Orchardists named to SIR board

Published: November 02, 2010 7:00 PM Morning Star:

There are four new members of the Sterile Insect Release board, including three tree fruit growers from the three zones in the valley.  With the agreement of the valley’s four regional districts, orchardist Brian Mennell now represents the southern part of the valley, Fred Steele of Kelowna represents the central part and Vernon orchardist Dave Dobernigg represents those in the north in the SIR board.  As well, West Kelowna Coun. Duane Ophus joined the board as a second voting representative from the Central Okanagan Regional District, because it is much larger than the other three regional districts, and contributes a correspondingly larger amount to the total budget.  Chairman Kevin Flynn said he’s always felt it was unfair that growers contributed 40 to 45 per cent of the revenue to the program in parcel taxes, yet they had no vote on the board.  As well, he said the expertise of industry should have a say at the board table, and should be given a vote as well.

Ultimately, financial decisions still must be made by a majority of the board, represented by more regional district representatives than fruit growers, he noted.  Board members also voted to ask the provincial government for changes to the legislation governing the SIR program that would prevent a regional district from withdrawing from the program.  Allan Neilson-Welch, a local government policy consultant, told board members the provincial government can put a program on a list of those where participants cannot withdraw from the service.  The City of Vernon has occasionally discussed withdrawal from the program.  However, because of the program’s nature, it must retain its integrity in order to remain viable, noted Neilson-Welch.

The SIR is an area-wide program to control codling moth, a non-native pest of pomme fruit such as apples and pears, without the use of chemical pesticides.  It couldn’t operate without covering the entire area because areas where the pest is under control would become re-infected from adjacent districts where it wasn’t in operation.  The idea is that all residents benefit from the reduction in the chemicals which used to be needed to control the worm in apples, the larval stage of the codling moth.  Board members voted to begin conducting a program review every three years, beginning in 2013.  As well, the agriculture ministry will be asked to regulate the sale, planting and registration of trees on urban properties which can host the codling moth, such as crabapples.