{"id":16923,"date":"2015-11-09T00:00:32","date_gmt":"2015-11-09T04:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=16923"},"modified":"2015-11-09T10:35:26","modified_gmt":"2015-11-09T14:35:26","slug":"usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/","title":{"rendered":"USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(<em>Beyond Pesticides,<\/em> November 09, 2015) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cancelled a webinar on the presence of neonicotinoids in waterways in the Prairie Pothole region, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peer.org\/news\/news-releases\/usda-censors-webinars-on-neonic-insecticide-risks.html\">according<\/a> to the government watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). PEER states that the cancellation is \u201canother example of USDA interfering with the release of new science-based information about adverse effects linked to \u00a0neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides.\u201d As a result, PEER continues, \u201cGrowing ecological risks posed by the most widely used insecticides in North America will likely not be considered in developing USDA policies, planning or management practices.\u201d Neonicotinoids are a controversial class of chemicals that have been linked to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/assets\/media\/documents\/pollinators\/nolongeraBIGmystery.pdf\">global bee decline<\/a> by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/programs\/bee-protective-pollinators-and-pesticides\/what-the-science-shows\">rapidly growing body of scientific literature<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/usda.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-15502\" src=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/usda.png\" alt=\"usda\" width=\"270\" height=\"186\" align=\"right\" \/><\/a>A webinar, titled <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peer.org\/assets\/docs\/usda\/11_5_15_Webinar_posting.pdf\">Pesticides and Potholes: Understanding the Risks of Neonicotinoid Insecticides to Aquatic Ecosystems in Prairie Canada and Beyond<\/a>, \u00a0was supposed to take place June 24, 2014, according to PEER. Instead, the online event was cancelled by Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology at USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).<\/p>\n<p>The online event would have featured Christy Morrissey, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, School of Environment and Sustainability, whose research includes studying the fate of neonicotinoids in wetlands as they affect aquatic insects and birds in agricultural ecosystems in the Prairie Pothole region, which covers the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. The region is one of the world\u2019s most important wetland region and is home to more than half of North America\u2019s migratory waterfowl. NRCS devotes considerable resources to wetland restoration in the region. Yet, drainage from surrounding cropland carries increasing amounts of ultra-potent neonics that threaten the health of the region\u2019s aquatic systems.<\/p>\n<p>A companion webinar on the efficacy of neonicotinoid seed coatings \u00a0and practices to minimize adverse impacts on pollinators and other non-target organisms was also called off. The cancelled webinars were part of a series addressing priority training needs identified by NRCS and partner biologists.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I am sorry to disappoint you, but I determined that these topics were not appropriate for an NRCS sponsored webinar,&#8221; Dr. Honeycutt wrote in an email to William Hohman, Ph.D., the Fort Worth, Texas-based NRCS biologist who organized the webinar. PEER published the email online, as well as internal emails from NRCS conservation staff <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peer.org\/assets\/docs\/usda\/11_5_15_Emails_webinar_need.pdf\">expressing the need for training<\/a> that stand in stark contrast to Dr. Honeycutt\u2019s cancellation of the event.<\/p>\n<p>An NRCS official refuted the idea that the webinar was cancelled to hide information on neonicotinoids, saying the online presentation is \u00a0&#8220;inappropriate&#8221; since \u00a0it was not developed by USDA and did not meet the scientific research criteria for an NRCS webinar.<\/p>\n<p>The studies to be presented in the webinar were &#8220;not fully research-based,&#8221; said the official.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Neonics are apparently a taboo topic for USDA scientists to discuss,&#8221; PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch said in a statement. &#8220;This episode suggests political science essentially trumps biology, agronomy and every other discipline inside today&#8217;s USDA.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>USDA has a long and notorious history in its attempts to quash science and scientists whose research does not fall in line with the agency\u2019s paradigm.  \u00a0Last week, <a href=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/10\/usda-scientist-punished-for-neonic-study-files-complaint\/\">USDA entomologist Jonathan Lundgren, Ph.D. was suspended<\/a> out of what he believes is retaliation for research on a neonicotinoid pesticide&#8217;s effect on monarch butterflies. In April, PEER \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.peer.org\/assets\/docs\/usda\/3_26_15_USDA_%20Rule-Making_Petition.pdf\">filed a petition<\/a> \u00a0for rulemaking, seeking to strengthen USDA\u2019s Scientific Integrity Policy. PEER argued that language in the current policy actually encourages the suppression of scientific study where large agribusiness corporations\u2019 reputations are at stake. PEER \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/04\/usda-under-fire-for-rules-permitting-agribusiness-interests-like-monsanto-to-intimidate-scientists\/\">explains that<\/a> \u00a0USDA management regularly uses this provision as reason for suppressing technical work of employees when industry stakeholders disagree with the scientific conclusions reached.<\/p>\n<p>Neonicotinoids are a highly pervasive environmental contaminant. A U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study last year found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/07\/midwest-waterways-contaminated-with-persistent-neonicotinoid-pesticides\/\">high levels of neonicotinoids in Midwestern waterways<\/a>, where agricultural intensity is strong. Another USGS study found that <a href=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/08\/bee-toxic-neonicotinoids-found-in-nearly-half-of-u-s-streams\/\">neonicotinoids contaminate over half of urban and agricultural streams across the U.S. and Puerto Rico<\/a>. Neonicotinoids have become the fastest growing class of insecticides in agriculture. They are now the \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0048357514002272\">most widely used class of insecticide chemicals<\/a> \u00a0and are registered in \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.moraybeedinosaurs.co.uk\/neonicotinoid\/global.pdf\">more than 120 countries<\/a>. Studies continue to question the efficacy of these chemicals in pest control, showing \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/10\/epa-finds-neonicotinoid-seed-treatments-to-be-of-little-or-no-benefit\/\">no yield increases<\/a> \u00a0as a result of their use. Beyond food production, neonics are \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/06\/study-finds-majority-of-bee-friendly-plants-sold-at-garden-stores-contaminated-with-bee-killing-pesticides\/\">frequently detected in nursery plants<\/a> \u00a0sold at big box home and garden centers throughout the United States. And recent research also produced by the Harvard School of Public Health finds these chemicals to be \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/07\/bee-killing-pesticides-ubiquitous-in-pollen-samples-during-honey-bee-forage-season\/\">ubiquitous in our environment<\/a> \u00a0during flowering season, present in a vast majority of pollen samples taken throughout the state of Massachusetts.<\/p>\n<p>The impacts these chemicals have on \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/07\/bird-population-declines-linked-to-neonicotinoid-pesticides-adding-to-previous-science\/\">birds<\/a> \u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/abcbirds.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Neonic_FINAL.pdf\">a single kernel of neonic-coated corn<\/a> \u00a0is enough to kill a songbird), \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/pollinators\/nolongeraBIGmystery.pdf\">honey bees<\/a>, \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/02\/neonics-harm-bees-brain-cells-according-to-researchers\/\">wild pollinators<\/a>, and other \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=16202\">beneficial organisms<\/a> \u00a0are \u00a0clear and has been \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/pollinators\/research.php\">well-researched<\/a>. Large-scale use of neonicotinoids can also alter and harm aquatic communities. Aquatic invertebrates, which \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stlawrencelowlands.wordpress.com\/2012\/11\/09\/studying-the-diversity-and-ecological-importance-of-aquatic-macroinvertebrates\/\">play an important role<\/a> \u00a0in ecological diversity, are especially susceptible \u2014 \u00a0neonicotinoids can exert \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0160412014003183\">adverse effects<\/a> \u00a0on survival, growth, emergence, mobility, and behavior of many sensitive aquatic invertebrate taxa.<\/p>\n<p>With independent science both in and outside of the U.S. pointing to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/programs\/bee-protective-pollinators-and-pesticides\/what-the-science-shows\">growing list of impacts<\/a> from neonicotinoid pesticides, advocates argue that it is critical that federal scientific agencies tasked with protecting human and environmental health be able to inform the public without repercussions from an industry whose only interest is in protecting profits. For more information, see PEER\u2019s \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.peer.org\/news\/news-releases\/2015\/03\/26\/usda-urged-to-shield-its-scientists-from-harassment\/\">pattern of science manipulation at USDA<\/a>. To see the history of industry influence in federal agencies, visit \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/index.php?s=revolving+door\">this link<\/a> \u00a0to Beyond Pesticides&#8217; \u00a0Daily News blog.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.eenews.net\/login?r=%2Feenewspm%2F2015%2F11%2F05%2Fstories%2F1060027559\">E&amp;E News<\/a> (subscription required); <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peer.org\/news\/news-releases\/usda-censors-webinars-on-neonic-insecticide-risks.html\">PEER<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Beyond Pesticides, November 09, 2015) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cancelled a webinar on the presence of neonicotinoids in waterways in the Prairie Pothole region, according to the government watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). PEER states that the cancellation is \u201canother example of USDA interfering with the release of new science-based information about adverse effects linked to \u00a0neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides.\u201d As a result, PEER continues, \u201cGrowing ecological risks posed by the most widely used insecticides in North America will likely not be considered in developing USDA policies, planning or management practices.\u201d Neonicotinoids are a controversial class of chemicals that have been linked to the global bee decline by a rapidly growing body of scientific literature. A webinar, titled Pesticides and Potholes: Understanding the Risks of Neonicotinoid Insecticides to Aquatic Ecosystems in Prairie Canada and Beyond, \u00a0was supposed to take place June 24, 2014, according to PEER. Instead, the online event was cancelled by Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology at USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The online event would have featured Christy Morrissey, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, School of Environment and Sustainability, whose research includes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[249,124,328,12,324,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agriculture","category-announcements","category-neonicotinoids","category-water","category-water-regulation","category-wildlifeenvironment"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides - Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Beyond Pesticides, November 09, 2015) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cancelled a webinar on the presence of neonicotinoids in waterways in the Prairie Pothole region, according to the government watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). PEER states that the cancellation is \u201canother example of USDA interfering with the release of new science-based information about adverse effects linked to \u00a0neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides.\u201d As a result, PEER continues, \u201cGrowing ecological risks posed by the most widely used insecticides in North America will likely not be considered in developing USDA policies, planning or management practices.\u201d Neonicotinoids are a controversial class of chemicals that have been linked to the global bee decline by a rapidly growing body of scientific literature. A webinar, titled Pesticides and Potholes: Understanding the Risks of Neonicotinoid Insecticides to Aquatic Ecosystems in Prairie Canada and Beyond, \u00a0was supposed to take place June 24, 2014, according to PEER. Instead, the online event was cancelled by Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology at USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The online event would have featured Christy Morrissey, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, School of Environment and Sustainability, whose research includes [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-11-09T04:00:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2015-11-09T14:35:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/usda.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Beyond Pesticides\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ByondPesticides\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ByondPesticides\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Beyond Pesticides\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Beyond Pesticides\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#\/schema\/person\/1b5c0a0981b549cc5b628770073031f4\"},\"headline\":\"USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-11-09T04:00:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2015-11-09T14:35:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/\"},\"wordCount\":968,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/usda.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Agriculture\",\"Announcements\",\"neonicotinoids\",\"Water\",\"Water Regulation\",\"Wildlife\/Endangered Sp.\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/\",\"name\":\"USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides - 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By forging ties with governments, nonprofits, and people who rely on these natural resources, we reduce the need for unnecessary pesticide use and protect public health and the environment. Beyond Pesticides provides hands-on services to the public and supports local action by: identifying and interpreting hazards; and, designing safe pest management programs. With the information provided by Beyond Pesticides, people may not only be able to make informed choices and adopt practices that protect themselves and their families from unnecessary exposure to pesticides, but they will be able to effect changes on community-wide pest management decisions and policies that govern pesticide use, such as pesticide uses in parks, schools, for community insect control and along roadsides. 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PEER states that the cancellation is \u201canother example of USDA interfering with the release of new science-based information about adverse effects linked to \u00a0neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides.\u201d As a result, PEER continues, \u201cGrowing ecological risks posed by the most widely used insecticides in North America will likely not be considered in developing USDA policies, planning or management practices.\u201d Neonicotinoids are a controversial class of chemicals that have been linked to the global bee decline by a rapidly growing body of scientific literature. A webinar, titled Pesticides and Potholes: Understanding the Risks of Neonicotinoid Insecticides to Aquatic Ecosystems in Prairie Canada and Beyond, \u00a0was supposed to take place June 24, 2014, according to PEER. Instead, the online event was cancelled by Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology at USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The online event would have featured Christy Morrissey, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, School of Environment and Sustainability, whose research includes [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/","og_site_name":"Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/beyondpesticides\/","article_published_time":"2015-11-09T04:00:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2015-11-09T14:35:26+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/usda.png","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Beyond Pesticides","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ByondPesticides","twitter_site":"@ByondPesticides","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Beyond Pesticides","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/"},"author":{"name":"Beyond Pesticides","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#\/schema\/person\/1b5c0a0981b549cc5b628770073031f4"},"headline":"USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides","datePublished":"2015-11-09T04:00:32+00:00","dateModified":"2015-11-09T14:35:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/"},"wordCount":968,"commentCount":1,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/usda.png","articleSection":["Agriculture","Announcements","neonicotinoids","Water","Water Regulation","Wildlife\/Endangered Sp."],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/","url":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2015\/11\/usda-continues-to-suppress-independent-science-on-bee-killing-pesticides\/","name":"USDA Continues to Suppress Independent Science on Bee-Killing Pesticides - 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By forging ties with governments, nonprofits, and people who rely on these natural resources, we reduce the need for unnecessary pesticide use and protect public health and the environment. Beyond Pesticides provides hands-on services to the public and supports local action by: identifying and interpreting hazards; and, designing safe pest management programs. With the information provided by Beyond Pesticides, people may not only be able to make informed choices and adopt practices that protect themselves and their families from unnecessary exposure to pesticides, but they will be able to effect changes on community-wide pest management decisions and policies that govern pesticide use, such as pesticide uses in parks, schools, for community insect control and along roadsides. 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