What bugs you Summerland?

Photo: Contributed - Canada Flower Growers

A diagram showing how the sterile insect release program functions.

Okanagan College is doing a voluntary survey of residents to better understand the sterile insect release program.

The SIR program is partially funded by a Regional District residential land value tax. The land tax levy is approximately $10.50 per year for a typical residence in the Okanagan/Similkameen/Shuswap region. Residents of the regional district derive many benefits from their support of the SIR program, such as:

• Cash savings for residents that no longer have to hire commercial pesticide services to spray their home apple (including ornamental crab apple) and pear trees.
• Improved health due to a reduction in the amount of pesticides in the environment, and from the handling of these pesticides.
• A reduction in pesticide residues found in locally produced produce.
• Protection of household pets, livestock, wildlife, and beneficial insects, such as honey bees, that might otherwise be harmed by the use of pesticides.
• A reduction of pesticide spray drift onto neighbouring residential properties.

The survey can be found here.