On February 17, the Similkameen Country chamber presented five experts at the first “Expert Information Series”. The event was planned to show that the chamber isn’t just about networking. Topics were of interest to everyone and there was plenty of opportunity to ask questions of the five experts in the room. The general consensus of guests was that those who didn’t attend missed out.
Linda Edwards MSc, an orchardist and entomologist from Cawston spoke on the Spotted Wing Drosophila fly. It attacks raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, grapes, strawberries, peaches, apricots, elderberry, snow berry and other domestic and wild fruits. Fruit culls, fruit lying on the ground in orchards, fruit on the tree, fruit on the vine and compost piles with fruit-based waste are all perfect places for eggs to hatch. The female can lay her eggs in fruit as late as four days prior to harvest. Sprays are not applied later than seven days prior to harvest. The result is that the fruit literally becomes mush on the tree, on the vine, or after it has been harvested. Over a million pounds of cherries were discarded in the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys in 2010 because of this fly.
Linda advises gardeners not to compost fruits: bury it, bag it or freeze it. Research is ongoing for control methods. Cold temperatures seem to kill the larvae including storing fruit at a temperature of zero degrees Celsius for up to three days. The fly over-wintered in the Okanagan-Similkameen region last winter and is expected to over-winter this year.
Phillis Zella of Predator Pest Management in Penticton amazed participants with her slides of pests, some of which we don’t normally associate with our region such as the Norway Rat, voles and moles. Phillis has encountered these and a myriad of other pests in her work. Moles are invading gardens and golf courses in our region of B.C. They aren’t easily trapped, and eradication can take a few weeks. Phillis cautioned that compost piles with fruit are guaranteed to attract ants and flies.
Perhaps the most personal topic was bedbugs. Basic hotel room or luxury suite, price doesn’t matter to bedbugs. Egg casings appear as dark sand on the seams of sofas and mattresses and along and behind headboards. The eggs stick to shoes and suitcases and can easily be brought home. If you awake in the morning to pinkish welts on your body, chances are the suspect is bedbugs. Find other accommodations, but not before laundering and cleaning all of your clothes, shoes, luggage and clothing.
Natalie Ferebee, FMA of RBC Dominion Securities in Penticton reminded guests that if your estate is worth over $50,000, it automatically is processed through probate. Moving bank accounts and securities to joint ownership between your respective heir and yourself will bypass probate fees for those assets. This is ensured through “right of survivorship”. Natalie also advised guests that Power Of Attorney is only in effect while you are alive.
Businesses can increase their chance of survival beyond by developing benefit programs for the employees to ensure loyalty and using “Key Person Insurance” in case a key person in the organization falls ill or passes on.
Brian Pawluk CFP with Edward Jones in Oliver reminded guests that if you expect to retire with low income, your income supplements are reduced when you cash in an RRSP or other tax shelter. His advice: Know what financial picture you are shooting for at retirement. Brian’s recommendation on the new Tax-free Savings Plan introduced by the federal government: If you withdraw funds from the account, do not place those funds back into the TFSP until the next calendar year, otherwise you will face unwanted tax consequences. Unlike RRSP’s, if you withdraw from a TFSP while retired, the monies will not impact your income supplements such as Old Age Security and Canada Pension.
Charles Cornell, BComm and Business Analyst with Community Futures in Penticton spoke about some of the programs that his non-profit organization has for entrepreneurs. Loans, mentoring advice, market statistics, and self-employment programs that allow you to remain on EI and start your business are some of what Community Futures offers.
Visit the chamber website www.similkameencountry.org for ongoing information about the Spotted Wing Drosophila fly. Updates will be posted as BC Agriculture research progresses.
Similkameen Country chamber is considering hosting the “Taste of The Similkameen” in June instead of October. The event is slated to offer tasting opportunities plus booths for businesses not directly related to the food and wine industries. Canada Day celebrations in July and the Similkameen Sizzle in September are other chamber initiatives.