32


Replant, pest support for


hazelnut growers


Close to 200 new acres being planted over three years


by BARBARA JOHNSTONE GRIMMER


CHILLIWACK—BC launched


the hazelnut renewal program in July 2018 to help orchardists plant EFB-resistant hazelnut trees to revitalize the province’s hazelnut sector. The program provides the BCHGA with $300,000 over three years, from 2018 to 2021. The program’s current


intake will begin planting this


fall, and applications for the spring planting will soon be accepted, according to BC Ministry of Agriculture industry specialist Karina Sakalauskas. Funds support the removal


of EFB-infected hazelnut trees, and new plantings of EFB- resistant trees by existing or new hazelnut growers. The first year saw eight applicants for the fall planting, with 38 acres planted with EFB-resistant varieties, and 25 acres of infected trees removed. The second year had six applicants for the spring planting on 14 acres, and 12 applicants are expected to plant 52 acres this fall, with 17 acres to be removed. The forecast for the final


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year is for 75 acres to be planted, resulting in a total of approximately 200 acres of new hazelnut trees. Based on double-density planting, this will require 53,800 trees.


Bugs Provincial entomologist


Tracy Hueppelsheuser, assisted by Sara Grant and Ryan De Jong, is trapping and


COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • OCTOBER 2019


Bright berries


Researchers discuss cranberry breeding during the BC Cranberry Growers Association field day in Delta on August 20. Participating in the event were participants in the North American Cranberry Research & Extension Workers Conference. SEAN HITREC PHOTO


identifying insects in hazelnut orchards such as Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) and filbert worms. Pest scouting using pheromone traps has not found filbert worm moths to date, but during harvest, nuts at some sites will be collected and examined for damage. Nearly half of the sites tested for BMSB using pheromone traps found evidence of BMSB and indications of established populations. Provincial plant pathologist


Siva Sabaratnam and research assistant Ben Drugmand continue to study emerging diseases and their impact. Besides ongoing support


with extension and research activities, the BC government announced the long-awaited Hazelnut Reference Guide at


the field day. The guide is a first-level introduction to growing hazelnuts and is intended to assist prospective new growers in making the decision of whether to enter the hazelnut industry. The guide is available at [http://bit.do/hazelnut-guide].


MAXIMUM return


Canada. There is a huge market, and we want to


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nfrom pg 31


maximize the return for our growers.” Hope says field pricing is not out from Oregon yet, and Oregon is looking for other markets. The same strategy holds in BC. Hope says there is a big demand for kernels; in- shell sales are best done at the farm gate or farmers’ markets. Fraser Valley Hazelnuts has kept its cracking line and sorter busy as a result. Another high demand item is organic hazelnuts, with a 250% increase in price, making organic production an option for growers to consider. With such encouraging


words, growers feel that the future is bright for hazelnuts. A panel discussion with


new growers on how to start an orchard gave practical advice based on experience. Soil testing, adjusting pH, applying amendments should all be done early on. “Do your field preparation


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and levelling first, it is easier done early because the trees aren’t in the way,” advises Cornel Van Maren. Panelists agreed that the


key points for success are planting at the right depth, irrigating young trees, keeping weeds and grass down, improving drainage and understanding how mulches work.


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