Date: April 7th, 1999

APPROVED

SIR GROWER/INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES of the Grower/Industry Committee meeting of the OKANAGAN-KOOTENAY STERILE INSECT RELEASE (SIR) PROGRAM held in the Food Processing Meeting Room at the Pacific Agriculture Research Centre in Summerland, BC on April 6th, 1999.

 

Committee Members:    

 

            Chair Gavin Young                   Westbank Packers Ltd.

            Joseph Lucich                           Grower

            Gerry Shaw                              BC Tree Fruits

Wayne Still                               Similkameen Okanagan Organic Producers Assn.

Norm Filipenko                        Sun Fresh Coop

Jack Barkwill                            BC Fruit Packers

Hank Markgraf             BC Fruit Packers

Greg Norton                             Grower

Hugh Philip                               BCMAF

Peter Waterman                       Okanagan Similkameen Coop  

                                   

Pedro Barata                            BC Fruit Growers’ Association (Oliver)            Absent

Russell Husch                           BC Fruit Growers’ Association (Kelowna)        Absent

Jack Morley                             Okanagan Similkameen Coop                           Absent

            Tom Ouchi                               Grower                                                            Absent

            Stan Swales                              Okanagan North Growers Coop                       Absent

            Tim Watson                              South Valley Sales                                            Absent

            Brian Witzke                            Grower                                                            Absent

                                                           

 Staff:

 

            Dr. Howard Thistlewood          Program Director

            Adrian McCluskey                   Public Relations Officer

            Karen Nelson                           Recording Secretary    

 

AGENDA TOPIC #1:

 

Mr. Young called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m., and started the opening by questioning if the minutes from the last meeting on March 2nd, 1999 could be adopted.

 

Dr. Howard Thistlewood noted an error in the minutes on the last page that was written “It will cost SIR $45,000 for maintenance in 1999”. He explained that maintenance is more than what was figured when the Program began. The 1999 Budget states the Proposed 1999 Maintenance figure. Karen Nelson removed the incorrect statement from the minutes.

 

Mr. Young then asked if we could then adopt the minutes.

 

Moved by Wayne Still Seconded by Gerry Shaw

“ Accepted minutes for meeting dated March 2nd, 1999.”

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

AGENDA TOPIC #2:

 

Mr. McCluskey stated that the SIR’s Newsletter will be mailed out on the last week of April. It will include contact phone numbers for spray warning advisories, Zone updates, information on mating disruption, SIR Staff names and contact numbers, and where an orchardist is able to get information.

 

He also noted that the newsletter will also be written in Punjabi for those requiring it.

 

Mr. McCluskey stated that he is always looking for feedback. It was decided that an outline of Spray Dates would be issued in the Newsletter.

 

OTHER IDEAS:

 

Mr. McCluskey went on to explain that he is looking into a BCTEL phone line to cover other languages. The phone line will cost $100.00/month.

 

Greg Norton felt that more communication is needed with monitors to growers.  That it is invaluable. Other growers also agreed.

 

Dr. Howard Thistlewood stated that 1 monitor will be dong the releasing and the trapping for their particular area.      

 

Hank Markgraf noted that a phone number should be visible on the ATV for growers. The Committee agreed and also asked that a sticker be put in the Newsletter for growers to attach somewhere by their telephones. Billboards should also be made up to be put up at grower supplies and packinghouses. Fridge magnets were another idea. Adrian McCluskey will be gathering prices for these ideas.

 

Mr. McCluskey explained that Radio campaigns for SIR will also keep going for 1999. He also sends Press Releases to the Radios and Television Stations. It is hard for Television to publicize.

 

Mr. McCluskey went on to ask the Committee if the Spray Information Chart is beneficial. It was agreed by the Committee to have the Spray Chart inputted with the Newsletter each and every time so that growers get the hint to use it. This Chart could be left at each station in each orchard.

 

Peter Waterman brought up that it may be beneficial to get a contractor to call once a month, at night time, to get information from the growers instead of the relying on the writing process.  The Committee talked about the need for pest information and resolved the question with a motion.

 

Moved by Gerry Shaw            Seconded by Joseph Lucich

“Be it resolved that because there is an urgent need for information, the Grower & Industry Advisory Committee requests that a survey be undertaken by BCMAFF to gather past and future data to quantify the effect that patterns of pesticide use has on secondary pests in British Columbia orchards. Gavin Young, Chairperson of the Grower & Industry Advisory Committee, will write a letter of this request to Corky Evans, the Ministry, and Marney James in Abbotsford.”

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION:

 

Greg Norton and Wayne Still then talked about promotion needed on how clean and beautiful the fruit is in British Columbia to help out with sales. The “SIR Apple” should help promote sales to the public. Dr. Thistlewood did agree and stated that maybe we need to get a workshop on the strategies.

 

Hank Markgraf and Gerry Shaw stated that there should be another meeting scheduled for a  Promotion Manager from BC Tree Fruits to attend and hear out the concerns of the Committee.

 

 Moved by Greg Norton          Seconded by Wayne Still

“To initiate discussion on an action process to get positive marketing initiative strategies in the program.”

MOTION CARRIED

 

3:30     5 MINUTE BREAK

 

Dr. Thistlewood noted that time frame left of the meeting and asked that the Committee carried on to Issue number 4 of the Agenda. If there were any questions regarding the Budget, he could be contacted at any time to answer anyone’s questions.

 

AGENDA TOPIC #4:

 

Dr. Thistlewood then proceeded with his recommendations for the Spray Program in 1999 for Zone 1 and

Zone 2.

 

The following was stated on Dr. Thistlewoods overhead:

 

Area-wide SIR in Zone 1

Intensive trapping          -           1 per hector early season

                                                1 per orchard later in the season

Intensive banding          -           100+ bands per orchard   

Orchard and Urban Monitoring -           buffer areas

-                     other

 

Continued clean-up in orchards, urban, native, public lands.

 

Codling Moth Control

By Codling Moth history – all receive Sir Moths.

A.                 1st cover spray and mating disruption at ½ rate.

B.                 Some use of 1st cover

CONFIRM/APM – Guthion/Imidan/Zolone

C.                 Monitoring information such as traps to guide further treatments.

 

All sprays according to degree day models.

Research in Zone 1       - dual Codling Moth / Leef Roller Mating Disruption

-                     varying SIR / Mating Disruption

Area-Wide SIR in Zone 2

Intensive trapping; orchard and urban monitoring, clean-up, orchard, urban, native, public lands.

1st cover, possibly 2nd cover.

 

Guthion/APM/Imidan/Zolone timed by degree days.

 

OR

 

CONFIRM if low Codling Moth.

 

 

 

Later

If trapping 2 or more moths per week then spray according to degree day timing, and choose product according to Codling Moth pressure.

 

Other

Implementation Trials – funding three treatments of blocks (10 acre blocks) at Richard Bullocks property. Planning to get mating disruption in Kelowna. Prices are needed for that.

Bin Movement – late deployment 

Program Assessment and Costs

Pesticide Survey

 

NEW BUSINESS – BIN MOVEMENT:

 

Dr. Thistlewood mentioned that the Packinghouses agreed to hold the bins until July 1st, 1999. He had hoped that they would wait longer than that.

 

Gavin Young reminded that Committee that the next meeting is on June 1st, 1999. He then adjourned the meeting at 4:45 PM.

 

 

_________________________                                              _________________________

            Chairman                                                                                           Secretary