Pollinator Partnership
www.pollinator.org has a wealth of information and resources on the importance of bees and other pollinators.
Dr. B’s Bee Corner
Dr. Ron Bitner, internationally known bee biologist, has worked with bees and vineyard management for 40 plus years. Dr. Bitner will be educating on the importance of bees to our environment. Dr. Bitner is also on the Board of Directors of the Pollinator Partnership, the largest nonprofit in North America for the protection of pollinators.
The story of entomologist Ron Bitner and his bees - Edible Idaho | September 22, 2019
Dr. Ron Bitner (MS ‘70) received the 2011 John V. Osmun Alumni Professional Achievement Award in Entomology.
Dr Bitner’s Bee Background
Dr. Bitner received his B.S. degree from the College of Idaho, his M.S. in Entomology from Purdue University, and his Ph.D. in Entomology from Utah State University. He has been president of Pollination and Pest Management Consulting Services since 1981. Services include IPM programs for alfalfa seed, orchard crops and vineyards. The company has been retained by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. since 1987 to manage their alfalfa seed IPM programs throughout Canada, the Northwest and California. He also became a partner and pollination consultant for International Pollination Systems in 1990. This company provides consulting, management and brokerage of non-Apis bees on crops requiring bee pollination. In 1981 he started Bitner Vineyards LLC when he purchased and planted 15 acres of premium wine grapes. Grapes are produced and sold to Idaho wineries with a select bottling of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz under the Bitner Vineyards label.
Dr. B in Costa Rica (1992) searching for the Africanized Killer Bees.
Worker Bee Collection Series. In honor of Dr. B’s passion for bees, we have a label honoring the workers bees. Artwork by Felicia Weston