Well, I don’t know that I’d go that far, but they are clearly ignorant and confused in their article, which is strange since this particular event is well reported and the facts are easily found.
Typical of the anti-GMO camp, they seized on an unrelated event to bang the Monsanto drum. None of the pesticides used in either die off were Monsanto products.
Then the explanation about coated seed, which just didn’t add up. I’ve never seen bees working a fallow field or a just seeded one, or following a seeder. It’s a patch of dirt, why would bees be working a patch of dirt? So I looked for other articles. Sure enough, it was aerial spraying of products whose label clearly indicated it was deadly to bees and cautioned the user.
I’m thinking the beekeeper has a clear cause of action against a careless farmer who should have known better.
From article - “Neonicotinoid pesticides are used to coat corn seed with air seeders, which result in blowing the pesticide dust into the air when planted.”
Maybe the bees don’t have to work a just seeded field, or follow a seeder. I wonder how far the wind will carry the coated dust? Bees might not even have to be close to a field to get coated with the neonicotinoid’s.