Back to School Webinar by EPA

Posted on August 9, 2016 by southernipmcenter

It’s that time of year again and everyone can relate to the annual school supply checklist and the hours spent preparing for the upcoming school year. Notebooks – check. Pencils – check. But, how many school staff, parents or students stop to think about whether the school they will return to is a healthy learning environment—free of pests and unnecessary exposure to pesticides?

Did you know that the classroom environment can seriously affect student and staff health? Exposure to pests and unnecessary pesticides can affect student performance and often lead to school absenteeism. By taking simple steps, you can reduce pests in your learning environment.

When:  Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Time:  2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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Mississippi bee expert explains what research is saying about honey bee risk

Posted on August 9, 2016 by southernipmcenter

In Delta Farm Press

Although the controversy over the role of pesticides in Colony Collapse Disorder is still going strong, “I’ve seen no data, or metadata, linking huge losses of honey bees in the U.S. to any single insecticide, neonicotinoid or otherwise,” says Jeff Harris, Mississippi State University Extension/Research Apiculturist.

“Certainly, you can do experiments in the lab or in semi-field plot tests to show these materials kill bees, or adversely affect their physiology,” says Harris, who spent 15 years as a bee breeder and researcher at the USDA Honey Bee Laboratory at Baton Rouge, La., before coming to MSU three years ago. Continue reading →

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