Facing criticism from farmers and activists who claim pesticides are to blame for the mass deaths of honeybees, the pesticide industry's main association recently emphasized its work with other groups to improve the health of bee populations.

CropLife America noted it was a member of the Honey Bee Health Coalition, a group bringing together industry players with beekeepers to find ways to protect honeybees. In recent years, honeybee populations in North America have been declining although the reason for the die offs has yet to be determined. Some blame pesticides. Some say parasites are to blame. Others say it could be a combination of the two along with other factors.

One group of activists—the Pollinator Stewardship Council—recently raised funds for a nationwide tour in which the blame is laid largely at the feet of pesticide makers. In response, CLA pointed to research it said has found no connection between drops in honeybee populations and pesticides, when the chemicals are used properly.

"It is critically important that all who claim to care about bee health commit to understanding every factor related to bee health, with an intent to find shared solutions and create opportunities for improvement, rather than simply assigning blame to a single area of concern in pursuit of single focused political goals," CLA CEO Jay Vroom said in a statement.

The association said strong communication between farmers, pesticide applicators and beekeepers is needed to ensure the health of honeybees and other pollinators. It also suggested people wanting to know more about the issue watch America's Heartland, a public television series partly funded by CLA. http://bit.ly/28VQne0

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