Endangering Bees & China Rejects Shipments

Endangering Bees & China Rejects Shipments plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Environmentalists are blaming EPA pesticide approval shortcuts for endangering the honeybee population. Honeybees are responsible for pollinating billions-worth of U.S. crops each year and have seen a 20 to 30-percent decline in the past five-years. Jonathan Evans is with the Center for Biological Diversity - a National Environmental Advocacy Group.

EVANS: EPA has been approving thousands of hazardous pesticides through a loophole called the "Conditional Registration Process." One of the pesticides that's been the biggest problem on the environment and on agriculture is the approval of what are called neonicitinoid pesticides that that are harmful in particular to honeybees and other pollinators.

China has rejected about 2,000 tons of U.S. dried distillers grains (DDGs) due to the presence of the genetically modified corn event known as MIR 162. More rejections are expected in coming weeks as China steps up its monitoring of DDG imports.  China has rejected more than half a million tons of U.S. corn in recent weeks after its inspectors detected the presence of MIR 162, a GMO variety developed by Syngenta.  The event, branded in the U.S. as Viptera, has not been approved for import by China's agriculture ministry. DDGs are a by-product of the ethanol production process.

Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray.

Every little bit helps, and no doubt about it, once you decide to start recycling you want to recycle anything and everything you can. For the most part, we as a nation have come a long way in our efforts and capabilities to recycle just about anything. So if you haven't already began recycling what better time to start than now, after the Christmas holiday. That mountain of wrapping paper, boxes, and tags is a great place to start. What you can't reuse for next gift giving season can go in the recycle bin. If you're fortunate, as we are in our little burg, you have a curbside recycling service through your waste removal company. If not, more than likely there's a recycling bin station nearby. When recycling first started people had to separate and sort their recyclables, now thanks to advances in technology there is single stream recycling; you don't have to waste time sorting, just toss them all in one bin. This new convenient ease in recycling has resulted in recycling rates going up by more than thirty percent. Remember, recycling doesn't have to be just about paper, plastic, glass and cans anymore. Share your unwanted furniture, books, electronics, toys and clothing with local charities. The giving shouldn't stop with the holidays.

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.