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STAFF AND CONSULTANTS

Jan Dietrick, Director

Rex Meach, Administrative and Field Coordinator      Everett J. Dietrick, Chief Entomologist       

Stefan Long , Project Leader     David Loring, Thailand Project Leader           

Ron Whitehurst, Urban Projects Leader

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kate Burroughs, Entomologist and Owner/Manager, Harmony Farm Supply

Gary Colliver, Biological Planner

David Loring, Pest Management Consultant

  

Rex studied botany, with an emphasis in plant ecology, at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Instead of continuing his graduate studies following military service, he went on to a 19 year career with the Mayo Clinic in laboratory medicine. But he never lost interest in ecology and the special thought processes it engenders. His long-time interest was fulfilled when he joined Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. overseeing shipping and eventually playing a key role in its operations. Once the Dietrick Institute was established his administrative ability found a new and even more challenging arena and he found ample opportunity to satisfy his lifelong interest in ecology.

"During my student days in plant ecology, we concentrated almost exclusively on natural ecosystems. In general, insect damage is barely noticeable in native plant communities, with the exception of some accidentally introduced forest pests. This is in marked contrast with the insect explosions we routinely suffer in agroecosystems. The obvious question is can we manage farms so the self-regulating mechanisms found in natural communities suppress crop pests? While working with Deke, I have been fascinated to watch these protective effects begin to function almost automatically when disruptive synthetic inputs are curtailed. With simple changes to the farm ecosystem, we can often tip the game even more decisively in favor of the crop. When you see these things happen, it’s easy to develop a crusader’s zeal for biological control. For me, watching insect battles has become a major preoccupation."

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Everett Dietrick, Senior Entomologist

1922 - 2008

Deke, our insect ecology guru, was attracted to living insects from childhood.  His interest found encouragement in every phase of his life.  As a student of Professor Harry Smith at the University of California at Berkeley, he became a member of the cadre of biological control entomologists solving pest problems for California agriculture before and during the first decades of the pesticide era.  Deke left the University of California in 1959 to work with friends founding what became Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc., the first free-enterprise company to produce and sell beneficial insects for pest control. His continuous leadership in development of products and markets pioneered the biocontrol industry.  The work of people like Lester Brown keep Deke motivated to make a difference. See  http://www.worldwatch.org/ .

"You can't judge the success or failure of biological control by looking only at percent parasitism. The interactions between the pests and all the various natural enemies is so complex. We need to look at the whole ecosystem around the pest to find out what is really going on. There are so many pests that we have created ourselves. They weren't pests before we started spraying hard pesticides and they would go away if we stopped spraying now.  Hundreds of insects and mites are now resistant to pesticides and the number that are resistant to all pesticides keeps growing longer.  We need biological control more than ever, but the knowledge of the insects, the skills and the practical experience are becoming lost for lack of funding. The Institute supports young people to get practical ecologically based pest management experience they aren't getting in school or on the job."

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Stefan Long, Entomologist and Project Leader  

 

 

Stefan earned a Master of Science degree in entomology from Cornell University and ten years of work experience in veterinary entomology focusing on biological control of flies with the New York State Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. His interest in biological control and pesticide use reduction led him to join Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. as a production entomologist. He works part time for the Dietrick Institute leading a new project demonstrating ecologically based pest management practices in cotton in Kern County, California.

"Ecologically based pest management offers anyone who is interested a new paradigm to re-evaluate biological control. Previous Dietrick Institute demonstrations have shown EBPM can control difficult pest problems without chemical inputs. Applying EBPM to cotton production in Kern County will provide another opportunity to demonstrate the versatility of this approach and provide more evidence that beneficial insect habitat management is a cost-effective sustainable solution to pest problems."

David Loring, Project Leader "Farmer Field Schools".

   

dloring3@cox.net

Telephone:760 489-9438

Address:1845 Cathedral Glen

Escondido, CA 92029

Dave Loring is a licensed agricultural pest control  advisor specializing in the use of biocontrols in landscape maintenance.  He has five years overseas experience, two years as an agronomist in Cambodia working at the national vegetable seed station and three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand with the Land Development Department.  He received a Bachelors in Soil Science from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California in 1977.

 

Ron Whitehurst, Urban Projects Leader

  

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Board of Directors

Gary Colliver, Chairperson

Suzanne Vaupel, Vice Chairperson

Wes Taborn, Treasurer

David Loring, Secretary

Kate Burroughs, Board Member

Gary Colliver, Chairperson

    

Gary works for the US National Park Service on the planning team at Yosemite National Park. While working as a park ranger during the
1980's, he became concerned about the need to view Earth as one entity, not fragmented into incompatible, competing areas called cities, farmlands, and parks, and the corollary need for people to work together cooperatively to solve our interconnected environmental and social problems. After receiving a Masters Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/Human Ecology at the University of California at Stanislaus in 1993, he spent two years working as a Biological Planner for the Endangered Species Recovery Program, a coopertive state/Federal endeavor in Fresno, California, before returing to the National Park Service and his current position in 1997.  His interest with the Dietrick Institute is in how communities can work  together to address the needs of farmers while decreasing pesticide risks and exploring partnerships for the conservation of natural flora  and fauna. He is a member of the Agriculture Seminar of the Association for Baha'i Studies http://www.bahai-studies.ca/sigs/agnews.html and enjoys vegetable gardening and hiking.

"The interests of farmers and conservation biologists are not that contradictory. Mostly, communities need institutions dedicated to bringing people with diverse views together to talk things out. The problems for farmers and for the environment are more spiritual than material. In other words, we have  the knowledge to build secure and prosperous communities with farming as the cornerstone; what is needed is, through collaborative partnerships, to create a broad understanding of what we know and the will to put that knowledge into practice to solve problems>. The Dietrick Institute is a positive model in creating access to knowledge and hopefully a forum for consultation about how to best solve local pest problems cooperatively through ecologically based strategies."

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Suzanne Vaupel, Vice Chairperson

 In Memorium, died 2002 after a bout with cancer. We will miss her.

Suzanne is an agricultural economist and attorney dedicated to the promotion of sustainable and organic agriculture. She has done practical and influential projects from writing manuals for organic certification to conducting surveys of conditions of migrant farm workers. She was a founder of the Organic Suppliers Advisory Group of the Organic Trade Association and provides legal advice and legislative advocacy to organic farmers, farming organizations and industry associations. She is Vice President of IFOAM , the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements http://www.ifoam.it/ , where she is working on helping harmonize standards toward a worldwide standard for organic products.

"We have to communicate effectively what we believe about the quality of our food supply and the quality of life for farmers and farm workers. When we encounter confused or conflicting agendas, we can facilitate understanding of the values inherent in sustainable and organic agriculture by simply meeting and talking through the issues. The trends favor more farmers coming to ecologically based pest management. The knowledge and strategies promoted by the Dietrick Institute are needed to help those who are ready to make the transition work."
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Wes Taborn, Treasurer

  Wes died unexpectedly earlier this year.

Wes is an economist with a Master's in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. One of his first jobs was with a non-profit nature conservancy organization and he has an avid interest in seeing conservation-oriented businesses grow as people become more aware of the need. He has worked for the Internal Revenue Service including helping farmers in bankruptcy meet tax obligations.

"The Dietrick Institute is an idea whose time is now. The vision of the organization and the unique knowledge and understanding of the principals involved are enough to convince people of the value of contributing to help it expand its influence. I hope to attract donors to help fund internships and short courses with an international outreach for people who want to become biological control technicians or field scouts. This website must also be expanded with more detail about past projects. Details of biological control successes help farmers and pest control advisors become observant and try on-farm experiments. I enjoy being a supporter of such important work."

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David Loring, Secretary

See David Loring, Project Leader "Farmer Field Schools"

Kate Burroughs, Board Member

Kate is a Board Certified Entomologist, licensed Pest Control Adviser, and Certified Crop Advisor providing ecological pest management solutions for agriculture and landscape clients. Kate is also co-owner of Harmony Farm Supply and Nursery located in Sebastopol, CA http://www.harmonyfarm.com .  She graduated with a B.S. in Entomology from U.C. Berkeley in 1975. She worked for California Department of Food and Agriculture from 1975-1978 working on control and eradication projects. She then started her own IPM consulting service working with apples and wine grapes in the North Coast region of northern California. Kate has taught at Santa Rosa Junior College and at numerous conferences on ecological pest management.  She is active in CCOF, the http://www.ccof.org .

"As a young college graduate I asked Everett Dietrick if I could work for him in order to learn how to practice biological control.   He told me that I knew enough and would learn more by just doing it.  He was right.  Deke has inspired many of us who have become leaders of the sustainable agriculture movement. I am actively working with clients to create habitats for beneficial insects that encourage natural biological control."
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