(not a photo of the actual fungicide)
Ok. This isn't really a joke.
Researchers at my alma mater, the University of South Florida, recently found that the fungicide chlorothalonil, in the same family as DDT, killed almost 90% of the frogs exposed to it. They tested several species of frogs, and all had the same reaction. They are now testing the chemical's mortality rate for other organisms, including bees.
The link is here.
Chlorothalonil is a widely used fungicide. We use 14 million pounds of chlorothalonil per year in the United States, much of it sprayed on peanut, potato, and tomato plants. About 10% of it is sprayed on golf courses to control fungus growth on the turf.
That frogs are in decline and have been for some time is a well known fact. They have been compared to the "canary in the mine shaft" as an indicator of a healthy ecology. It will be interesting to see what further study reveals and if there is a honey bee connection..
My bet is any fungicide, herbicide or pesticide is going to destroy the small critters in the ecosystem when used in the amounts our farmers need to use em today. There is simply no other way to reduce the pests and disease and get the yields the world expects. I would follow by saying that some other event will break the chain before the damage is complete though.
ReplyDeleteI guess we will see.
One would hope that the event is a positive one for all concerned.
DeleteOrganic farming is looking better all the time. I am not organic but don't use any of that fungicide either. Probably my yields suffer as a result but the less I have to use a sprayer the happier I am.
ReplyDeleteJust about every plant has symbiotic fungi associated with it. Instead of fungicides, I suspect that with the correct inoculation of beneficial fungi, the yields and the soil in general would improve. The problem as I see it, is that when a fungicide is used, both the good as well as the targeted fungi are destroyed. I also can't see how large scale farms could currently survive without chemicals until some major changes occur.
ReplyDelete