Members reviewed the committee charter and held a wide-ranging discussion about neonicotinoid pesticides — their persistence, impacts on pollinators, recent state-level sales restrictions, and options for local outreach and advocacy.

Sam Gilchrist of the Natural Resources Defense Council told the Ag Commission the governor's pollinator executive order could reduce pesticide threats to bees and urged CDA to prioritize technical assistance and outreach to producers, noting many seed dealers are unaware whether seeds contain neonics.

Naturalist Mike Wheelbacher told a Lower Makefield Environmental Advisory Council audience that pollinators underpin roughly one-third of the food supply and face mounting threats from pesticides, pests and habitat loss, then offered practical steps residents can take.

Sam Gilchrist of the Natural Resources Defense Council asked the commission to support implementation of last week's executive order to protect pollinators, urged CDA to gather seed-dealer information and provide farmer resources, and highlighted risks from neonicotinoid seed coatings.

The commission denied the property owner's appeal at 115 Willoughby Boulevard, finding current conditions met the city's nuisance standard. The owner and his attorney argued the yard is a planned native-gardening effort that should fall under a 'natural landscape' exception if bordered and documented.

Elizabeth Jones told the board that Transco/Williams’ Southeast Supply Enhancement Project has cleared trees, disturbed wetlands and harmed pollinators near her family farm; she cited DEQ findings and a civil charge figure reported on the record and urged environmental justice considerations in county planning.

Kids learn about pollinators and plant care while planting African blue basil cuttings.

Joseph Fernandez delivers inspiring speech on honoring dreams at 4-H competition.

Georgia officials report significant honeybee losses due to invasive hornet species spreading rapidly.

Council designates February 5, 2025 as Monarch Pledge Day to promote pollinator awareness.

(Beyond Pesticides, September 21, 2017) The First District California Court of Appeal issued an opinion Tuesday in a lawsuit challenging a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) decision to approve additional uses for two bee-killing pesticides without disclosing the impact on honeybees. Pesticide Action Network, Center for Food Safety, and Beyond Pesticides, represented by Earthjustice, filed the underlying lawsuit in 2014, seeking to halt DPR’s practice of approving ever more uses for neonicotinoid pesticides pending completion of the agency’s languishing scientific review of the evidence linking agricultural use of neonicotinoids to a global honeybee die-off. DPR began its scientific review in early 2009 after it received evidence that neonicotinoids are killing bees, but DPR has yet to complete its review or take meaningful action to protect bees. Instead, DPR has continued to allow increased use of neonicotinoids in California. “DPR acknowledged almost 10 years ago that neonicotinoids are killing bees, yet the agency has approved more and more uses for these toxic pesticides every year since,” said Earthjustice attorney Greg Loarie, who represented the groups. “It’s time for DPR to do its job and protect honeybees and the multi-billion dollar agricultural economy that bees make possible in this State.” At issue […]

Abstract. Human-managed green spaces in urban landscapes have become important focal points for insect conservation, partly because of the desirable insect

New peer-reviewed research found an average of seven pesticides in each of 10 butterflies tested