VEGETABLE SEASON EXTENDED? B.C. research aimed at controlling pests THREE B.C. research projects aimed at more efficient pest management, extending the vegetable growing season and bio- logical cantrol of crown rot in ap- ple orchards have received a total of $499,800 under the Canada/ British Columbia Agri-Food Regional Development Subsidiary Agreement (ARDSA). Joint $0-50 provincial-federal funding for the projects was an- nounced recently by federal Agriculture Minister John Wise and B.C.'s acting Minister of Agriculture and Food, Jim Hewitt. Each project will be conducted on an Agriculture Canada research station in B.C., in co-operation with provincial fruit and vegetable grower associations. Each will also be of about four years’ duration. MORE FOR LESS “These research projects are consistent wth ARDSA’s goals to help producers be more com- petitive and profitable by cutting cost and increasing vields and quality,” said Wise. ‘‘An added bonus for growers is lowering the risk of being accidentally over- exposed to chemicals.”’ “‘These projects also benefit the consumer and the economy as a whole,”’ added Hewitt, ‘‘because they enhance the consumer’s con- fidence in the quality and safety of produce and make B.C. produce more competitive in foreign mar- kets.” The goal of the $222,400 com- puterized pest management project in B.C.’s Lower Mainland is to reduce current levels of pesticide use for potatoes, onions, carrots and strawberries. The project will result in cost savings for farmers and reduce grower reliance on the routine use of pesticides for insect control. Agriculture Canada’s Vancouver Research Station, in co-operation with the Lower Mainland Horti- cultural Association and B.C. Coast Vegetable Growers, will use ARDSA funds to prepare a mobile diagnostic centre for on-farm determination of optimal pest con- trol. The field data coliected will provide fast, accurate and reliable crop-specific recommendations on pesticide use. Because the system will lessen pesticide use, it should also reduce the rate at which pests can develop resistance. This could result in substantial long-term savings for the industry since it costs about $20-30 million to develop each new pesticide, SEASON EXTENSION The $219,800 season extension for vegetables project will focus on techniques to help British Cotum- bia growers increase their share of the domestic vegetable market and cash in on the higher vegetable prices that occur at both ends of the traditional harvest season. Researchers wil] evaluate the use of plastic mulches and tunnels to reduce growing time, increase yields, reduce frost damage,and protect crops from wind, weed and other pests. They will study vegetable varieties that can be harvested early and later, or left in the ground over winter for a spring harvest. In addition, they will study im- proved analysis and monitoring of crops destined for cold storage, in order to reduce spoilage. The work will be carried out at Agriculture Canada’s Agassiz Research Station, in co-operation with the B.C. Coast Vegetable Growers' Co-op Association, the Lower Mainland Horticultural Im- provement Cloverdale Lettuce and Vegetable Co-operative Association. Field days will be held to dem- onstrate progress to growers and a final report of findings will be produced for their use. ALL LAWN FURNITURE, WHILE IT LASTS! Association and the 15 - Friday. September 5, 1986 —- North Shore News inventory Clearance Sale Cedar Furniture & Planters reduced to "0 0 50 oft Presto Logs Box of 9 4’’y y 29 $349 ea. $629 Bricks ‘n’ Blocks 1445 Main St., 20°’x20’" exposed Aggregate Slabs "$ $7.25 ea. Sale $449 ea. Green Landscape Ties North Vancouver "" 984-3008 or 984-3032 +) Custom F 90% ()% (4 yds. or more) Save Window Fashion Sale On selected patterns Sheer voile, sheer linen boucle, velvets, prints satin and open weaves. Custom Drapery Fabrics up to 40 % rea. 5 yards or more price AM Mon-Fri, 9:00-5:30 Ne Sat. 10:00-5:00 3050 Mountain Hwy. N. Vancouver | Established 1008 988-1525, 988-1220 |