelves, making a significant difference in the survival of our pollinators in Oregon.” Will you join us in supporting SB 929? Help us save Oregon's bees by: Endorsing SB 929 (businesses and organizations). Signing the petition (individuals). Calling your legislators. Writing a letter to your legislators. — Donna Breedlove is a former licensed landscape contractor who specialized in organic methods. Kristina Lefever is a member of Pollinator Project Rogue Valley.