I have over the last few years found more then just a few studies that show forage plants that grow in fields that were previously used for crops with neonicitinoids had levels of the chemicals in them. Although those levels in some cases are below the LD50 for adult honeybees I believe over time the cumulative presence in the hives will cause issues. Studies have also found levels above the LD50 which obviously will cause colony mortality.
I would like beekeepers who state they have no issues with having their bees near these treated crop to answer a few questions.
Are the fields planted with corn rotated with other crops that provide bee forage?
Are these fields planted by farmers that have up to date equipment or are they still using old planters?
For sake of discussing and not arguing can those of you who have no issues near corn post what your floral sources are that are near these fields? Also what are your yearly loss percentages? Of those losses do you know for certain what caused them?
My personal problems appear during planting time and Dandelion bloom. When woodland forage like Cherry, Blackberry, Locust and Basswood are being worked I won't see the "pesticide like kill" at the hives. Sometimes in certain yards it will reappear when the hives start working clover and alfalfa in fields adjacent to the corn fields and sometimes those fields were previously corn.