Even in New Zealand bees are dying at alarming rates. But pesticide use here is high. Bees and other insects cannot endure the onslaught of neonicotinoids, fungicides and other chemicals that are used to coat seeds (the ones that are bright blue when you open the packet), or are sprayed onto plants to control pests (only the biological controls have any specificity. Even natural pyrethrin kills a broad spectrum of insects).
Instead let’s make the soil healthier so that plants can look after themselves better. No dig, regenerative farming builds soil, fixes carbon and is better for bees and all of us.
