Sterile Insect Release (SIR) Program

Below is a data analysis of the SIR Tax Requisition. All participating areas at RDNO (Vernon, Coldstream, Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Areas B & C are charged on the basis of land value assessment only. That is how it arrives on your property tax bill. (Nord1 assessed land only in Vernon.) Total in 2017 $294,272. Vernon's share in 2017 $191,367 (65.03%). My personal share on my property was $11.99 in 2017.

The actual fruit growers acreage to which this program applies is charged on the property tax bill is a per acre charge of $139.26. Total acreage for the RDNO fruit growers is 1165.15 acres and a total charge of $162,259 in 2016. Vernon fruit growers had 135.85 (11.66%) of the total acreage and were taxed $18,919.

If the taxpayers of Vernon were charged on the basis of fruit acreage in their jurisdiction rather than assessed land values as is the present formula the taxes required would be reduced by $157,064. In 2009 the difference was calculated to be a $157,906 reduction.

Naturally if this formula changed to Fruit acreage only other areas would be effected.
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Coddling moth program finding success

by Richard Rolke - Kelowna Capital News Kelowna posted Feb 25, 2017 at 8:00 AM

A region-wide initiative remains focused on keeping a tiny bug under control. The Sterile Insect Release program reports that the use of pesticides for codling moth was down 94 per cent in 2016 and 93 per cent of all apple acreage had less than 0.2 per cent of damage from the insect. “The program is realizing success. We keep getting progressively cleaner,” said Melissa Tesche, acting general manager. SIR was started in 1991 and the goal is to control the impact of the invasive codling moth on the apple and pear industry in the Okanagan and Similkameen regions. The program includes the use of sterile moths and mating disruption, as well as population monitoring, enforcement and education. Along with orchards, SIR also ensures codling moth isn’t in residential trees. There are about 2,600 buffer sites between orchards and urban areas, but very few were infested in 2016. “It’s not that we don’t want backyard trees, we just want them clean,” said Tesche, adding that moths in residential trees can spread into nearby orchards. Tesche believes the general public supports SIR because it leads to reduced pesticide use in their neighbourhoods. “People desire this pastoral lifestyle and living among orchards.
There is increased environmental awareness and people care about how their food is grown,” she said. Moth infestations can also negatively impact the tree fruit industry, which is economically important in many communities. “Agricultural pests are a regional problem that need area wide control. There is a relevancy to the program,” said Tesche. During a recent survey, most of the 506 respondents were willing to pay for SIR through property taxes (the program is also funded through a parcel tax on orchardists). There is no tax increase planned for 2017 and the last hike was 2010. The program’s annual operating budget is $3.2 million, and alternate funding sources such as selling moths to other countries, such as New Zealand. “We are trying to get some senior government grants back into the program,” said Tesche.
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Don Quixote Note:
Below is a data analysis of the SIR Tax Requisition. All participating areas at RDNO (Vernon, Coldstream, Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Areas B & C are charged on the basis of land value assessment only. That is how it arrives on your property tax bill. (Nord1 assessed land only in Vernon.) Total in 2016 $294,272. Vernon's share in 2016 $191,142 (64.95%). My personal share on my property was $12.09 in 2016.

The actual fruit growers acreage to which this program applies is charged on the property tax bill is a per acre charge of $139.26. Total acreage for the RDNO fruit growers is 1079.29 acres and a total charge of $150,297 in 2016. Vernon fruit growers had 136.65 (12.68%) of the total acreage and were taxed $19,030.

If the taxpayers of Vernon were charged on the basis of fruit acreage in their jurisdiction rather than assessed land values as is the present formula the taxes required would be reduced by $153,582. In 2009 the difference was calculated to be a $157,906 reduction.

Naturally if this formula changed to Fruit acreage only other areas would be effected.

http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/search/label/S.I.R.%20Program

Sterile Insect Program hopes to build on success

By Steve Arstad INFO.News.ca August 24, 2016 - 9:00 PM

PENTICTON - The Okanagan’s Sterile Insect Release program is getting international recognition as program executives seek new commercial opportunities in order to reduce costs. Acting general manager Melissa Tesche says the sterile insect release program received the Award of Excellence at the International Integrated Pest Management symposium held in Salt Lake City in March 2015. Tesche said the program achieved a rate of less than 0.2 per cent damage to 90 per cent of the valley’s apple crops due to coddling moth for the first time in 2015. She expressed the importance of growers and private fruit growers to work with the program to maintain their orchards and trees. “One or two infested trees will keep an orchard’s wild population alive and well,” she said, adding with the past two years’ early growing season in the orchard agriculturalists needed to watch more than just the calendar these days. Tesche said pesticide use to control coddling moth has decreased by 96 per cent since the program began in 1992, along with a 94 per cent decrease in wild coddling moth captures. The program inspected 9,000 trees last year. Future ambitions of the board include a search to find ways for the program to generate sources of alternative income, Tesche said, even though the program has gone six years without a tax increase. The program has been selling sterile moths to New Zealand and a trial program is taking place in Italy. They are also pursuing moth sales in France and Germany in the hopes of maximizing the sterile insect programs’ facility in Osoyoos. The Sterile Insect Release program consists of an eight member board composed of five regional district appointees and three grower representatives nominated by B.C. Fruit Growers Association. All three Okanagan regional districts are represented on the board.
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Don Quixote Note:
Below is a data analysis of the SIR Tax Requisition. All participating areas at RDNO  (Vernon, Coldstream, Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Areas B & C are charged on the basis of land value assessment only. That is how it arrives on your property tax bill. (Nord1 assessed land only in Vernon.) Total in 2016  $294,272. Vernon's share in 2016 $191,142 (64.95%). My personal share on my property was $12.09 in 2016.

   The actual fruit growers acreage to which this program applies is charged on the property tax bill  is a per acre charge of $139.26.  Total acreage for the RDNO fruit growers is 1079.29 acres  and a total charge of $150,297 in 2016.  Vernon fruit growers had 136.65 (12.68%) of the total acreage and were taxed $19,030.

If the taxpayers of Vernon were charged on the basis of fruit acreage in their jurisdiction  rather than assessed land values as is the present formula the taxes required would be reduced by $153,582.  In 2009 the difference was calculated to be a $157,906 reduction.

Naturally if this formula changed to Fruit acreage only other  areas would be effected.

City of Vernon gets behind starling control program

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 03, 2013 1:00 AM
Vernon’s support for starling control has taken flight.  Council has agreed to provide $13,000 in 2013 for the valley-wide initiative that attempts to control the invasive bird species. “It’s devastating,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe of the damage starlings causes to fruit crops as well  as at cattle feed lots. However, the city wants the Regional District of North Okanagan to review how the cost of the program is allocated to member jurisdictions. Currently, Vernon pays the most because it has the largest population within RDNO. “The starling program is affecting farmers and we have very little farming,” said Coun. Catherine Lord. Starlings are also known to be an urban pest, nesting on building ledges and in warehouses, dryer vents and birdhouses.
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Don Quixote Note: Vernon Council agreed to pay $13,257  of the $25,000 Starling Control program for 2013. This represents 53.03% of the total converted Land & Improvements assessment of the regional partners who were in the program when it ended on Dec. 31, 2012. This money for this year will come from the 2012 general surplus. (Total in this surplus still not known but should be available within the month ??) This program will have to be renewed by RDNO for 2014 and beyond  by a new establishment bylaw (as the existing bylaw had a sunset clause ending in 2012) and all Partners that want to remain in the program will decide on the method of allocating the costs.

The present method of Land & Improvements is inappropriate. Even the S.I.R. program taxes the areas on the basis of Land only.  If we based this program on Farm Acreage only, Vernon's share would be about $1,652 . If Vernon's share was based on population (as suggested in article) Vernon share would be 38,150/81,237= 46.96% or  $11,740.

 

Stanley Cup forces RDNO meeting into overtime

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: June 17, 2011 1:00 AM 
Regional District of North Okanagan directors took a break between periods.  The regularly scheduled public meeting Wednesday was suspended after 45 minutes and resumed Thursday afternoon so staff and directors could get home to watch game seven of the Stanley Cup finals. “This was a very important opportunity to possibly celebrate a Stanley Cup win,” said Rick Fairbairn, vice-chairperson, of his support for the Vancouver Canucks .  The only portion of the meeting that proceeded Wednesday was presentations from three delegations. All other business was addressed Thursday. The decision to stagger the meeting over two days was unanimous but not all directors were pleased.  “It’s an important game but our business is important,” said Wayne Lippert, Vernon director.  “I have no problem staying to go through it (agenda).” Lippert also pointed out that some board members didn’t become aware of the new schedule until Wednesday morning, and holding a two-part meeting could create an inconvenience for some  directors.  “I don’t have far to travel but some come in from Cherryville and Enderby. That needs to be considered,” he said.  Delegations were kept to a strict 10 minutes and that proved challenging given the amount of information from the Sterile Insect Release program. “I’m sorry you had to rush through the presentation,” Armstrong director Shirley Fowler told the SIR representatives. “I am sorry we didn’t have more time to spend on it.”  Janice Brown, Spallumcheen’s alternate director,  believes the meeting could have gone  ahead as scheduled.  “I thought we could have gone through the agenda in an hour or hour-an-a-half (Wednesday) and then turned the game on to see the score.”  The plan to suspend most of the meeting until Thursday came from Fairbairn and Trafford Hall, administrator.  “We didn’t know the Stanley Cup final would be tonight,” Hall told the board Wednesday.  “We thought it would be a call you would agree to.”  Decked out in a Canucks shirt, Hall also made a prediction on the game’s outcome.  “In two years time, will anyone remember this agenda? But in two years, we will remember we won the Stanley Cup,” he said.

Pesticide use drops thanks to SIR program

Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News Published: May 22, 2011 1:00 PM

2009 Effect if Taxes changed to actual Acreage

There’s been a 95 per cent reduction in the amount of organo-phosphate pesticides used in the Okanagan Valley in the past 19 years due to the Sterile Insect Release program used to combat codling moth in apple orchards.  Entomologist Hugh Philip was reporting to the SIR board Thursday in Kelowna, which is made up of representatives from the four regional districts that are part of the area-wide program.  “The program has had a considerable impact on the prevalence of codling moth,” reported Philip, and that has translated into far fewer pesticides being applied in orchards.  In total, he said 74 per cent less pesticide is being used since the program began, from 5.4 kilograms or litres per hectare in 1991, to 1.4 kilograms or litres per hectare in 2010, in pome orchards such as apple and pear. Philip’s figures take into account the reduction in apple orchard acreage in that time, which is a 53 per cent drop, from 8,900 acres in 1991 to 3,796 in 2010.

Even in zone two and three, from Peachland north, the use of chemicals to combat the devastating, introduced pest of apples, has now dropped to as low as in zone one, where the program began and where it has successfully replaced all chemical sprays for the codling moth for more than a decade, he reported.  With such low populations, an alternate, chemical-free option for control of the codling moth works very effectively, he said. Mating disruption is now being used in this area instead of using sterilized moths that have been irradiated in the Osoyoos rearing facility.  Strips containing a synthesized sex pheromone that mimics a mating attractant are put out in the orchard and confuse the moths so they are unable to mate and reproduce.  Philip noted the area-wide program costs orchardists $139 an acre each season, while mating disruption costs $166 per acre per season, and chemical controls cost between $95 and $134 a spray, which must be applied three times a season.

It’s still necessary for people with backyard host trees such as apple, pear and crabapple to control codling moth or else strip all the fruit from their trees while it’s still immature. Otherwise, commercial orchards could be re-infested with codling moth.  In areas around orchards, this year 240 residential property-owners have been ordered by the SIR program to strip the fruit from their trees, while eight commercial orchards have also been ordered to strip their fruit because of a high level of infestation of codling moth, which could re-infest their neighbours’ fruit. Orchardist Fred King of Kelowna, who is also a member of the SIR board and of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association board, commented that there are still some orchardists who automatically put on three cover sprays a year for codling moth, whether it’s needed or not. “We have to change that,” he commented.  Philip said few orchardists should need to spray even once this year for codling moth.  Organic orchardist Brian Mennell from Cawston noted that by reducing sprays, orchardists would find that they would be permitting the survival of beneficial insects, some of which would help to keep pests in check without chemicals.  Board member and orchardist Allan Patton said he stopped spraying 12 years ago and found a bit of a jump in damage from other pests for the first couple of years, but then those problems dropped right off and he hasn’t sprayed since.

The board also agreed to permit a Korean broadcasting company to film inside the SIR moth rearing facility for a farm to fork documentary on sustainability and green growth. An international entomologists’ organization asked if Philip would come to a conference in Germany this fall to make a presentation about the program, but there is no funding for such a trip. Instead he will put together a profile poster about the program to send.

RDOS board highlights (re SIR Program)

by Contributed Castanet May 14, 2011 / 7:00 am

The following are highlights of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Board meeting held Thursday, May 12, 2011.

STERILE INSECT RELEASE PROGRAM

The CAO’s of the North Okanagan Regional District, Central Okanagan Regional District, South Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District and Central Kootenay Regional District met with the Chair and CEO of the Sterile Insect Release (SIR) Program April 12th to receive a program update and discuss SIR issues. Armstrong proposed that they receive no direct benefit from the program and would like to be excluded from the program. SIR argues that there is an indirect benefit to their citizens in that by reducing the use of pesticides, the valley has cleaner air, purer water, a stronger economy, a more sustainable environment that is healthier all around. The current funding model is based on 55% of the cost through converted assessment and the remainder through a parcel tax to fruit growers. Vernon has proposed that it be paid by the farmers through a parcel tax. The 2011 SIR Budget includes a transfer from RDOS of $915,000; $355,690 from property tax and $565,440 from parcel.

Gilroy claims snub from NORD

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 25, 2011 7:00 PM
A Vernon politician is demanding to know why he wasn’t told he was not on a regional committee. Coun. Jack Gilroy says he only found out that he was no longer the North Okanagan Regional District’s representative to the Sterile Insect Release program when he got an e-mail from SIR staff. No personal notification of the change came from NORD. “I’m not very happy,” said Gilroy, who sat at SIR for two years.  “They could have at least told me. It just astounds me. A little courtesy would have been nice.” Thinking he was still on the SIR board, Gilroy had been preparing for a meeting with provincial officials in Penticton Friday. He’s not sure if Armstrong Coun. Shirley Fowler — NORD’s new appointee — will be up to speed on all of the issues.  “You just don’t learn this stuff overnight,” he said.  Herman Halvorson, NORD chairperson, defends the process, saying that only full members of the regional district board can be appointed to committees and Gilroy is only an alternate director for Vernon.  “Everyone on committees must be a board member so there is no disconnect and everyone know’s what’s going on,” said Halvorson of improving communications.  Gilroy had previously been a full NORD director but the city changed his appointment to alternate director this year, meaning he only attends district meetings when a regular city director can’t attend. Halvorson isn’t sure why Gilroy didn’t know about being removed from SIR.  “Everyone at the regional district board level accepted the recommendations,” said Halvorson.  “The City of Vernon got a copy of the agenda (where appointments were discussed) and the Vernon representatives must not have had a problem with it because they didn’t say anything about it. No one showed interest in sitting on the committee, including Jack.”

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.

CANADA & B.C. INVEST IN PROVINCIAL TREE FRUIT INDUSTRY

KELOWNA – The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, announced today an investment of $5 million to support the tree fruit industry. This funding will deliver real results for farmers by helping to develop new marketing opportunities, infrastructure, and further improve orchard pest management. “Canada’s Economic Action Plan is putting farmers first, by helping to increase production and sales, and creating more opportunities for farmers to get their product to market,” said Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This investment will allow the tree fruit industry to find new technologies that will help them stay ahead of the curve in the global market.” “This is a significant investment that will give tree fruit growers in this province the innovative edge they need to strongly promote B.C. grown fruit and compete with producers in other regions,” said Minister of Agriculture and Lands Steve Thomson. “In our discussions, the industry identified some areas, such as marketing and infrastructure, where they wanted to focus efforts and make further improvements.”The Province of B.C. announced $2 million in funding, and the Federal Government will provide an investment of $3 million more. This combined funding will be used for new environmentally friendly packing and storage infrastructure, marketing opportunities that raise the profile of fresh and processed apples, and to build on work accomplished by the sterile insect release program in the Okanagan and Kootenay regions.

For more information on this program visit www.agr.gc.ca/agriflexibility.

For more information on the Sterile Insect Release program, see http://www.oksir.org/.

Vernon demands program changes

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 17, 2010 12:00 PM

The City of Vernon is demanding changes to how the Sterile Insect Release program is funded. Council is asking the North Okanagan Regional District to address the allocation formula based on actual apple acreage in the participating jurisdictions. “I have a problem with our taxpayers being burdened with a disproportionate cost,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. Vernon has 12 per cent of the commercial apple acreage in the North Okanagan but it pays 66 per cent ($193,440) of the cost towards the valley-wide initiative which is trying to control the impact of codling moth on apples. “The costs are outrageous. We are subsidizing our neighbours,” said Spiers. Spiers also questions why businesses are taxed for moth control. “Show me one business with a host tree. Once again that’s a cost to this community because we have the largest business sector,” he said.

Similar concerns also come from Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. “Who at NORD would vote to change the ratio because it will mean increased taxes for their citizens,” she said. However, Coun. Jack Gilroy, NORD’s representative to SIR, says there are numerous apple trees in residential backyards in Vernon. He also insists the program provides health and environmental benefits. “Look at the tons of chemicals not being sprayed (by orchardists) and that does affect our citizens,” he said. “The program is working. If we let it go, the apple industry will be destroyed. We have to support this industry.” Coun. Shawn Lee points out that Vernon receives federal and provincial dollars that come from much larger centres for programs and infrastructure. “We’re being subsidized by someone else. The money issue is important but it’s a symptom of how things work in Canada,” he said.

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December 2004 Industry Overview:

The Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program (SIR) is one of the industry/government initiatives to reduce the impact of codling moth on tree fruit production. Codling moth, a species introduced from Europe in the early 1900’s, has the biggest impact of all pest species of tree fruits in the BC interior valleys. Figure 5 shows the damage to fruit in the various areas. The program uses a variety of methods including sterile moth release, sanitation, mating disruption, and minimal pesticide application to keep the impact of codling moth in BC below the economic threshold.28 The SIR program has made it possible for an 83% decrease in the use of organophosphate pesticides in Zone 1 (South Okanagan, Similkameen and Creston Valleys) and a 65% decrease in zones 2 (Central Okanagan Valley) and 3 (North Okanagan and Shuswap Valleys).

The program funding comes from Regional Districts (40%), Fruit Growers (20%), the Federal Government (20%), and the Provincial Government (20%). Codling Moth damage has been drastically reduced since the implementation of this program.

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Don Quixote Note: The Federal Government and Provincial Government are no longer contributors to this program. More downloading to Municipal Taxpayer. (for those municipalities that choose to continue in the program)

The Guide to the SIR Program is an important resource for elected officials, local residents, fruit growers, and fruit industry partners. It covers Program services, governance, results and benefits, and looks to the future of the Program. (costing excerpt below)

In 2008 Property Tax payers paid $1.64 million (56%) while the growers trough parcel taxes of $133 per acre paid $1.29 million. (44%)

Township asks city to stay in program

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 10, 2010 12:00 PM

The Township of Spallumcheen wants its neighbour to reconsider its application to be removed from a valley-wide program. The City of Armstrong has sent notice to the North Okanagan Regional District that it would like to pull out of the sterile insect release (SIR) program, a move the township doesn’t support. “We felt they were as much a contributor to the coddling moth as much as any other jurisdiction, based on the number of host trees in Armstrong for coddling moth,” said Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma. “There are more things that contribute to coddling moth than just orchards. Backyard trees are probably the biggest problem for the SIR board.” Hansma said the SIR board did a review and found that the City of Armstrong had in excess of 1,000 host trees for coddling moth in the city boundaries. Without Armstrong’s participation in the SIR program, said Hansma, there’s no vehicle for the SIR board to use to try and limit the host trees in the boundary of Armstrong. “Coddling moths know no boundaries,” he said. “We’ve got orchards adjacent to Armstrong and we can spray until we’re blue in the face, but it won’t make any difference because the coddling moth will be thriving in the city.” If Armstrong has more than 1,000 host trees for coddling moth, Mayor Chris Pieper would like to know where they are. “We have no commercial orchards in Armstrong, and I don’t believe we have more than 1,000 apple trees,” said Pieper.

Armstrong is an original member of the SIR program, which Pieper figures came into existence between 12 and 15 years ago. Almost four years ago, Armstrong received a lower classification in the program with other regional district members because they have no commercial orchards, which meant their financial contribution went from approximately $12,000 a year down to about $4,000. “We participated in the program for the good of the Okanagan,” said Pieper. “Now that some of the regional district partners have pulled out because they were allowed to, we thought we’d pull out to. If we’re not all in, we should be all out.” Pieper said Armstrong’s application would need unanimous support from NORD to be accepted, and that’s not likely given Spallumcheen’s objection. “If the city puts on some sort of program to eliminate the host trees within the city, and demonstrates that the host trees are gone, then we can support them getting out of the function,” said Hansma. “As long as there are that many trees, there is no way can support them at this time.”

NORD Meeting Wednesday Apr. 7 at 4 PM

The following 3 items were decided at Yesterday's NORD meeting:

• Water rates for Agricultural use were reduced from the across the board 9% increase to 2.5%. Report was agreed to be brought back by CFO within 2 months of how,what should be considered etc. in setting future Agricultural rates.
  
• Library Borrowing Service establishment bylaw was passed setting up mechanism for the entire NORD area to be the front man for the Library Borrowing . Moreover a resolution was passed (with 1 director opposed) that made the Alt. App. Process (counter petition) area to be 10% of eligible voters in ENTIRE NORD area rather than 10% in each and every individual area.
• Unanimously passed a resolution that: Chairman of the Sterile Insect Release Board be requested to coordinate a meeting to provide an overview and respond to issues identified in the Service Review and invite the Sterile Insect Release Board as well as the Councils of the Sterile Insect Release service participants within the Regional District of North Okanagan and the Chairs and Chief Administrative Officers of the other participating Regional Districts. (There was NO discussion or debate of the present method of charging the SIR participants that were detailed in the report received prior to this resolution.)

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SIR DATA From CFO's report: The report from CFO on April 7 is based on 2009 Requisition.

Hard-up orchardists ready to walk away

Ron Seymour 2010-03-21 Kelowna Daily Courier:
Cash-poor Okanagan orchardists are heading into the spring season in an anxious and angry mood, says the head of the B.C. Fruit Growers Association. Two years of dismal apple prices have left the industry reeling and prompted calls for $10 million in emergency financial assistance. Unless that aid is forthcoming, BCFGA president Joe Sardinha predicts many growers will simply abandon leased orchards this spring. “Growers are not very happy, and that‘s an understatement,” Sardinha said Saturday. “There‘s a lot of anxiety out there, because a lot of growers are really hurting financially. And there‘s a lot of anger, too.” That anger, Sardinha says, comes from a sense among growers that successive governments have failed to fulfil promises made to the farming community when the Agricultural Land Reserve was established in the early 1970s.

The reserve makes it difficult for orchardists to use their land for anything other than farming. In compensation, growers were promised a variety of income-support programs that Sardinha says have mostly faded away. “The ALR preserves green space and farmland, but what good is it if growers aren‘t even earning back their cost of production?” Sardinha said. It costs Okanagan growers an average of 22 cents to produce a pound of apples. However, the return in 2008 was just 16 cents, and prices for last year‘s crop dropped to 13 cents a pound. With losses piling up, BCFGA directors met with government officials last week in Victoria to ask for $10 million in immediate cash assistance. Sardinha said he hoped to get a response from Victoria within the next month on whether such aid will materialize. The BCFGA is seeking a further $7.5 million for “extraordinary” losses associated with a hard, early frost last October that affected 12 per cent of the Valley‘s apple crop. There is a federal-provincial program, known as AgriRecovery, that can provide compensation for losses associated with “special circumstances,” such as extreme weather events.

More generally, the BCFGA is also hoping the federal government will consider establishing a supply-management program for apples, which would set a minimum selling price for fruit being imported into Canada. Surplus apples from the United States and other countries are sometimes “dumped” into Canada at artificially low prices, the BCFGA says, and the effect is to also reduce prices paid to Canadian growers. “Growers are looking for a regulated price that would allow them to meet their cost of production and also have a profit margin,” Sardinha said. “We have to at least get a discussion going about these kind of things. Otherwise, the future for the industry is not very bright.”

Directors oppose SIR withdrawal

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 20, 2010 12:00 PM

The City of Armstrong is getting little support when it comes to leaving the Sterile Insect Release program. Most North Okanagan Regional District board members have indicated they oppose the concept of the city withdrawing from the initiative. “If you get out, the rest of us have to pay,” said Jack Gilroy, a Vernon director and NORD’s representative to SIR. Because of concerns over costs, Armstrong council recently announced plans to leave the valley-wide initiative which attempts to control the impact of codling moth on apples. “Armstrong has been a co-operative partner in this from day one and all we’ve asked for is some fairness,” said John Trainor, Armstrong director, adding that there are no commercial orchards located within the city. “Our (tax) requisition has become disproportionate. I don’t think we’ve ever seen an SIR person in Armstrong.” The city pays about $12,000 a year to the program. “Armstrong would be willing to participate if it wasn’t paying the same rate as a place with large orchards,” said Trainor.

However, Gilroy believes a withdrawal by Armstrong could allow the moth to spread throughout the region. “There’s 1,000 (backyard apple) trees in Armstrong,” he said. “The Kootenays got out of the program a few years ago and it’s been devastated by the moth.” Mike Gavinchuk, BX-Swan Lake director, also supports SIR. “Codling moth doesn’t have any borders,” he said. “It’s not right for someone in my area with a big orchard to have to spray because someone has a tree and it gets infested and spreads.”

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Click on image to enlarge:

Vernon pays 73% of the taxation portion of the SIR Program

68.9% of the SIR program is paid by residential and business taxpayers while the remainder or 31.1% is paid by orchard owners through a parcel tax.

Allowing Armstrong to withdraw would cause taxation loss of $13,287. Vernon share to be picked up would be $10,182. (Coldstream would have an $2316 increase)

The 2008 loss of tax revenue when Enderby, Lumby and areas D,E, and F were allowed to withdraw cost $38,761 with Vernon's addition share costing $27,765 (Coldstream $6,933) to the residential and business taxpayer. (Vernon's approval was made on March 9 at a COW meeting Minutes (p.3,4 & 5 -6)

NORD - Water-Fire-SIR

Fri, 2010-02-19 08:59. Kate Bouey & Betty Selin - Vernon 105.7 Sun FM:

With the ink still fresh on an arbitrator's ruling over Greater Vernon water management, those involved in the dispute appear headed in a different direction. The chairman of the North Okanagan Regional District board, Herman Halvorsen, says Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C are now bringing in a facilitator expected to be Allan Nielsen-Welch. Halvorsen says that motion was passed unanimously.

Some North Okanagan residents could end up calling 9-1-3 for future emergencies as the regional district's fire dispatch service appears headed for the dust bin. The board also received the City of Vernon's letter asking to be released from the fire dispatch service agreement. Halvorsen says the district is looking to contract out dispatch. He says it has already received a proposal from Surrey and hopes to have get something ``in writing'' from Vernon.

The City of Armstrong has convinced the regional district board to take another look at the Sterile Insect Program. Director John Trainor says Armstrong, which has no orchards, pays the same rate as Coldstream, which has plenty. Although Armstrong has asked to withdraw from the function, Trainor says the city would prefer the district dealt with the ``inequality'' in the system.

New pest poses threat to cherries

Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News Published: February 09, 2010 6:00 PM

A new and devastating pest of soft fruits like cherries and grapes has made its way to North America and was discovered in an East Kelowna cherry orchard last fall. Spotted wing drosophila, a vinegar fly, can destroy an entire crop of cherries in a season, despite its tiny size. And cherry growers who are members of the Okanagan Kootenay Cherry Growers’ Association voted at this week’s annual general meeting to fund a monitoring program that will include trapping, identification and fruit inspection to map the progress of this new pest in the Okanagan, Similkameen and Creston Valleys, where cherries are grown. Entomologists from the agriculture ministry and the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre in Summerland are working with counterparts in California, Oregon and Washington, where the pest was also discovered last year, to put together an emergency management strategy for the fly. Susanna Acheampong, Kelowna entomologist with the ministry, said it’s expected overwintering flies may turn up by May—if there are any—so monitoring must begin before then.Emergency registration of a pesticide to help deal with an infestation may be needed, but it’s not known yet what might work best against it.

A December pest alert from the ministry warned all growers of stone fruits like cherries, peaches and apricots, as well as dogwood, mulberry and berries, that it has been confirmed in the Fraser Valley and Kelowna. On farms where it was found in the Williamette Valley in Oregon in peaches, some growers lost up to 80 per cent of their crop, while in Northern California, about a third of the cherry crop was lost to it last year. It’s native to Asia, but can be transported in ripe fruit like berries, cherries or grapes, where the adult lays its eggs under the skin of the fruit, so the larva have an ample food supply once they hatch.The females can lay 16 eggs a day and average 384 eggs per female. The eggs hatch in two to 72 hours and the larvae mature in three to 15 days. Unlike other “fruit flies,” the spotted wing drosophila infests fruit just before harvest, rather than over-ripe or rotting fruit, which could have a devastating economic affect in the valley. Adults can be blown by the wind to infest new fruit on neighbouring farms or they can be transported by infested fruit to new regions.

Although it was discovered locally last fall, PARC entomologist Howard Thistlewood said there’s no way of knowing whether they will arrive early here, as overwintering adults or if they will come in on supermarket fruit. Okanagan Tree Fruit Co-operative field services manager Hank Markgraf said there’s the potential of five or six generations a season here.“So they can get wildly out of control in one season,” he said. Kelowna grower David H. Geen said it’s important that the ministry sit down with grower groups (including grape growers) to come up with a real plan to tackle the issue.“Look at the effort the country had to put into mad cow disease,” he commented.

City wants out of Sterile Insect Release

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 30, 2010 12:00 PM

For now, the City of Armstrong remains a participant in a valley-wide Sterile Insect Release (SIR) program. However, the city wants to be released from the function. Council advised staff at its regular meeting Monday to provide notice of its intent to withdraw from the service. “We want to opt out of the function,” said Mayor Chris Pieper. “It won’t take place this year, because we’re in for this year, but we hope we can go out next year.” The notice comes following a North Okanagan Regional District service review of the SIR. Because Armstrong is still listed as a participant, its costs have gone back up to prior years’ levels because latecomers to the service have been allowed to withdraw. The city is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, saying the study focused on the participation of the regional district in the regional service, rather than on which participants within NORD would participate. “Our rate’s gone back up to about $12,000 a year, and there are no commercial orchards at all within Armstrong, so why be in it?” questioned Pieper. In its notice of intent to withdraw, as a support to the farming community that surrounds it, the city would consider a grant for the SIR program from its general revenue.

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From a Sterile insect program continues post of May 10 2008.

Vernon Taxpayers share of this program is $190,039 out of the $280,121 that is assessed for Land only on your NORD Taxes . (Nord 1 on your tax bill.) There is a further NORD Parcel tax of $119,270 for the S.I.R. program and Vernon taxpayers contribute only $16,148 of this.

The total NORD bill of $399,391 of which Vernon's share is $206,187 (51.6%) is to deball little moths and allow them to mate freely thereafter. If Vernon contributed to the entire program at the same rate as it does for parcel taxes (which is an indication of acreage that contain the host plants*) i.e 13.5% then our total bill would be $53,918. (A saving of $152,269). Of course other communities would have to increase their taxes to offset this if the S.I.R. program is to continue.

*NORD:
Part of the cost recovery of the S.I.R. program is by way of a parcel tax that is applied against all properties (parcels) of 0.3 acres or greater with 20 or more apple and/or pear trees under cultivation (both fruit bearing and non-fruit bearing trees as well as stumps), with a minimum taxable acreage of 1 acre. A 2008 S.I.R. Parcel Tax Assessment Notice has been sent out to the owners of parcels that meet the conditions set out above, showing the taxable acreages of apple and/or pear trees that are subject to the tax in 2008. The acreage values shown on the Notice reflect the area covered by apple/pear trees using a GPS mapping co-ordinate system as mapped by staff of the Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Board; and property ownership information is based on Land Title and Survey Authority records as at November 30, 2007.

From a Nov 14 ,2008 Post:

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.

SIR Program Showing Benefits

Written by Peter McIntyre Thursday, 26 November 2009 10:52 107.5 KISSFM:

The money Okanagan communities are investing in the Sterile Insect Release program is paying off. That was the message from the program's vice chair Allan Patton who made a presentation to Vernon council. He says the initiative has made apples more valuable on the world market, and reduced chemical use in orchards by 97-thousand pounds since 1992. "Years ago when we had to deal with the codling moth problem, we basically filled up the valley with organo-phosphate sprays all summer long, and if you notice that just isn't happening anymore. It's been a huge benefit that way." Patton says the program has reduced codling moth damage to under one percent (0.2 %), in 90 percent of Okanagan orchards. Patton says SIR's budget last year was three million dollars, adding the amount funded through property tax fell from $2.3 million to $1.6 million. He says the goal is to eventually have farmers paying as much as residents, adding their budget has been declining for a "long time." Vernon homeowners pay anywhere from $6 to $20 a year for the program, which Patton says amount to "a couple of lattes a year.' The initiative applies nature-friendly technology to the control of codling moth, the BC tree fruit industry's most damaging and costly pest.

SIR Discussed

Written by Peter McIntyre Monday, 09 November 2009 11:30 107.5 KISSFM:

The program that aims to reduce pesticide use in Okanagan orchards is the subject of a service review by the North Okanagan Regional District. Vernon mayor Wayne Lippert says the city has questions about the structure and financial layout of the Sterile Insect Release program. He says one finding is that NORD has been applying the bylaw incorrectly the last 15 years. "So there's participants in there that shouldn't have been, and there's two tiers of payment level that shouldn't have been either. They've never been passed by any bylaw on that." Lippert says while the city has concerns, it does support the program in general.