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SIR Update Control strategy set


Sessions planned throughout region so growers can have an opportunity to obtain full details.


By Judie Steeves T


ailgate meetings will be held with orchardists throughout the Okanagan Valley in the coming weeks to explain this year’s strategy for the Sterile Insect Release program to maintain control of the codling moth. The meetings will begin for Peachland and West Kelowna growers March 25 and continue in South Kelowna, Winfield, Benvoulin, East Kelowna, Carr’s Landing, Oyama, Bella Vista, Rutland, Belgo, Coldstream, BX, Glenmore, Ellison and conclude in Salmon Arm on May 2.


Program general manager Cara McCurrach says it will be an opportunity for growers to learn about the changes to the program for this year, and ask questions of staff. In zone one, south of Peachland, there will be weekly release of sterile codling moths in all apple and pear blocks between late April and early September, except where pilot projects are under way.


In zone two, Peachland through the North Okanagan, Isomate codling moth and leafroller mating disruption dispensers will be applied in all apple and pear blocks instead of SIR this season.


There won’t be any releases of sterile moths in the northern part of the valley this year.


It’s part of a three-year pilot project being conducted by entomologists Hugh Philip, a consultant, and Gary Judd, a researcher with the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre in Summerland.


McCurrach said it’s critical that all orchardists understand what is planned and what their role is in the area-wide control of codling moth. The program has been in operation since 1992, releasing sterilized moths


22 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2011 6993567 Canada Inc. dba


for use against codling moth. However, there are still some hot spots, and it is essential that populations be monitored so control of the pest can be maintained. Pheromone trapping is one component of the SIR program used to monitor populations and report back to growers, so they can take steps to ensure supplemental controls are used to prevent damage.


Cara McCurrach, general manager of the Sterile Insect Release program.


annually in every pome fruit orchard in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys to reduce the number of wild codling moths.


McCurrach says they are now at levels that do not pose a threat to tree fruit crops because there has been such a dramatic reduction in their numbers. That has significantly reduced the need for cover sprays and there’s been a corresponding reduction in the amount of chemicals sold in the valleys


McCurrach noted that area-wide pest management involves the mandatory application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) within the geographically-defined area in all commercial plantings of host trees. The whole program will break down if high populations of codling moth are allowed to develop or go uncontrolled to threaten nearby commercial blocks. Both mating disruption and the release of sterile moths may require application of other controls when monitoring shows that codling moth populations exceed the limits set by the SIR board.


Enforcement of those limits by SIR staff is an essential component of the program—in both commercial and backyard trees—with either banding, fruit stripping, sprays or tree removal, McCurrach explained.


Now that low population levels have been achieved, she said they are evaluating the use of another tool against codling moth within the specified area, mating disruption. If growers have questions, they can call, toll-free: 1-800-363-6684 or visit the SIR website at: www.oksir.org


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