Florida Bee Protection

Jeanette Klopchin, M.S. Pollinator Protection Specialist

Bureau of Scientific Evaluation and Technical Assistance Division of Agricultural Environmental Services

National Action for Pollinator Protection

n  Presidential Memorandum – June, 2014

n  Appointed the Pollinator Health Task Force chaired by USDA and EPA n  tasked with developing a ‘National

Pollinator Health Strategy’ n Pollinator Research Action Plan n Public Education Plan n  Increasing and Improving

Pollinator Habitat

National Progress n  White House ‘National Strategy to Promote the

Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators’– May 19 2015 n  ‘Protecting Pollinators from Exposure to Pesticides’ “Mitigating the effects of pesticides on bees is a high priority for the federal government, as both bee pollination

and insect control are essential to the success of agriculture”

EPA actions n  ‘Proposal to Mitigate Exposure to Bees from Acutely Toxic

Pesticide Products’ – May 28 2015 n  additional restrictions for pesticide applications to blooming crops

where managed bees are present under contract pollination services n  76 active ingredients meet the criteria for new label language n  honey bee specific tiered risk assessment approach for all new-

registration and re-evaluation, n  new data calls and field studies being added n  states tasked with developing Managed Pollinator Protection Plans

n  MP3 will address all other scenarios: e.g. foraging bees in/nearby an application site, non-contract situations, protections afforded to native species, etc.

**Public comment period now open

Managed Pollinator Protection Plan Development

n  American Association of Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) Pollinator Committee n  identified by state; farm organizations, apiary programs,

agriculture departments, etc. who would lead the MP3 development process in each state

n  draft guidance document developed by State-FIFRA Research and Evaluation Group (SFIREG)

Purpose: to establish a systematic and comprehensive method for beekeeper and agricultural producer cooperation and communication that

allows both parties to operate successfully.

Florida’s Managed Pollinator Protection Plan

n  A way to mitigate the risk of pesticides to bees and other

managed pollinators, while supporting crop production, and developed through open communication between stakeholders.

n  Pollinator Protection Specialist n  maintain communication and involvement with stakeholder groups n  perform outreach that provides consumers with information relative to

pollinator protection n  provide technical support to the Department in

all areas related to pollinators

The Citrus Case in Florida

Stimulus

n  pesticide use in citrus to control insects that transmit citrus greening disease and its affect on honey bees and beekeepers

Response n  stakeholder meetings and

Public workshops n  development of

recommendations to protect both citrus and bees n  participants – growers,

beekeepers, applicators, extension, regulators, registrants, others.

n  support from FDACS Commissioner Putnam

Citrus Outcomes

Needs n  communication between

grove owners and beekeepers

n  more information n  minimize risk of

pesticide applications to bees

n  ability to deal with unwanted or uninvited hives

Actions n  www.floridabeeprotection.org n  Apiary/Citrus Mapping link n  collaborations with IFAS

n  EDIS doc and In-service training

n  pesticide interpretation and guidance for growers, applicators

n  apiary rule change: unwanted hives

www.FloridaBeeProtection.org

n  information for beekeepers n  information for growers

n  information on crop issues – e.g. citrus greening n  label interpretation documents (citrus and more TBA)

n  downloadable outreach information n  state bee removal and relocation list

Florida MP3 – Communication

n  method for growers/applicators to locate and contact each other n  growers need to be able to contact beekeepers of pending applications n  beekeepers need adequate time to take protective measures

n  Citrus-Apiary mapping tool n  voluntary registration of

approximate apiary locations n  contact information n  future expansion of mapping service

Florida MP3 – Communication

n  recommendation for the adoption of more formalized agreements

n  agreements that contain: n  contact information n  duration of hive placement relative to crop bloom n  pesticide use information n  hive protection or relocation plan n  tailored but inclusive

n  ‘Sample Pollination Agreement – n  UF/IFAS EDIS document ENY-160

Florida MP3 – Minimize Risk n  Recommendations on how to minimize the risk of pesticides to bees

n  control flowering weeds n  timing of applications n  selection of less toxic active ingredients n  selection of less toxic formulations n  crop-specific BMP’s

n  Communication points n  what products & formulations n  when will bees be placed and when will they be removed n  a plan for each field or grove n  updates for each season

Florida MP3 – Label Guidance

n  Interpretative guidance for pesticide products that have labels that include bee statements n  label interpretations available online for citrus products n  labels in development for products used blueberry & cucurbit production n  as EPA label language changes, FDACS will provide interpretations as

appropriate

Continuing Progress n  upcoming trainings and outreach

n  within the Department of Ag. – e.g. Apiary and Ag. inspectors n  beekeepers and bee organizations n  growers and grower organizations

n  land registry for lands to host apiaries n  development of an informational database whereby landowners

can register alternative foraging lands/properties available to beekeepers

n  continual involvement with national pollinator working groups; representing Florida as a positive model for apiary research, education, and outreach as well as pollinator protection

Continuing Progress n  MP3 expansion

n  bee-pollinated crops in Florida n  blueberries, cucurbits (squash, melon, cucumbers) n  grower meeting outreach – Fl. Ag Expo, FBGA, Small

Farms, etc. n  beekeeper steering committee in development n  protecting pollinators in ornamental landscapes

n  survey – baseline data n  beekeepers, growers and applicators

n  stakeholder meeting n  December 8-9-10, 2015 – save the date! n  Email sign-up sheet today for updates and information

n  plan summary and crop-specific chapters expected 2016

Thank You! www.FloridaBeeProtection.org

Jeanette.Klopchin@FreshFromFlorida.com (850) 459-5714 mobile (386) 418-5515 office

and the most important question … “how’s that baby girl doing?”