Metadata
Climate change is projected
to bring warmer temperatures and
a longer growing season to the
BC interior, creating new opportunities
for cherry growers to expand production
northward and into higher elevations.
Previous reports from Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Summerland
Research and Development Centre
(SRDC) have identified climate and
landscape limitations to that expansion,
and the movement in production could be
accompanied by challenges with soil quality
and water demand management.
Cherries are a high value crop in the Okanagan where the
industry has been working hard to expand market opportunities. The models for expansion of cherry production in
the BC Interior have considered climate and the physical
and chemical properties of soils, but soil health and microbial populations must also be evaluated when assessing the
suitability of land for crop health.
“For over a decade we’ve been scouring around trying to
find later ripening cherry sites that will help us hit that
premium market window,” explains David Geen of Coral
Beach Farms. “Further investigation of the viability of
higher altitude sites will provide a scientific foundation
for the investments that we are making. It helps us confirm
decisions, obtain financing, and participate in government
insurance programs.”
project Expanding Cherry Production in British Columbia under
Climate Change
Location Central Okanagan and North Okanagan
completion 2017
Project Lead UBC Okanagan, Biology
Funding partners Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, BC Ministry of
Agriculture, private foundation
Other partners BC Cherry Association, BC Fruit Growers’ Association, BC
Tree Fruits Cooperative, cherry producers, Summerland
Research and Development Centre
Evaluating Opportunities to
Expand Cherry Production
BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative’s FARM Adaptation INNOVATOR Program 21
A multi-year research project, led by Louise Nelson
and Melanie Jones at UBC Okanagan and working in
collaboration with Denise Neilsen and Tom Forge at
AAFC’s SRDC, is looking at key production issues in
mature orchards, in particular water availability and soil
pathogen control. The project is evaluating practices that
may help growers establishing new orchards to optimize
their water use and biological resilience of the soil.
The project is also monitoring two new orchards in
Coldstream and Lavington, and comparing them with
established orchards in Kelowna and at the SRDC. With
the cooperation of 13 growers, the research team has taken
soil samples from 18 locations throughout the Okanagan
Valley to test how the soils affect cherry seedling growth in a
controlled greenhouse environment.
“By testing soils in newer and older orchards, we are able to
compare how cherry seedlings grow in different soils, and
identify if there are things we can do that are sustainable
and economic for growers to keep that healthy fresh
soil from developing the complex fungus and nematode
pressures that result in replant issues in older orchards,” says
Dr. Louise Nelson.
Gaining this knowledge at an early stage—prior to major
expansion into new regions—will allow cherry growers to
take appropriate steps to mitigate any problems with the soil,
rather than risk a major investment in new trees without
being aware of potential problems.
The project will also determine whether native soil microbes
will enhance or restrict cherry production in the new areas,
and whether soil amendments like compost and mulch
treatments can maintain a high buffering capacity against
pathogens in new, non-fumigated soils. While soil microbes
are rarely considered when evaluating suitability of land for
crop production, research shows that soil microbes are a
major driver of above ground plant productivity.
“Applying compost or mulch can help with water retention
in the soils and increases microbial activity in soil and soil
health,” says Nelson. “We want to see if we can use these
techniques to maintain healthier soil in new orchards, or if
we can restore soil health by applying them to old orchards.”
The findings of this project will play an important role in
helping cherry growers evaluate the opportunities created
by warming in the Okanagan, while managing risks, and
increasing the likelihood of success in these new areas by
optimizing water use efficiency and soil health.
Projects like this are part of the work being delivered by the
BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI).
CAI develops tools and resources to assist BC farmers and
ranchers with adapting to impacts of climate change. CAI’s
Farm Adaptation Innovator Program engages directly
with producers and local partners, providing funding for
piloting, demonstration and knowledge transfer around
farm level adaptation.
to bring warmer temperatures and
a longer growing season to the
BC interior, creating new opportunities
for cherry growers to expand production
northward and into higher elevations.
Previous reports from Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Summerland
Research and Development Centre
(SRDC) have identified climate and
landscape limitations to that expansion,
and the movement in production could be
accompanied by challenges with soil quality
and water demand management.
Cherries are a high value crop in the Okanagan where the
industry has been working hard to expand market opportunities. The models for expansion of cherry production in
the BC Interior have considered climate and the physical
and chemical properties of soils, but soil health and microbial populations must also be evaluated when assessing the
suitability of land for crop health.
“For over a decade we’ve been scouring around trying to
find later ripening cherry sites that will help us hit that
premium market window,” explains David Geen of Coral
Beach Farms. “Further investigation of the viability of
higher altitude sites will provide a scientific foundation
for the investments that we are making. It helps us confirm
decisions, obtain financing, and participate in government
insurance programs.”
project Expanding Cherry Production in British Columbia under
Climate Change
Location Central Okanagan and North Okanagan
completion 2017
Project Lead UBC Okanagan, Biology
Funding partners Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, BC Ministry of
Agriculture, private foundation
Other partners BC Cherry Association, BC Fruit Growers’ Association, BC
Tree Fruits Cooperative, cherry producers, Summerland
Research and Development Centre
Evaluating Opportunities to
Expand Cherry Production
BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative’s FARM Adaptation INNOVATOR Program 21
A multi-year research project, led by Louise Nelson
and Melanie Jones at UBC Okanagan and working in
collaboration with Denise Neilsen and Tom Forge at
AAFC’s SRDC, is looking at key production issues in
mature orchards, in particular water availability and soil
pathogen control. The project is evaluating practices that
may help growers establishing new orchards to optimize
their water use and biological resilience of the soil.
The project is also monitoring two new orchards in
Coldstream and Lavington, and comparing them with
established orchards in Kelowna and at the SRDC. With
the cooperation of 13 growers, the research team has taken
soil samples from 18 locations throughout the Okanagan
Valley to test how the soils affect cherry seedling growth in a
controlled greenhouse environment.
“By testing soils in newer and older orchards, we are able to
compare how cherry seedlings grow in different soils, and
identify if there are things we can do that are sustainable
and economic for growers to keep that healthy fresh
soil from developing the complex fungus and nematode
pressures that result in replant issues in older orchards,” says
Dr. Louise Nelson.
Gaining this knowledge at an early stage—prior to major
expansion into new regions—will allow cherry growers to
take appropriate steps to mitigate any problems with the soil,
rather than risk a major investment in new trees without
being aware of potential problems.
The project will also determine whether native soil microbes
will enhance or restrict cherry production in the new areas,
and whether soil amendments like compost and mulch
treatments can maintain a high buffering capacity against
pathogens in new, non-fumigated soils. While soil microbes
are rarely considered when evaluating suitability of land for
crop production, research shows that soil microbes are a
major driver of above ground plant productivity.
“Applying compost or mulch can help with water retention
in the soils and increases microbial activity in soil and soil
health,” says Nelson. “We want to see if we can use these
techniques to maintain healthier soil in new orchards, or if
we can restore soil health by applying them to old orchards.”
The findings of this project will play an important role in
helping cherry growers evaluate the opportunities created
by warming in the Okanagan, while managing risks, and
increasing the likelihood of success in these new areas by
optimizing water use efficiency and soil health.
Projects like this are part of the work being delivered by the
BC Agriculture & Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI).
CAI develops tools and resources to assist BC farmers and
ranchers with adapting to impacts of climate change. CAI’s
Farm Adaptation Innovator Program engages directly
with producers and local partners, providing funding for
piloting, demonstration and knowledge transfer around
farm level adaptation.
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