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
Committee Members:
Gavin Young - Chair Westbank
Packers Ltd.
Nirmal Dhaliwal Okanagan
Similkameen Coop
Paul Jeffares BC
Fruit Packers
Denis Larose Grower
Charlotte Leaming Sun Fresh Coop
Joseph Lucich Grower
Hugh Philip BCMAFF
Regional Entomologist
Gerry Shaw BC
Tree Fruits
Brian Witzke Grower
Committee Members Absent:
Jack
Brian Mennel Organic
Grower
Tom Ouchi Grower
Stan Swales Okanagan North Growers Coop
Manuel Toris Jr. BC Fruit Growers’ Association (Oliver)
Peter Waterman Grower
/ Consultant
Tim Watson
SIR Staff:
Bob Fugger General Manager
Adrian McCluskey Public Relations Officer
Karen Nelson Recording Secretary
AGENDA TOPIC #1:
Approval of Minutes
With minor changes made to the
Moved by Hugh Philip Seconded by Joseph
Lucich
“Accepted minutes for meeting dated
CARRIED.
Gavin Young stated that the motion on page 4 from
the last minutes, dated
*REFERENCE*
Motion and points taken from the Grower &
Industry Advisory Committee Minutes Dated
Moved by Brian Witzke Seconded by Nirmal Dhaliwal
“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee
moves that the SIR Board of Directors recommend that all Regional Districts
(throughout Zones 1-3) impose property tax on all fruit trees which host
codling moth at $50.00 per tree, per year – at a maximum of $250.00. This is to
be in effect for tax season in 2003.”
CARRIED.
·
With the tax levy decreasing to all homeowners by
the year 2006 – a tax to people with hosts maintains
the funding that is needed for the SIR Program. The extra property tax to homeowners
with backyard hosts is not intended to become a revenue stream for the Program,
but to cover the decrease of revenue coming from the homeowners by 2006.
This would occur by having more homeowners taking out their hosts due to the
extra tax – and less trees to be concerned about for the Program to be
successful. The homeowner would soon realize that after effective maintenance
of the host (via contract sprayers), and the extra tax in effect, it becomes
cheaper for the owner to buy local fruit from packinghouses, and to grow
something other than a codling moth host tree.
AGENDA TOPIC #2:
Denis Larose then made the following points
regarding updates in the Creston area:
·
Prompted by a letter sent from the R.D.C.K.
Administrator to the SIR Board, stating that the R.D.C.K. had formed a
Committee comprised of the Chairman, Administrator, and Don Leben from R.D.C.K.
·
The letter stated that the R.D.C.K. acting on a
letter they received from the Inspector of Municipalities, wished to meet with
the SIR Board to discuss R.D.C.K. withdrawal from the SIR Program.
·
A few growers from Creston are going to the SIR
Board meeting on
After discussion regarding Creston issues, the
following motions were put forward.
Moved by Brian Witzke Seconded by Denis Larose
“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee
moves that the SIR Board should consider the consequences of not enforcing
their jurisdiction or authority on having access to properties to undertake the
operations of the SIR Program, such as monitor release and inspections, until
2005. This will set the precedent for other regions, specifically Zones 2 &
3.”
CARRIED.
OPPOSED: Gerry Shaw
Moved by Brian Witzke Seconded by Joseph Lucich
“Due to
the original commitments of the SIR Program by the Regional Districts, the
Grower & Industry Advisory Committee recommends that there be no opting out
of the SIR Program by any Regional District.”
ALL IN FAVOUR.
AGENDA TOPIC #4:
Bob then made the following points regarding the
proposal made from the BCFGA & the Organic Growers:
·
That a transition occurs for more “grower control”
of the Program from now to 2004-2005.
·
A Management Committee of 8 comprised of: Regional
District representative; three growers elected at large; BCFGA appointee;
organic grower appointee; nursery/greenhouse person, and packinghouse member.
·
The SIR Board would meet once a year to approve the
budgets (or as required).
·
The Management Committee would be the operational
segment with monthly meetings.
·
The Management Committee would hire a General
Manager.
·
This proposal has only gone as a proposal
from the BCFGA & the Organic Growers to the SIR Board.
AGENDA TOPIC #3:
After discussion regarding planning post 2005, it
was decided that a ½ hour of each Grower & Industry Advisory Committee
meeting would be set aside for updates of Committee members’ thoughts on the
subject.
Hugh Philip noted that members should talk to their
fellow growers/stakeholders, and brings their thoughts back for those ½ hour
discussions.
Committee members agreed that a long-term plan is
needed soon.
AGENDA TOPIC #5:
Bob Fugger then made the following points regarding
updates from Zones 1-3:
·
Many growers in Zones 2 & 3 are not spraying.
For some reason growers are not realizing that ½ rate Mating Disruption
requires a Spray Program. With the weather the way it is, plus the Mating
Disruption, trapping is the poorest way to decide to spray or not.
·
Zone 1 is seeing stings where they haven’t in the
last three years up to the present, but will be dealt with as other areas were
last year, with control measures.
Gavin added that he informs growers that with S.I.T.
and Mating Disruption, it is not know how many wild moths are left in the
orchard. Until moths are pushed out, the
fruit is not protected and it is the growers’ best interest to spray.
Bob then made the points regarding the Aerial
Release that he reviewed in
·
Currently the choices for cotton
growers is to pay $35.00/acre for BT Cotton versus $5.00/acre for S.I.R.
·
Releasing weekly approx. 60,000 moths per section
(640 acres equal to 94 moths per acre).
·
Releasing from a Cessena 206, air speed at 109 miles
per hour, at 500 foot altitude.
·
Moths come in daily from the rearing facility in
·
Cotton is not grown in the urban areas; therefore,
the Program deals with only on farm situations.
·
SIR is having a good look at the cost and accuracy
of the technology.
The meeting was then adjourned.
_______________________
________________________
Chairman Secretary