Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I maintain my host trees?

Answer:  The SIR Program includes the Okanagan, Similkameen and Shuswap Valleys.  With any area-wide program, success depends on the cooperation of all participants.  The Program helps reduce chemical sprays and the impact of these sprays on air, water, and soil quality.  This benefits the entire community.

2. What gives SIR the right to enter onto my property?

Answer:  BC Regulation 17/90 gives employees of the SIR Program the authority to enter onto property at all reasonable times to carry out the work of the program.

3. What type of trees does SIR look at?

Answer:  Codling moth host trees include all apples, pears, crabapple, ornamental crabapple, and quince trees and quince shrubs.

4. What can urban properties spray?

Answer:  Nurseries can suggest a number of codling moth sprays - please be sure to follow the mixing instructions on the label.  More information from the Ministry of Agriculture is available here.

5. Does the SIR Program force people to spray pesticides?

Answer:  The  Sterile Insect Release Program is an area-wide and environmentally friendly approach to managing codling moth populations.  The aim of the Program is to reduce the use of pesticides through the strategic use of a combination of codling moth controls, including sterile moth release, mating disruption, removal of blossoms and fruit, pruning, cardboard banding, and intensive monitoring.  The use of pesticides is another option for growers, but it is one that we neither enforce nor carry out ourselves – it is the grower who may choose to apply pesticides or hire a professional pesticide applicator as a way of maintaining his or her codling moth host trees.

6. If we don't want to spray, is there other ways to control the moth?

Answer:  Codling moths are dependant on fruit to complete their life cycle.  Removing all fruit and/or blossoms by June 1st each year eliminates the hatching larvae's food source.  Organic options for codling moth control in residential areas and orchard settings also exist.

7. Strip the fruit? There are so many blossoms; it's such a big job!

Answer:  Many homeowners eliminate codling moths in their trees by removing all fruit early in the season.  If the tree is large or overgrown it should first be pruned to a maintainable height and to open the canopy.  This makes it much easier to snap off the bud and/or developing fruit.

8. How much tax am I paying?

Answer: There has been no tax requisition increase for SIR to the Regional Districts for 2011 and the SIR parcel tax rate remains at 2010 levels of $139.26 per acre of planted host trees.

All urban properties, regardless if they have host trees, paid an average of $10.00 per year in 2008.

More details can be seen here.

9. Why doesn't my neighbour have to do anything about their overgrown tree?

Answer:  The SIR Program requires maintenance on all codling moth host trees with infestation.  Unfortunately, it's not against the law for your neighbour to have an ugly or overgrown tree - the tree would need to be infested before action can be taken.

10. How long is this program going to last?

Answer:  Currently, there is no end date established for the Program.  If you are an owner of an apple, pear, crabapple, or quince, you are required to maintain it for the lifetime of the tree.  If you can't maintain your tree or are not interested in maintaining it, then removal is the best option.

11. I have rental property. Talk to the renters: they're the ones that want the tree.

Answer:  It's great if you have renters that will take care of the host trees in your yard but as the owner you are ultimately responsible for the care of the trees.  Program compliance and/or charges, are the owner's responsibility.

12. What if SIR charges me for work completed and I don't want to pay?

Answer:  If SIR charges for non-compliance are not paid by December 31st of the year issued, the charges will then be billed to the owner and form part of the taxes payable on the property.

13. Why hasn't someone visited my residential property this year?

Answer: All urban host tree owners will receive a letter in the spring.  If you have a history of unacceptable codling moth infestation, your letter will include an order that will require you to remove all fruit from your host trees by June 1st.  All other host tree owners will receive a letter with control measures and information on how to care for your trees.

If you have questions or require a visit please contact your local SIR office.

14. How many moths are released in the orchards throughout the summer?

Answer:  252,000,000 sterile moths are released each growing season.