Earlier this month, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency announced its decision to allow sulfoxaflor, a bee-killing pesticide, back on the market. Both this decision, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to defund data collection for its Honey Bee Colonies survey, come just weeks after researchers reported that nearly 40% of managed honey bee colonies in the country were lost this past winter.
Bees contribute nearly $20 billion to the value of U.S. crop production — without the bees, crop yield and quality would be greatly reduced, and a decline in bee population could mean an increase in food prices.
Take action now to protect one of our most precious resources!
The EPA’s own Environmental Hazards Statement reads, “This product is highly toxic to bees and other pollinating insects exposed to direct treatment or to residues in/on blooming crops or weeds.” In 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that the EPA illegally approved sulfoxaflor, putting it on the market without fully examining the impact the insecticide would have on bee colonies.
At a time when bees and other pollinators are dying in greater numbers than ever before, we cannot afford to allow the EPA to get away with another decision that threatens the safety of our wildlife and the health and well-being of our communities.
Add your name to demand that the EPA roll back their decision to allow this toxic pesticide back on the market!