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OSU hires bee researcher to aid state
Ramesh Sagili, who earned his doctorate in entomology from Texas A&M, will conduct research, assist honeybee industry
James Goldner
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: News
OSU has hired a honeybee researcher from Texas A&M University as part of an initiative to help ensure that there are enough healthy honeybees to pollinate Oregon's crops in the future.
The appointment of Ramesh Sagili, who will start his new job as an assistant research professor in OSU's horticulture department on Feb. 27, means that Oregon State will have its first honeybee expert on its faculty since Michael Burgett who retired in 2002.
Sagili's position was created at the request of Oregon agricultural groups whose fear about the declining health and supply of honeybees remains crucial as pollinators for farmer's livelihood in Oregon's crops.
Funding for Sagili's position came from an appropriation approved last year by the state legislature's emergency board, which was aimed at gathering and analyzing data about honeybee health, diseases and pests in Oregon. To assist this research, the university has decided to add a faculty research and extension assistant to aid Sagili in seeking answers to this problem.
Sagili, who earned a doctorate in entomology from Texas A&M, has two main duties: helping the honeybee industry through the OSU Extension Service and conducting research.
"I will meet with beekeepers and industry representatives to find out what problems they face," Sagili said. He also plans to provide educational workshops for agricultural producers and to develop a Master Beekeeper program that would provide training to novice and experienced beekeepers.
The vital and prevalent issue here is Sagili's commitment to communication and networking ideas between his findings and those producing the crops.
The distinction between understanding the solutions to the honeybee problem and implementing them remains dependent upon economic factors as well as human interaction between our control over nature and our environmental liability.
"We can't underestimate this threat. Without bees, entire agricultural industries in Oregon could disappear," said Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappose) in a press release regarding the research funding.
The appointment of Ramesh Sagili, who will start his new job as an assistant research professor in OSU's horticulture department on Feb. 27, means that Oregon State will have its first honeybee expert on its faculty since Michael Burgett who retired in 2002.
Sagili's position was created at the request of Oregon agricultural groups whose fear about the declining health and supply of honeybees remains crucial as pollinators for farmer's livelihood in Oregon's crops.
Funding for Sagili's position came from an appropriation approved last year by the state legislature's emergency board, which was aimed at gathering and analyzing data about honeybee health, diseases and pests in Oregon. To assist this research, the university has decided to add a faculty research and extension assistant to aid Sagili in seeking answers to this problem.
Sagili, who earned a doctorate in entomology from Texas A&M, has two main duties: helping the honeybee industry through the OSU Extension Service and conducting research.
"I will meet with beekeepers and industry representatives to find out what problems they face," Sagili said. He also plans to provide educational workshops for agricultural producers and to develop a Master Beekeeper program that would provide training to novice and experienced beekeepers.
The vital and prevalent issue here is Sagili's commitment to communication and networking ideas between his findings and those producing the crops.
The distinction between understanding the solutions to the honeybee problem and implementing them remains dependent upon economic factors as well as human interaction between our control over nature and our environmental liability.
"We can't underestimate this threat. Without bees, entire agricultural industries in Oregon could disappear," said Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappose) in a press release regarding the research funding.
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