Q&A – If I plant flowers by crop-dusted fields am I planting death sentence to insects?
Question:
There is a lot of crop dusting by my house. I would like to have bees and lots of flowers so I can help our flying friends. I don’t know what they are spraying. If I plant flowers by a crop-dusted field, will I be planting a death sentence to our flying insect friends?
Answer:
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison suggests going to talk to your farmer neighbors and find out what they are spraying. Most applications are probably not insecticide. If you build a good relationship with the farmer, they will inform you if they are spraying something that might harm your bees and you can take preventative measures.
Related Resources:
Bee Aware: Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides
Toxicity of Pesticides to Pollinators and Beneficials
There is a lot of crop dusting by my house. I would like to have bees and lots of flowers so I can help our flying friends. I don’t know what they are spraying. If I plant flowers by a crop-dusted field, will I be planting a death sentence to our flying insect friends?
Answer:
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison suggests going to talk to your farmer neighbors and find out what they are spraying. Most applications are probably not insecticide. If you build a good relationship with the farmer, they will inform you if they are spraying something that might harm your bees and you can take preventative measures.
Related Resources:
Bee Aware: Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides
Toxicity of Pesticides to Pollinators and Beneficials