Initiated in 2017, the Oregon Bee Project is a cooperative effort between the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and a diverse set of stakeholders who are actively engaged in caring for our bees. Together these collaborators and supporters are launching several initiatives to maintain and enhance bee health in Oregon.
The Oregon Bee Project has a mission of:
“Bringing together Oregonians around a science-based strategy for protecting and promoting wild and managed bees through education, pollinator-friendly practices, and research.”
Current Activities
- Interviews, bee collection, and farming practice assessment at select Flagship Farms
- Advisory committee meetings with interested stakeholders
- Regular e-newsletter with updates about pollinator activities and projects around Oregon
- Curation workshops for bee enthusiasts to aid statewide survey efforts to develop the Oregon Bee Atlas
- Tabling at relevant agricultural events
This project is funded in part by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant and a FFAR Pollinator Health Fund Grant.