Westbank orchards are the most damaged from the codling moth, a devastating pest of apples. In 1992, the Sterile Insect Release program was created with funding from all levels of government and orchardists to control 
populations of the pest without the use of harsh chemicals. Program staff raise moths and irradiate them to render them sterile, then release them in orchards where the population of wild moths has been reduced as much as possible. That makes it most likely that mating will be ineffectual, because most of the moths will be sterile ones. The program began in the southern part of the valley, and has gradually moved north. In the south there are now only a few “hotspots” where there’s some damage from codling moth. Manager Cara McCurrach said hail this summer in the Osoyoos area could be the reason there’s one area that showed damage this year at harvest. She speculates those farmers with hail-damaged fruit perhaps didn’t work as hard as usual to keep the pest under control on their farms.
Overall, throughout the whole valley, she said the program has reached its objective of 90 per cent of acreage with less than .2 per cent damage from the pest. However, the amount of damage varied throughout the valley, with the Central Okanagan in the worst shape. Overall, the worst area is Westbank where SIR reports 35.42 per cent of the 168 acres in the area had more than .5 per cent damaged fruit. The next highest area of damage was East Kelowna, at 12.08 per cent of the 1,064 acres with more than .5 per cent damage; followed by 7.59 per cent of the 379 acres in Ellison with more than .5 per cent damage and 7.38 per cent of the 415 acres in Belgo, with 7.38 per cent damage. In the Similkameen, Peachland and Carr’s Landing areas there was no damage at all in 2008. Overall, however, McCurrach said the program achieved better control this year than last, with just 10 per cent not achieving an acceptable level of control. “We have a very low incidence of codling moth damage compared to many apple-growing areas,” she noted.
She said there are many factors in the Central Okanagan, including the fact that some orchardists simply aren’t focused on that particular pest. Yet, it must be an area-wide control program to work, or uncontrolled areas will re-infect areas where it’s under control. She admitted it’s frustrating to not have all orchardists on-side, but many of the difficulties are beyond the mandate of SIR to control. The program’s goals will have to be re-evaluated by the board, she said. SIR chairman Colin Day is retiring from civic politics this month, so there will be at least a couple of new faces on the board after this weekend’s civic elections, she said. McCurrach said it’s expected the program will require the same level of funding next year as this year, as it’s moved into a maintenance level program now. That means $1.6 million will be raised through the valley’s regional districts, and $1.2 million through a parcel tax on orchardists.
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Don Quixote Note: Vernon Taxpayers Paid $ 206,186 for this S.I.R. Service in 2008. Coldstream paid $82,200 in 2008. The total paid by all NORD participants was $311,301. Vernon Paid 66% of the total NORD bill with Coldstream contributing 26%.
Armstrong and Spall contributed small amounts totaling less than 7% with the remaining 1% coming from Areas D, and F.
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