SIR GROWER & INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES of the Grower & Industry Advisory Committee meeting of the OKANAGAN-KOOTENAY STERILE INSECT RELEASE (SIR) PROGRAM held at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre in Summerland, BC December 12th, 2001

 

Committee Members:

            Gavin Young    - Chair             Westbank Packers Ltd.

Jack Barkwill                            BC Fru it Packers        

Nirmal Dhaliwal                        Okanagan Similkameen Coop                          

Denis Larose                            Grower

Joseph Lucich                           Grower

Brian Mennel                            Organic Grower

Tom Ouchi                               Grower

Tim Watson                              South Valley Sales                                           

Brian Witzke                            Grower                                                                                

 

Committee Members Absent:

Paul Jaffares                             BC Fruit Packers                                             

Charlotte Leaming                    Sun Fresh Coop

Hugh Philip                               BCMAFF Regional Entomologist

Gerry Shaw                              BC Tree Fruits                                                                  

Stan Swales                              Okanagan North Growers Coop                      

Manuel Toris Jr.                       BC Fruit Growers’ Association (Oliver)                       

Peter Waterman                       Grower / Consultant

                                                                      

SIR Staff:

            Bob Fugger                              General Manager

            Rob Gauthier                            Zone 1 Field Manager

            Adrian McCluskey                   Public Relations Officer

Karen Nelson                           Recording Secretary    

 

AGENDA TOPIC #1:

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Moved by  Denis Larose         Seconded by  Joseph Lucich

 

“Accepted minutes for meeting dated August 8th, 2001.”

CARRIED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business Arising

 

After discussing the motion made on Page 4 from the minutes dated August 8th, 2001, the following motion was put forward:

 

 Moved by  Denis Larose        Seconded by  Brian Mennel

 

“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee moves that SIR should continue with existing control measures in any given area (for example: Similkameen Valley), until it meets the CFIA pest free definition.”

CARRIED.

 

AGENDA TOPIC #2:

 

Christine Dendys Financial Report (Part 1 & 2)

 

Christine made the following points regarding her Report:

·        Wants to clarify that when the term “rational grower” is mentioned in her report, this is an economic term, which is used in financial feasibility studies.  

·        Comment in back of the report of Part 2, regarding the concerns of mating disruption and SIR – there are differences of opinion within the SIR Program – and is in some cases counter productive to the future design of the Program – and needs to be addressed. She was merely indicating that this appears to be a problem and hopefully it can be resolved.

 

Gavin then addressed S3, and S4 from Part 2, on Page 3 of Christines report. These two scenarios are the least costly of all the options. He asked Christine what the relative merits of each one were.

 

Christine stated that no technical changes were made to report after review by the SIR Technical Committee.

 

Options S3 & S4 show the lowest cost scenarios of all the options. Even though they are different technologies, they are close enough in cost that, if there were to be a minor change in either one of them to carry out the Program, it would not make a substantial change from the costs. These costs are a general cost for a maintenance program after 2005. They are subject to change, keeping in mind that new technologies may come at that time – but also understanding that any of those new technologies do come with a price as well. 

 

Gavin then noted that for post 2005, the SIR Board proposed taxing at:

·        Urban -.10¢ per $1000.00 of assessed value for land                    (current taxing at 19.5¢ per $1000.00).

·        Orchard – up to $100.00 per acre.

 

This is not cut in stone. John Berry (representing the Federal Government) had stated at the SIR Board Meeting – that they are very keen on having a statement that he can take back indicating a commitment from Growers and Regional Districts to that kind of level. It is subject to review. They are not solid figures. It ends up being between $85.00-$100.00 per acre price tag. That is based without Federal or Provincial contributions of any kind. They are still looking at no funding from Federal and Provincial Governments after 2005. It then comes back to the Regional Districts and the Growers to maintain the benefits of the Program that would be achieved up to that time.

 

Bob noted that it was important to the Federal Government that the Regional Districts understood what their obligations might be after 2005. Also that the growers understood what was expected because it is a grower Program.

 

Tom Ouchi noted that there has been a lot of negativity from NORD and the City of Vernon (Zone 3) regarding the Program after 2005.

 

After discussion, the following motion was put forward:  

 

Moved by  Tim Watson           Seconded by  Jack Barkwill

 

“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee moves that growers are prepared to contribute their fair portion together with contributions from all four levels of government (Federal,Provincial,Municipal, and Regional Districts) and that this will endorse our commitment to a sustainable, economic codling moth control program.”

CARRIED.

 

The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee then pointed out some minor changes that need to be made in the Financial portion of Christine’s Report.  Christine did accept such changes and notes some that had already been done.

 

Denis Larose (from Creston) then stated that he has been talking with other growers in the Creston area, and stated that there is definitely a need for area-wide control in Creston.

 

The following motion was then put forward:  

 

Moved by  Jack Barkwill         Seconded by  Tom Ouchi

 

“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee endorses an area wide control program post 2005.”

CARRIED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGENDA TOPIC #3:

 

Program – 2002

 

Bob discussed the changes in the SIR Programs timeline as per the SIR Boards request from the last meeting on December 7th, 2001 – requesting that it be moved up by one year. This meaning that all the plans for the Program that were to occur in 2003, are now occurring in 2002.

These changes affect the Budget due to having to have ATV release drivers, van drivers, and having more staff than what was expected – due to having releases in Zone 3.

 

Bob then stated the following points:

 

Zone 1:

Ø      Moth release from April – June. More in hot spots.

Ø      Monitoring (less sites).

Ø      SIR only where necessary from July – August.

 

Zone 2: 

Ø      F1 moth release from May – August in the Glenmore and Belgo area.

Ø      Mating Disruption in all other areas at 200 per acre.

Ø      All orchardists need to spray for first brood.

Ø      F1 moth release in all areas in July – August.

Ø      All high-risk orchards spray for second brood.

 

Zone 3: 

Ø      Mating Disruption in all areas at 200 per acre.

Ø      All orchardists need to spray for first brood.

Ø      F1 moth release in all areas in July – August.

Ø      All high-risk orchards spray for second brood.

 

Creston:

Ø      SIR in all areas.

Ø      Mating Disruption as required.

Ø      Spraying as required.

 

2002 Parcel Taxes:

Ø      Municipal à $92.74.

Ø      Rural à $97.61.

 

v     A question was asked about Compliance Grants, and it was reported that no Compliance Grants would be issued for 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After discussion, the Grower & Industry Advisory Committee made the following motion:

 

Moved by  Tom Ouchi            Seconded by  Joseph Lucich

 

“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee supports the resolution that the SIR Board made to move the time table up in Zone 3 – maximizing use of all assets.”

CARRIED.

 

The meeting was then adjourned.

 

 

 

_______________________                                          ________________________

            Chairman                                                                                  Secretary