Today I'm here to write about man power. What is the man power that has brought us to this point where I'm looking at hummingbirds as pollinators in my garden? I hope someday to have lots of hummingbirds pollinating my garden but manpower doesn't start with the birds, that's for sure.
The first people in this equation are the people who used fertilizer on their plants. They found, probably through a process of years of trying and failing, that giving soil more nutrients would grow bigger plants fruits, than not doing it. Over time many stopped doing other things that were done for generations to keep soil healthy and alive. Putting manure into their soil, rotating what plants they planted where, overwintering with organic material that would give more life to their soil, simultaneously supplying nutrients.
Later they started looking for other easy fixes. They had weeds... Insect infestations... Plants seemed to beckon more and more diseases. They bought special powders and pellets and sprays to stop the insects, which introduce us to the second set of hands in our scheme of man power. Chemical researchers, the companies that pay them, and every person in the chain of merchandise, patenting, marketing, selling the pellets, powders and sprays to kill the weeds and get rid of the pests.
For a while this worked.
Over time, the powders, pellets and sprays accumulated in the soil and the insects started to develop defenses to them, as did the weedy plants and diseases. So new powders, pellets and sprays, stronger ones, were developed by new researchers to think more creatively about ways around natural defenses. Different classes of powders, pellets and sprays were developed. A flavor for each threat to the garden and grass, for each crevice of the home where insects were uninvited.
One of these flavors are called neonicotinoids. You've probably heard this word before. As it is used in infamous ways to describe a tragedy happening to the food supply. Enter in another force in our chain of man power. Every person, including bloggers, special interest groups, chemical companies, hippies, antiwar protesters and ecologists, who have written and influenced information regarding the chemical management of a life cycle, have contributed to this source of man power. Each different representation of perspective comes with it's own set of values. And unfortunately it's not always clear what the truth is about this source of man power.
It has been suspected for a long time but only in 2013 did we begin to see concrete evidence of negative impacts of this, the most popular class of pesticides. A study was published in European Food Safety Authority earlier in 2018 confirming the belief that Neonicotinoids are responsible for the fast occurring die off of our most prevalent pollinator, honey bees. And finally, the EPA is reviewing whether to ban them and where. Which brings us to today.
The time when we can no longer depend on our crops being pollinated by bees is fast arriving. Many growers and researchers are now looking for more ways to pollinate. Indeed we may find that the most unique source of this tiny manual labor is in scarce supply. Hands can't do what a few hundred pairs of wings might. Neonicotinoids don't only affect honey bees but native bees as well. The biodiversity that maintains our ecosystem may be at risk. New researchers are looking for different insects to pollinate and the man power in this arena has developed into city councils and local government to regulate neonicotinoids in their areas.
United States Geological Survey. Native Bees are Exposed to Neonicotinoids and Other Pesticides. United States Department of the Interior. June 27, 2018. https://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-11-04-pesticides_bees.html. Accessed October 29, 2018
The first people in this equation are the people who used fertilizer on their plants. They found, probably through a process of years of trying and failing, that giving soil more nutrients would grow bigger plants fruits, than not doing it. Over time many stopped doing other things that were done for generations to keep soil healthy and alive. Putting manure into their soil, rotating what plants they planted where, overwintering with organic material that would give more life to their soil, simultaneously supplying nutrients.
Later they started looking for other easy fixes. They had weeds... Insect infestations... Plants seemed to beckon more and more diseases. They bought special powders and pellets and sprays to stop the insects, which introduce us to the second set of hands in our scheme of man power. Chemical researchers, the companies that pay them, and every person in the chain of merchandise, patenting, marketing, selling the pellets, powders and sprays to kill the weeds and get rid of the pests.
For a while this worked.
Over time, the powders, pellets and sprays accumulated in the soil and the insects started to develop defenses to them, as did the weedy plants and diseases. So new powders, pellets and sprays, stronger ones, were developed by new researchers to think more creatively about ways around natural defenses. Different classes of powders, pellets and sprays were developed. A flavor for each threat to the garden and grass, for each crevice of the home where insects were uninvited.
One of these flavors are called neonicotinoids. You've probably heard this word before. As it is used in infamous ways to describe a tragedy happening to the food supply. Enter in another force in our chain of man power. Every person, including bloggers, special interest groups, chemical companies, hippies, antiwar protesters and ecologists, who have written and influenced information regarding the chemical management of a life cycle, have contributed to this source of man power. Each different representation of perspective comes with it's own set of values. And unfortunately it's not always clear what the truth is about this source of man power.
It has been suspected for a long time but only in 2013 did we begin to see concrete evidence of negative impacts of this, the most popular class of pesticides. A study was published in European Food Safety Authority earlier in 2018 confirming the belief that Neonicotinoids are responsible for the fast occurring die off of our most prevalent pollinator, honey bees. And finally, the EPA is reviewing whether to ban them and where. Which brings us to today.
The time when we can no longer depend on our crops being pollinated by bees is fast arriving. Many growers and researchers are now looking for more ways to pollinate. Indeed we may find that the most unique source of this tiny manual labor is in scarce supply. Hands can't do what a few hundred pairs of wings might. Neonicotinoids don't only affect honey bees but native bees as well. The biodiversity that maintains our ecosystem may be at risk. New researchers are looking for different insects to pollinate and the man power in this arena has developed into city councils and local government to regulate neonicotinoids in their areas.
Of course, the original man power here exists in each person who enjoys observing nature and wishes our environment to thrive as we know it. Maybe someday hummingbirds will be identified as a great source for pollinating crops, not only for the spectacle of speed and color that calls to nature lovers and birdwatchers. If it does, I'll be ready for them.
References:
Clawson, Beth. Seeking Alternative Pollinators. Michigan State University Extension. June 14, 2012. http://www.canr.msu.edu/news/seeking_alternative_pollinators. Accessed October 29, 2018.
Environmental Protection Agency. Schedule for Review of Neonicotinoid Pesticides. United States Government. 2018. https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/schedule-review-neonicotinoid-pesticides. Accessed October 29, 2018.
References:
Clawson, Beth. Seeking Alternative Pollinators. Michigan State University Extension. June 14, 2012. http://www.canr.msu.edu/news/seeking_alternative_pollinators. Accessed October 29, 2018.
Environmental Protection Agency. Schedule for Review of Neonicotinoid Pesticides. United States Government. 2018. https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection/schedule-review-neonicotinoid-pesticides. Accessed October 29, 2018.
King, Anthony. European risk assessment slams Neonicotinoids. Chemistryworld.com. 2018. https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/european-risk-assessment-slams-neonicotinoids-/3008725.article. Accessed October 29, 2018.
United States Geological Survey. Native Bees are Exposed to Neonicotinoids and Other Pesticides. United States Department of the Interior. June 27, 2018. https://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-11-04-pesticides_bees.html. Accessed October 29, 2018