up front By Bryden Winsby


Take better care of the birds and the bees T


he topics might differ, but there are some common threads running through several articles in this issue by Associate Editor Judie Steeves. Whether it’s reducing the population of troublesome varmints such as voles, or trying to protect pollinating bee populations, the irresponsible (or perhaps, to be a little kinder, the unwise) use of pesticides can hinder both of those efforts.


In the first instance, you'll read how owls and other raptor species are a natural way of combatting rodents, but they in turn are endangered by ingesting so-called rodenticides their prey has consumed. So it becomes a matter of using the correct chemical properly, otherwise what you don't know or do can kill a valuable ally.


From the birds to the bees, we must also realize that waging chemical warfare recklessly or unwittingly is believed to among the


leading causes of pollinator demise. Another common thread in rodent control and bee protection is how farmers manage their fields and adjacent uncultivated property, from crop variety


selection to the amount of vegetation. Read on. And along the way you'll encounter an update from Contributing Editor Grant Ullyot on the B.C. Blueberry Council’s breeding program, headed by well-known researcher (and nature photographer of considerable skilll) Michael Dossett.


He explains that years are required to produce successful new varieties and what’s been done so far during the project has resulted in more than a dozen selections that, besides flavour, meet quality objectives such as good colour, minimal picking scars and firmness.


There are more than a dozen selections the team thinks have good potential and propagation is under way for grower trials.


Grant also has done a piece on the 20th anniversary of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C., which has channeled provincial and federal funds into projects that help growers improve quality and market opportunities at home and abroad. On the pest management side, you’ll read what’s up with mummy berry, a longtime fungal infection that must be controlled by anyone who has visions of sending blueberries to newly-opened markets in China and South Korea. Grant also has a profile on how a first-year hort student is enjoying his experience at the University of the Fraser Valley, and the path he took to get there. Have a


great summer!


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British Columbia Berry Grower • Summer 2016


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