SIR board holds line on levy


No increase in tax for growers and regional district property owners in $3.2Mbudget for next year.


By Judie Steeves F


or the third year in a row, growers will not have to pay more for the Sterile Insect


Release program.


Despite a reduction in the amount of acreage paying into the program, the parcel tax will remain at $139.26, and regional district taxpayers will also not see an increase in the costs of the program.


Board members approved in principle the $3.2 million budget for 2012 at November’s meeting, where board chairman Kevin Flynn congratulated staff for holding the line on costs.


The SIR program provides area- wide control of the devastating non- native codling moth, which infests apples, pears and crabapples in its larval stage, rendering them unfit for market.


The program involves the release of irradiated (sterile) moths in orchards to mate ineffectively with wild moths and prevent them from reproducing. However, one of the issues board members expressed concern about is that the Insurance Corporation of B.C. has cracked down on the use of all-terrain vehicles, which staff use to monitor codling moth populations in


orchards—on the public roads between orchards. The ATVs do not qualify as farm vehicles.


Instead, staff now must trailer or truck the ATVs from one orchard to another, which is going to have an economic impact on the program because of the extra staff time that will be required to load and unload the vehicles, said general manager


Cara McCurrach.


Board members also learned it may not cost as much as estimated to replace the aging gamma cell used to irradiate moths at the SIR facility in the south Okanagan.


Instead of $1.5 million, J.L. Shepherd and Associates can provide a self-contained unit for about $600,000.


Under the Terms of the Bylaws of the Association,


Members are directed to take notice of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Annual General Meeting of the


British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association Thursday afternoon and Friday morning,


January 26 & 27, 2012 At the Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna, BC


Business Session - Financial statements, budget, industry organization reports, Environment and water, and project updates, will be held from 1 - 5pm, Thursday, January 26, 2012 (With social from 6 - 8pm at the Laurel Packinghouse), and Policy Session - Labour, Financial Programs, Member Services and election of the Executive, will be held 8am to noon, Friday, January 27, 2012


WATER: Achieving Balance & Sustainability


To Receive: • The Annual Report of the Executive • The Annual Report of the Auditor • The Annual Reports of the Standing Committees • The Reports of Special Committees • The Annual Report of the Okanagan Plant Improvement Corporation To Consider: • Adoption of the association’s budget • Resolutions as submitted in accordance with the bylaws • Any Special Resolutions submitted for amendment of the bylaws And so the Members May Elect: • The President and Vice-President of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association • The other Executive of the BC Fruit Growers’ Association


Canadian Farm Business Management Council


18


BC Fruit Growers’ Association office: 1473 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J6 250-762-5226 (T) (250) 861-9089 (F) www.bcfga.com


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2011-12


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