By Neil Corbett - Abbotsford News
Published: February 07, 2009
Blueberry cannons make Jim McMurtry’s Cloverdale neighbourhood sound like London when the Blitz was on.
After meeting with the Farm Industry Review Board on Thursday afternoon in Abbotsford, he can see that the two sides of this argument are dug into their positions.
Blueberry farms are springing up all over the Fraser Valley, and to keep starlings from eating their crops, many farmers rely on propane cannons. The result is an atmosphere that complainants most commonly describe as “a war zone.”
Those who live in the vicinity of the loud bangs say it diminishes their quality of life all summer.
The blueberry producers are sticking to their guns, estimating that birds can eat 10 to 15 per cent of their crops.
“It does seem to be a real dogfight,” said McMurtry after meeting with the board for approximately two hours. “The farmers, the blueberry growers, don’t want any changes.”
He said the farmers are holding fast to their 6:30 a.m. start time and an 8 p.m. finish for the cannons. They don’t want to compromise by even an hour, which might give the birds a blueberry breakfast.
“And, our position is just as adamant,” said McMurtry.
“It seems to be an intractable problem for this review board.”
The board’s role is to listen to people on each side of the argument, balance the interests of farmers and their neighbours, and give government a report with recommendations by Feb. 29.
In the past, McMurtry’s complaints were referred to the Blueberry Council – an agency that represents growers.
“This is certainly a step forward,” he said. “For the first time they (government) feel they can no longer ignore the number of residents adversely affected by these cannons.”
Don Gibbs is a member of the “Ban the Cannons” group, which has an obvious objective. The Bradner resident has been working to have the noisesome devices outlawed for years. He has invested some hope in this new process, having met with the review board in January.
“I thought it was very good – very professional,” he said. “I am optimistic that they’ll make changes.”
“There are so many blueberry farms now. They have to do something.”
Some farmers have bowed to public pressure and put netting over their crops, but it is an expensive proposition. One farmer told Black Press it cost him $18,000 to cover six acres.
McMurtry simply wants to see some casualties – a starling cull. His argument is that the birds are not native to Canada, having been brought from Europe. In both Whatcom County and the Okanagan, their populations are being reduced.
He points out that roughly half of blueberry producers don’t use cannons.
“So, nobody can say they have to have them.”
