OCTOBER 2017 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC Keeping track of


Fraser Valley pests Knowledge is power to recognize, control pests


by RONDA PAYNE ABBOTSFORD – Phase two


of a Fraser Valley pest inventory project took place this summer, building on work in 2016 that took stock of the pathogens, insects, weeds and invasive species that challenge farmers in the region. The work will not only help manage known pests but identify new pest patterns as average annual temperatures continue to increase. The first phase of the


project, completed last year, documented past, present and emerging pest issues by commodity. (The inventory is available online at [http://bit.ly/2xEaXxq].) The results were presented in a workshop last December. While the first phase


included some dialogue with producers, Emily MacNair, adaptation programming manager with the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative, says this year’s work features greater producer engagement. “This new project has the


objective to create new information resources for producers – to provide information for gaps, especially pests that are new,” she says. “In December [2017] we’ll do another workshop, like the one we did at the end


of 2016 and get the whole industry together and share.” Bringing the entire


agriculture industry together to discuss pests can be challenging but MacNair and Heather Meberg, president of E.S. Cropconsult Ltd. – the firm completing the research – both see the benefits of sharing information about pests across commodity groups.


The first stage – the gathering of pest information – has multiple benefits, MacNair says. “We’ve tried to gather together a full picture of both what work has been happening to understand pests … and to get a handle on the industry issues,” she explains. The work also allowed


researchers to identify pests that are not yet a threat but which may become issues as the climate changes. This work will help future researchers focus their pest studies. Fraser Valley producers will also be able to better understand the pests they’re facing while commodity associations will have the information necessary to advocate for particular pest controls. Ultimately, the result should be improved pest monitoring and management. “You start to see that


2018 Tree Fruit Replant Program ANNOUNCEMENT:


Application forms and the updated requirements of the 2018 Tree Fruit Replant Program are now available on the BCFGA website, www.bcfga.com.


Project applications (along with the required Replant Plan) will be received between September 1, 2017 and November 15, 2017. Please avoid the last minute rush and get your application in early. An horticultural advisor is required to help prepare and sign individual applications for the 2018 Tree Fruit Replant Program. The following information will be provided to assist growers in completing applications.


a. A list of qualified advisors. b. Information on project grading. c. Program operational policies. d. A series of reports on replanting and variety performance and selection are available and should be referenced when preparing a Tree Fruit Replant Program Application.


The Tree Fruit Replant Program provides funding for quality projects. Applications will be rated by a committee of horticultural experts. The rating of individual applications will be based on meeting the program requirements and on the quality of the Replant Plan. Projects will be placed in order of rating for projects, and the top-rated projects will be approved until all funding is utilized.


The Tree Fruit Replant Program is a 7 year program, funded by the Province of BC.


29


Alexis Arthur of Pacific Forage Bag displays armyworm feces left behind in a corncob during a corn variety trials field day at Rosegate Dairy Farm in Abbotsford, September 15. DAVID SCHMIDT PHOTO


certain things get focused on, certain pests get looked at very extensively and other pests not at all,” MacNair says. “You start to see what gaps we have here. We’re getting better information out to producers on those pests than has been made available to them to date.” E.S. Cropconsult is


developing a series of seven fact sheets complete with identification and control options to help growers understand and manage pests such as Western corn rootworm. “There’s lots of research


done on it elsewhere but not a lot done on it here,” Meberg says. “We’ll pull together a fact sheet … on control methods we can share with growers.” The next step is to bring commodity groups together in focus groups this fall to identify how producers can work together to manage new and emerging pests effectively. “We’ll pull in people from each of the commodities and researchers to develop a plan of action,” says Meberg. When producers gather for the December workshop, MacNair says they’ll see the


results of the engagement and be able to discuss and plan ongoing updates to the pest inventory. “The Fraser Valley is such a complicated place for agriculture,” MacNair says. “Because of the number of commodities and crops we have … understanding the issues we have across the Fraser Valley is hard.” The Fraser Valley pest


inventory is the result of a partnership between ARDCorp and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC with funding from Growing Forward 2.


CANADA’S 150 . CELEBRATING TH


Proving our value by helping grow yours. At Scotiabank, we believe in helping farmers and agri-businesses grow and prosper.


For more information on our complete suite of services, contact one of our specialists or visit us at scotiabank.com/ agriculturalservices


Henri Peeters Director


National Accounts Agriculture 604.798.7396


henri.peeters@scotiabank.com


Kimberly Ross, M.Sc. (Ag.Ec.) Director


BC & AB Agriculture 604.302.2620


kimberly.ross@scotiabank.com


Lee Gogal, BBA


Director and Group Lead BC Agriculture 604.308.1657


lee.gogal@scotiabank.com


Jason Warmerdam, BBA Client Relationship Manager BC Agriculture 604.845.4760


jason.warmerdam.scotiabank.com


BC FRUIT GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION 1-800-619-9022 (ext 1) email: replant@bcfga.com www.bcfga.com


AGRICULTURAL BANKING


ADVICE • RISK MANAGEMENT • TRADING • FINANCING • TRANSACTION BANKING ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48