MINUTES of the Grower/Industry Committee
meeting of the OKANAGAN-KOOTENAY STERILE
INSECT RELEASE (SIR) PROGRAM held at the Pacific Agriculture Research
Centre in
Committee Members:
Gavin Young - Chair Westbank
Packers Ltd.
Jack
Norm Filipenko Sun
Fresh Coop
Denis Larose Grower
Joseph Lucich Grower
Brian Mennel Grower
Tom Ouchi Grower
Hugh Philip BCMAF
Regional Entomologist
Gerry Shaw BC
Tree Fruits
Stan Swales Okanagan North Growers Coop
Peter Waterman Grower
/ Consultant
Tim Watson
Brian
Witzke Grower
Committee Members Absent:
Pedro Barata BC
Fruit Growers’ Association (Oliver) (absent)
Hank
Jack Morley Okanagan
Similkameen Coop (absent)
Guests:
Bob
Fisher-Fleming Technical
Committee Co-Chair
SIR Staff:
Howard Thistlewood Technical Advisor
AGENDA TOPIC #1:
Approval
of Minutes
Gavin
questioned the Grower & Industry Committee Members for their approval of
the minutes from the last meeting. After their review, the following motion was
then put forward:
Moved by Jack Barkwill Seconded by Gerry Shaw
“Accepted minutes for meeting dated
CARRIED.
Reports
Denis
noted that at least three of the Directors are in support of the Program.
The
Regional District is looking to elect a new Director for
Hugh Philip noted that under the Municipal Act, a
provision is made that the Regional District can appoint someone out of the
Regional District. (For clarification: if that person is an alternate Regional
District Director)
Current Finance - Budget Status 2000
·
Final Budget 2000
·
Budget Variance Report
The following points were then made:
·
Brian Witzke noted that on Page 2, Leasing, Account
# 124462, states $5,100.00 as the Budgeted amount, from $12049.31 year to date.
Bob will look into that figure to find out why it is so high.
·
On Page 2, Fuel, Account # 124464, Brian Witzke
questioned as to why it was so high. Bob noted that the figure also includes
accommodations, and many trips out of town (ex:
·
Jack Barkwill noted that many cost centres don’t
even have a Budgeted amount at this time. Bob then explained that different
people cost code various things to different cost centres. This is now being
reviewed for some type of consensus.
·
Bob noted that there will be a Surplus in the Budget
for 2000.
·
Brian Witzke then noted the amount issued into the
Boiler Maintenance for the Facility. Howard stated the John Brugman was trying
to figure out how to do things more economically, and came up with a system to
use a different chemical mix. In the long run we will save a lot of money by
having the boilers and stabilizers last longer. John expects to save money in
the near future because of these changes.
·
Inspector for boilers come in – and upgrades are
needed to be made. This upgrading was either to be done now or in the future.
This year was the best time to do it as far as funds being accessible.
·
Brian Witzke then questioned the Cooling System.
Howard noted that the balancing of the air in the building is important. Need
to look at overall summary of maintenance.
·
Utilities – gas/power will be increasing throughout
the years. Another 30% increase will be effective as of
·
Stan Swales stated that he did not really want to
see the Budget line by line, and trusts Bobs judgement to put everything in
correctly. He would rather see an executive summary in the future, rather than
seeing everything so broken up. Bob noted that he did it this way for everyone
to see where SIR stands.
·
Brian Mennell then questioned what happens with
surplus. Bob and Howard stated that the surplus is not lost, and is carried
over for the coming year. The surplus is not budgeted for the on coming year.
·
Gavin Young then noted that the “Budget Variance
Report” could be compared to the new budget for 2001 to note where the
adjustments will be made in the total budget.
·
Bob then continued by stating that one of the new
incentive programs for the Urban Tree Removal will be issuing certificates from
Nurseries. This would replace the Tree Replacement Certificates, which has
caused some problems in the past with the Nurseries, dealing with breaking up
of funds, and GST / PST.
·
Gerry Shaw then noted to Bob that the “Budget 2000”
could have stated that it is the “Actual Budget” for 2000 since it is now the
end of the year, and pretty much summed up. Bob agreed and noted that he will
make the appropriate change.
·
Howard then stated that the Regional District wants
a copy of the Budget around the end of December to get a round about cost to
charge for parcel taxes. Being a field-orientated project, many of the results
don’t come in until after that deadline, and figures do change. Over the period
of January to February, all the details end up being finalized, and they will
be discussed with the Technical Committee and the Grower & Industry
Committee for feedback. So, this was not the Committees only go around to
review the Final Budget.
The Committee members then discussed amongst
themselves about the matter of having two shifts for moth production for the
year 2001. The object of having two shifts offers as much tools to the people
as possible. The additional cost for the second shift is $170,000.
Bob then wanted to
clarify what will be happening in each Zone as far as SIR is concerned.
Zone 3 will be taxed
at the full rate in 2001. It will be full rate for everyone in the Valley.
Everyone will be paying the same.
Howard then noted
that
Discussion then
carried on in regards to having the acreage rate at $65.00/acre. Throughout
that discussion, members noted that to get to that cost, other funding has be
come through. Howard noted that other funding is still being pursued, but if
there is no funding, there needs to be a
Plan B. Howard
continued to explain that the SIR Board feels strong about getting the funding.
Bob noted that the Budget already does not include
Trapping finances because the matter is still inconclusive at this time, or a
reduction of traps may occur.
Stan Swales then noted that the dollar per acre is not
as important as the efficacy of the Program. Not enough information is getting
out to the Growers. A person leasing does not necessarily get the information
as the mail is going out to the owner. He then noted that the Postage budget
seems very low, not enough for mail outs to be issued.
Bob noted that he accepts that advice and it will be
worked on.
Discussion then carried throughout the committee
regarding the results of trap captures in the past, due to Mating Disruption.
This was causing a lot of havoc for growers whether or not to spray.
Bob Fisher-Fleming then stated how his field service
told Growers to ignore the trap counts for 2000. They were inadequate to rely
when to spray. Maybe think about doing damage assessments. Still pushing
growers to do two first covers sprays and spray where there was damage. He then
noted that degree-day models are great for first generation, but not so good
for second generation.
AGENDA TOPIC #3:
Howard then noted that the Budget also includes a
Technical salary. Now that the changes have been made throughout Management,
this category has now been added to the Budget. Reallocating funds throughout
the Budget has also occurred. Some trials will be done in Zone 1 and a possible
project done with “Growing with Care”. These projects should be finalized
within the new year, and could be made accessible for the Grower & Industry
Committee to review.
A. – GIS Project
Howard then noted the display of GIS Mapping that
recently had been published.
Management will evaluate the project after Scott
Smith, from PARC, submits his review early Spring.
Howard then made the following points:
·
GIS is a three year project.
·
One zone gets mapped each year, working through the
Valley. Making that information accessible to the Program.
·
It is an expensive Project and difficult to run and
maintain in the long run. That is why it is to be accessed as the Project goes
through.
·
CM Damage and Pheromone Trap Totals are included in
the mapping details.
·
Will be able to review damage assessments over
periods of time. Able to establish where hot spots are reoccurring. This could
improve the function of the Program.
·
Due to urban mapping not done in some areas of Zone
1, it is not entirely finished yet. Mapping is now being done up by appropriate
Regional Districts in those areas. Hoping to finish Zone 1 soon.
·
Zone 2 has been mapped on the orchard side, and the
urban side is accessible to map as well.
·
Zone 3 mapping will occur next year.
·
This has been a Research Project due to the
inconclusiveness as to where the Project may go.
·
Has not been put on the Web site yet. Still finding
out whether or not it is possible and feasible for growers. The value of having
it on the Web on a regular basis is not yet clear. Another idea is making the
data available to growers who want it by issuing maps or cd’s out.
·
Able to cancel the GIS Project with six months
notice. If we did cancel the Project at this time, we would save $35,000 -
$55,000.
Brian Mennel then questioned if there had been any
thought as to grouping up with “Growing With Care” or any other businesses for
other pests to be included.
Howard replied that the Technical Committee thought
that it could be used as a framework for other projects, but has not been
looked into it at this time.
Hugh Philip agreed that the tool would be handy for
the Valley. All the technologies start working on an area wide application,
such as weather monitoring and Quarantine information. This would make
information accessible and have the data managed.
Brian Mennel then questioned if this could affect
the sales of Organic Fruit.
Howard noted that specific parcels are not
identified, and will not affect any growers.
The specifics are only issued to the Growers and the
Fieldmen.
After
B. – Field Operations 2001
A significant cost of the Budget is due to Mating
Disruption.
Due to hanging Mating Disruption, a better Acreage
Assessment has been established. Many growers came forward, stating that they
have more acres then what they have been assessed in the past.
The NORD contract has gone up significantly this
year. Due to not having a Business Manager, SIR will rely on NORD for all their
accounting. Over the next five years, we will need to know where to hand off
the Financing department, bearing in mind that only the Regional District is
capable of handling taxation.
Stan Swales noted that he put forward the proposal
for trapping. With that in mind, it is very difficult to hire six summer
students on a part time basis. It would be nice to measure it out for number of
traps per zone relaying to a job.
|
Zone
Number |
SumOfApple
Acres |
SumOfPear
Acres |
Totals |
|
1 |
6308.845 |
383.77 |
6,692.62 |
|
2 |
4515.64 |
319.03 |
4,834.67 |
|
3 |
2606.89 |
80.65 |
2,687.54 |
|
CRESTON |
387.12 |
17.99 |
405.11 |
|
Program |
13,818.50 |
801.44 |
14,619.94 |
Bob and
·
168 million sterile moths were issued in the year
2000. It became a very limited amount due to
·
We would need two shifts at the Facility if
releasing in Zone 1, and releasing at hot spots in Zone 2.
Jack Barkwill then put forward the following motion:
“The Grower & Industry Committee support in
principle the full operation of the rearing plant and release of Sterile Moths
where in need for maximum benefits.”
Stan Swales then seconded the motion.
Howard then stated that the Technical Committee
feels that there are trials that need to be done in Zone 1 for 2001. With that
in mind, Howard stated that SIR might have to come back to the Committee and
let them know what is actually possible due to certain trials possibly taking
place.
Due to the uncertainty of one shift versus two
shifts, Stan Swales withdrew his seconding position to the motion.
The Committee then discussed their concerns
regarding Bin Movement. It was noted that SIR has been dealing with this issue,
and will continue to do so.
AGENDA TOPIC #4:
Due to a lengthy meeting that had already taken
place, the Strategic Plan was not discussed.
AGENDA TOPIC #5:
The meeting was then
adjourned at 1:00 PM.
_______________________
________________________
Chairman Secretary