The Orchard Bee Association is meeting Dec. 9 in Hood River, Oregon.
Here’s their announcement:
People who are interested in bees, particularly blue orchard bees, and the challenges they face can learn more at the 2016 International Orchard Bee Association Meeting on December 9, 2016, including the Pollinator Symposium and Expo, held December 10.
A honeybee in a Prosser, Wash., cherry orchard on March 3, 2015. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
The 2016 annual meeting of the Orchard Bee Association (OBA) will be in Hood River, Oregon on Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10. Friday is for members only, and will include networking, science presentations, and an invited speaker. The public symposium and expo will be on Saturday, December 10, from 9:30 – 5:00. Topics covered Saturday will include creating native bee habitat, tips and techniques using blue orchard bees as commercial pollinators, and local and national bee research. More information is available on the registration page. Admission to the Pollinator Symposium and Expo is $50 and includes lunch and wine tasting. Admission to the symposium and expo is free for OBA members. To become a member, please visit www.orchardbee.org. Please register for the meeting at the registration page.
“Honey bees are great pollinators, but not the best for every crop,” said Dr. Theresa Pitts-Singer, a research entomologist at the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit, “Other managed bees or naturally-occurring wild bees are better pollinators for some crops, such as tree fruits and nuts, berries, alfalfa, and melons. These other pollinators can and should be used to obtain higher crop yields. OBA members have blazed the trail for the use of blue orchard bees as they continue to learn more and share ideas as an industry group. Members share their enthusiasm by enlightening the public to recent successes, relevant applications, and educational experiences in their open forum.”
Rooms are available at the Hood River Inn at a reduced rate. The rates are $140 per night for rooms that overlook the river and $125 for rooms that do not overlook the river. To reserve rooms at these rates, call 1-800-828-7873 and mention the Orchard Bee Association. All rooms must be reserved by November 20, 2016.
The Orchard Bee Association (OBA), is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, professional society. Members commit to working toward common-ground solutions and to implementation of practical orchard bee standards for the industry. To learn more, visit www.orchardbee.org.
Derek R. Artz, Vice-President, Orchard Bee Association, 607-279-9320, vicepres@orchardbee.org
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