Okanagan orchardists go digital to manage climate change and pests
As climate change brings a wave of new pest and disease north to B.C. orchards, a computer system developed by the University of Washington is also being imported to B.C.
The life cycles of agricultural pests and diseases are intimately tied to the weather and the Decision Aid System is a web-based platform that links real-time weather data with scientific pest and disease management recommendations.
"The tool was developed to help growers with their time-sensitive decisions around managing pests and diseases for their orchards," said Melissa Tesche, Acting General Manager of the
Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Program, the organization that is administering DAS in the Okanagan.
Climate Change
"So, you might apply a spray for a certain pest and that spray will be good for about two weeks but it might only work if it's at the time of the year that the insect is eating the fruit. So, you need to make sure the timing of that spray is accurate so you haven't wasted your money and the application of that spray."
One of the main reasons for bringing DAS to the Okanagan is because climate change is affecting the timing of when pests and diseases emerge.
"This is happening with a number of pests in that the timing for the application of sprays is getting a little bit weird," said Tesche.
In addition, climate change is allowing pests and diseases that previously couldn't survive in the Okanagan to migrate up from southern climates.
"The other thing that we're seeing is just an influx of new pests and diseases," said Tesche. "Losing our cold winters means we're losing a bit of our defence against new pests coming in and keeping the pests we have manageable."
Using real-time weather data, DAS predicts when a specific pest or diseases is likely to emerge and provides growers with a recommended treatment plan, such as applying a spray.
The system can provide recommendations for both conventional and organic growers.
Multi-agency partnership
DAS is currently being adapted for the Okanagan and the hope is to beta test it during the 2017 growing season. If all goes well it will be fully implemented the following season.
It is being funded out of the $300,000 Okanagan Regional Adaptation Strategy funded by the federal and provincial governments.
The project is a partnership between the Sterile Insect Release Program, the Summerland Research and Development Centre, the B.C. Fruit Growers' Association, B.C. Tree Fruits and Grower's Supply, the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, and the B.C. Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative.
