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 Summerland Research Centre in the Main Conference Room on July 17th, 2003

 

Committee Members:

Gavin Young    - Chair             Grower, Consultant

Pierre Calissi                            BC Fruit Growers’ Association

Tarsem Dhoot                          Grower

Lindsay Hainstock                    Okanagan Similkameen Coop - Fieldman

Charlotte Leaming                    Sun Fresh Coop - Fieldman

Joseph Lucich                           Grower

Wayne Matthews                     C.S.R.D. Director / SIR Board Member

Dave Mitchell                           Grower

Tom Ouchi                               Grower                       

Hugh Philip                               BCMAFF Regional Entomologist

Gerry Shaw                              BC Tree Fruits        

Stan Swales                              Okanagan North Growers Coop - Fieldman

 

Committee Members Absent:

Suey Koga                               Grower

Denis Larose                            Grower

Brian Mennell                           Organic Grower

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

Peter Waterman                       Grower / Consultant

Tim Watson                              South Valley Sales

 

SIR Staff:

            Bob Fugger                              General Manager         

Lynn Lashuk                             Agrologist                    

Karen Nelson                           Recording Secretary

           

 

Call to Order – 1:00 PM.

 

TOPIC #1:

 

Approval of Minutes

 

With some minor changes made, the following motion was put forward:

 

 Moved by  Gerry Shaw                      Seconded by  Joseph Lucich

 

“Adopted minutes for the meeting dated April 23rd, 2003.”

CARRIED                                                                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOPIC #2:

 

SIR Moth Response to Pheromone Update

 

Lynn Lashuk stated that the Technical Advisory Committee discussed the concerns about the Codling Moth from the facility having a differential response to pheromone whether it is in the Codling Moth traps or to wild females. The work is in progress.

Research is being conducted. The results are all preliminary. As soon as there is an analysis done (January 2004) we are able to comment on them.

 

Bob Fugger added that this process takes so long because they are still doing the research by taking the tests from the laboratory to out in the field, getting their results and reviewing it, and checking their report for any errors and that the interpretation is correct. Hopefully we get the report by the end of 2003.

 

TOPIC #3:

 

SIR Technical Committee Update

 

Gavin Young stated that the SIR Technical Committee met in the morning (July 17th, 2003) and we will be discussing that in the context of post 2005 with the resolution made by the Technical Committee.

 

TOPIC #4:

 

SIR Post 2005 Questions for G&I Committee Members:

a)                  How do you envision the SIR Program post 2005?

Ø      Stand alone SIT for codling moth control.

Ø      Part of an areawide insect pest management program.

Ø      Part of an areawide pest management program (include disease, birds, etc.).

Ø      Part of an areawide farm management program (environmental farm plan, irrigation management).

Ø      Part of a certified (recognized) fruit production program.

 

Points made around the table by SIR Grower & Industry Advisory Committee members:

·        Do we have the right to decide for the taxpayers? Should there be a referendum on whether or not they support the program? If we want an areawide program for one of these services, it is the growers that will be paying, so it should be the growers that tell us what they want.

·        Why are we not following through with one of Christine Dendys methods as noted in her report? The report also includes a dollar amount per acre.

·        Growers should be accountable for not spraying when needed. They need to be accountable for their mistakes. We need to have the growers think that the SIR Program is on their side.

·        An areawide program is needed for everyone to be active and be involved.

·        All different programs (Growing With Care, SIR, Environmental Farm Plans, Water Conservation Programs, Green Thumbs) are all going in the same direction. Over time, one of the options will likely be an areawide integrated program. Likely the biggest bang for the buck. Combine it with other pests and other issues.

·        If growers felt that the program was reliable, they’d be ok with it.

·        Growers are happy with regulatory services.

·        Focus on environmentally friendly practices.

·        Need the program to keep things clean.

·        Zones 2 & 3 will never be as good as Zone 1. There will be hotter hot spots and more difficult to control spots. There will be higher risk areas that we may need proportionally more releases forever than you do in the south.

·        Getting less than a maintenance program in Zone 1 at this time.  

·        In the future, it should be identified that if we want this program to work in the north, that in addition to the program additional funding (outside of the operational budget) could be sought out to get a dedicated crew to go after all the wild trees in Zone 3. We may get the numbers down to some economic threshold as we know it, but maybe with just the extra little kick we may be able to do it.

·        Are the growers satisfied with the regulatory services that are available? Should the Regional Districts be stepping up to the plate a little more to enforce bylaws or should the SIR Program be having more enforcement? 

·        If Codling Moth escapes, as the Technical Committee stated, let’s focus on environmentally friendly practices that still allow the achievements of the program to still continue while we deal with Codling Moth. Guthion, Imidan, nor Zolone will be available for use in the next few years. We need to make sure we have soft products available and working. Mating Disruption does have a placement for the program, but it is not the silver bullet. The point is that if Codling Moth does get up again, we can deal with it but we don’t want to lose the rest of the program. 


·        Definition of areawide management means areawide mandatory. How do we ensure mandatory compliance? Who is responsible? Would IFP or Grower With Care incorporate Codling Moth management as a criteria of compliance?

 

Wayne Matthews noted throughout discussion:

·        The SIR Program is not finished in 2005. It is an on-going program. Just need to carry on the funding.

 

Bob Fugger added the following point throughout discussion:

·        Christine Dendy’s report states that we need 1.9 million to continue the program. We are looking at 3 million for a sustainable program.

 

Tom Ouchi noted that splitting it up into two areas in question for a maintenance program (Zone 1 as one area and Zone 2 & 3 as another). Carry on for now and in a five year period we can review how to possibly tie it in with other pests (ex: leafroller).

 

Charlotte Leaming made the following points that could make a sustainable program for Zone 1:

·        Need better maintenance and better surveillance techniques.

·        Educate growers. Some growers don’t know what Codling Moth looks like. Some don’t know when to spray. Focus on getting information out to them.

·        Need better problem prediction.

·        Need more effective hot spot problem solving.

 

Lynn Lashuk stated that SIR is now focusing on enforcement in Zones 2 & 3 with growers that have a minimum of two years history. Postings to remove the trees went out last week and we are waiting for the appeals. If we don’t hear from the owners, excavators are being lined up. Severe regulations are now being enforced.

 

The following motion was put forward by the SIR Grower & Industry Committee:

 

Moved by  Charlotte Leaming                         Seconded by  Gerry Shaw      

 

“The Grower & Industry Advisory Committee endorses the SIR Technical Advisory Committee motion as read:

 

Post 2005 we envision the SIR Program continuing as:

1.      An areawide Codling Moth program, utilising all appropriate tools.

2.      That in the future the program will be expanded to include areawide management of other pests.