SIR moves beyond moth management

Vernon Morning Star Published: April 21, 2009 7:00 PM

The board of the Sterile Insect Release program has approved in principle a proposal to move into providing area-wide pest management services for more than just the codling moth it currently manages. The board is made up of political representatives from the four valley regional districts from the Shuswap to the Similkameen. “The industry says area-wide pest management is an invaluable service,” said chairman Kevin Flynn. He emphasized that no one wants to go backwards on control of codling moth, a non-native, devastating pest of apples and pears. But through most of the valley, he said, it’s now under control, with just the occasional “hotspot.” Its control with the use of irradiated moths introduced into orchards to mate ineffectively with wild moths, reduces the amount of pesticides used in the valley.

Controlling other commercial pests using alternative technologies could further reduce pesticide use throughout the valley. Board members recently heard a presentation from consulting entomologist Hugh Philip for a three-year transition from a program to suppress codling moth to maintaining a steady state of controland to a program which may include other pests. The program would be led by the industry, but supported by regional districts, and would include the SIR program providing sterile insects, enforcement and extension services. But monitoring of insects would shift to another agency, likely the Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative, said Philip.

He envisions researchers from such facilities as the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre working with an integrated pest management specialist to identify the technical needs. However, he said there wouldn’t be a major change in the types of activities or administration of the SIR program. An operations advisory committee would be created to make recommendations to the SIR board on technical matters, while the SIR board would continue to control policy and budget. Several pilot projects are underway in different parts of the valley this year, to test some possible areas the program could move into. The program would continue to be a partnership between general taxpayers and growers, who pay a parcel tax towards it as well.

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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.