Ron Whitehurst, PCA: Speaker’s Bio
Ron Whitehurst, specialist in biological pest control for farmers, gardeners, consultants, and practitioners, engages participants in lectures and workshops about biological control of insect pests in field, greenhouse, landscape, garden and animal rearing situations. His lively discussions about insect lifecycles and predator-prey relationships make the principles of biocontrol easy to understand for both lay and technical audiences.
Ron is a California licensed Pest Control Advisor and co-owner of Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. that produces and markets supplies for biological pest control. He has been communicating about organic methods of farming and gardening for over 30 years. Since 1997 he has promoted Rincon-Vitova’s mission by consulting in the field and lab, by phone and email. He guides people through the steps of creating and biologically managing ecosystems to minimize and control pests, using insect habitat, cultural methods, beneficial insects, and soft pesticides when needed. He is a project leader for the Dietrick Institute for Applied Insect Ecology, co-located with Rincon-Vitova, where he has done in cutting edge urban pest management demonstrations.
After earning a BA in Biology at Indiana University, Ron worked as an organic garden writer in Indianapolis, and helped organize an organic grower association. On moving to California he got a PCA license and over the years has attended and presented at numerous organic farming and pest control conferences. An avid gardener, he loves making compost, building soil, and creating bio-intensive food producing landscapes.
Ron’s mentor is Everett (Deke) Dietrick, commercial biocontrol pioneer, who worked alongside the academic lights of biocontrol in the 1960’s and 70’s, Robert Van den Bosch, Paul De Bach and others. Deke mentored Ron in many settings, including as a field scout in cotton and alfalfa for the Sustainable Cotton Project. Ron evaluates products that fit into a biocontrol program and are acceptable for organic production. He works with his wife Jan Dietrick (Deke’s daughter). He is the proud grandfather of an thirteen year old boy.
Past presentations include the Ecological Farming and Texas Organic Producers Conferences, ACRES USA, Carolina Farm Stewardship Conference, So Cal Entomology Club, Association of Applied IPM Ecologists (AAIE), Pesticide Applicators Professional Association (PAPA), Ojai Horticulture Society, Ventura County Rose Society, workshops of the Santa Barbara Green Gardener Program, Bio-Cat Microbials, Cockroach, New Pests of Avocados and G. S. Long Organic Workshops, and workshops on Weeds as Soil Indicators and Edible Weeds.
Ron is a member of the Entomological Society of America, Association of Applied IPM Ecologists, Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers, California Agricultural Production Advisors, Biodyamic Farming and Gardening Association, and Seed-Savers Exchange.
Contact: [email protected] 805-643-5407
