SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NRSPOLD4 : High Value Specialty Crop Pest Management
- Period Covered: 01/01/2004 to 12/01/2004
- Date of Report: 05/04/2005
- Annual Meeting Dates: 02/14/2005 to 02/17/2005
Participants
Refer to the minutes posted at
www.ir4.rutgers.edu/Binars/2004%20Annual%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf.
Accomplishments
Clearance of Crop Protection Products for Specialty Crop Growers.
The IR-4 program provides the best measurable evidence of successes, accomplishments and impacts from secondary sources of any of the CSREES plant protection programs. The IR-4 program supported clearances accounting for approximately 50% of all EPA pest management products approved between 2001 and 2004. Since the program began in 1963, IR-4 generated data has contributed to the approval of over 8,400 food-use and over 10,800 ornamental pest management product clearances and registrations. In 2004, IR-4 obtained 1014 food use clearances, which included 2 biopesticide registrations. IR-4 also supported 525 ornamental research trials during 2004 and gained 216 clearances in floral, nursery, landscape, turf, Christmas tree, and forestry crops. These included 40 fungicide, 25 insecticide, 130 herbicide, and 21 plant growth regulator clearances. The Biopesticide Research Program continued its eighth year of competitive grant funding of 43 projects for $350,000 and amounting to over $2,850,000 since its inception. Crop Grouping Project
IR-4 has established an International Consulting Committee on Crop Grouping. The purpose of the committee is to assist the IR-4/EPA Crop Grouping Working Group, whose members include Dr. Bernie Schneider & Dr. Yuen-shaung Ng of the EPA, and Dr. Hong Chen of IR-4, in clarifying data needs and providing crop information for a proposal that requests a significant expansion of the existing crop groups. The purpose of the International Consulting Committee is to help in completing the scientific information required to prepare proposal packages to the EPA. The 130 member committee represents 13 countries and provides expert opinions on many U.S. and international agriculture issues related to pesticide registration, MRL, and international harmonization. Besides representing their own countries, some of them also represent the European Commission and Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues. Their primary committee responsibility is to provide feedback within one month of each inquiry. The first crop group petition, Bulb Vegetables, was completed in 2004 and includes 22 commodities versus 7 in the current crop group. Significant progress is being made by committees with much larger crop groups such as the Small Fruit Workgroup, the Cereal Grains and Grasses Workgroup and the Tropical Fruits Workgroup. The inclusion of new crops and crop common names in the crop groups will facilitate the international harmonization of commodity vocabulary and benefit participating countries in establishing import tolerances (MRLS). IR-4 EPA Technical Working Group
The EPA/IR-4 Technical Working Group (TWG) was initiated in 1999 for the purpose of meeting quarterly to explore initiatives that facilitate specialty crop tolerances. The TWG also provides a means for the EPA to review the annual IR-4 residue program and discuss the data evaluations and record/summaries that are prepared for final reports. The TWG has also taken a leadership role with agency on electronic petition submission. EPA credits IR-4 with helping to lower the Reduced Risk/OP Alternative petition turnaround time from 28 months in FY2002 to 18 months in FY2003. IR-4 has also provided crop tours for EPA scientist to give them an opportunity to visit working farms and interact with growers to learn about their needs and innovative approaches to pest management. NAFTA and Other International Cooperation
IR-4 and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are cooperating jointly in generating data on specialty crops and are now recognized as members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Pesticides. The NAFTA TWG on Pesticides was formed to establish and address pest control issues while recognizing the environmental and human health objectives that arose from liberalized trade. Its vision is to make the North American region a world model for common approaches to pest control regulation and free trade in pest control chemicals and food. A major objective of the NAFTA TWG is to provide equal access to markets and pest control tools, including lower-risk alternatives that are essential for promoting trade, improving pest management and supporting sustainable agricultural initiatives. By harmonizing data requirements, reducing duplicative efforts and minimizing trade barriers, the TWG works to ensure that trade is done in a way that protects human health and the environment throughout North America. Focus on Critical Needs for Coming Year
IR-4 uses an extensive stakeholder driven process to prioritize research to ensure that it is focusing on the most critical pest management needs of the specialty crop producers. The priority setting process engages representatives from state and federal agricultural scientific communities, state extension systems, commodity and growers groups, the crop protection industry, food processors, and state and federal regulators. In 2005, IR-4 will hold a Food Use Workshop in September, and an Ornamental Horticulture Workshop in October to prioritize critical stakeholder needs for studies that will begin in 2006.
The IR-4 program provides the best measurable evidence of successes, accomplishments and impacts from secondary sources of any of the CSREES plant protection programs. The IR-4 program supported clearances accounting for approximately 50% of all EPA pest management products approved between 2001 and 2004. Since the program began in 1963, IR-4 generated data has contributed to the approval of over 8,400 food-use and over 10,800 ornamental pest management product clearances and registrations. In 2004, IR-4 obtained 1014 food use clearances, which included 2 biopesticide registrations. IR-4 also supported 525 ornamental research trials during 2004 and gained 216 clearances in floral, nursery, landscape, turf, Christmas tree, and forestry crops. These included 40 fungicide, 25 insecticide, 130 herbicide, and 21 plant growth regulator clearances. The Biopesticide Research Program continued its eighth year of competitive grant funding of 43 projects for $350,000 and amounting to over $2,850,000 since its inception. Crop Grouping Project
IR-4 has established an International Consulting Committee on Crop Grouping. The purpose of the committee is to assist the IR-4/EPA Crop Grouping Working Group, whose members include Dr. Bernie Schneider & Dr. Yuen-shaung Ng of the EPA, and Dr. Hong Chen of IR-4, in clarifying data needs and providing crop information for a proposal that requests a significant expansion of the existing crop groups. The purpose of the International Consulting Committee is to help in completing the scientific information required to prepare proposal packages to the EPA. The 130 member committee represents 13 countries and provides expert opinions on many U.S. and international agriculture issues related to pesticide registration, MRL, and international harmonization. Besides representing their own countries, some of them also represent the European Commission and Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues. Their primary committee responsibility is to provide feedback within one month of each inquiry. The first crop group petition, Bulb Vegetables, was completed in 2004 and includes 22 commodities versus 7 in the current crop group. Significant progress is being made by committees with much larger crop groups such as the Small Fruit Workgroup, the Cereal Grains and Grasses Workgroup and the Tropical Fruits Workgroup. The inclusion of new crops and crop common names in the crop groups will facilitate the international harmonization of commodity vocabulary and benefit participating countries in establishing import tolerances (MRLS). IR-4 EPA Technical Working Group
The EPA/IR-4 Technical Working Group (TWG) was initiated in 1999 for the purpose of meeting quarterly to explore initiatives that facilitate specialty crop tolerances. The TWG also provides a means for the EPA to review the annual IR-4 residue program and discuss the data evaluations and record/summaries that are prepared for final reports. The TWG has also taken a leadership role with agency on electronic petition submission. EPA credits IR-4 with helping to lower the Reduced Risk/OP Alternative petition turnaround time from 28 months in FY2002 to 18 months in FY2003. IR-4 has also provided crop tours for EPA scientist to give them an opportunity to visit working farms and interact with growers to learn about their needs and innovative approaches to pest management. NAFTA and Other International Cooperation
IR-4 and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are cooperating jointly in generating data on specialty crops and are now recognized as members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Pesticides. The NAFTA TWG on Pesticides was formed to establish and address pest control issues while recognizing the environmental and human health objectives that arose from liberalized trade. Its vision is to make the North American region a world model for common approaches to pest control regulation and free trade in pest control chemicals and food. A major objective of the NAFTA TWG is to provide equal access to markets and pest control tools, including lower-risk alternatives that are essential for promoting trade, improving pest management and supporting sustainable agricultural initiatives. By harmonizing data requirements, reducing duplicative efforts and minimizing trade barriers, the TWG works to ensure that trade is done in a way that protects human health and the environment throughout North America. Focus on Critical Needs for Coming Year
IR-4 uses an extensive stakeholder driven process to prioritize research to ensure that it is focusing on the most critical pest management needs of the specialty crop producers. The priority setting process engages representatives from state and federal agricultural scientific communities, state extension systems, commodity and growers groups, the crop protection industry, food processors, and state and federal regulators. In 2005, IR-4 will hold a Food Use Workshop in September, and an Ornamental Horticulture Workshop in October to prioritize critical stakeholder needs for studies that will begin in 2006.
Impacts
- With the help of Dan Rosenblatt, EPA Minor Use, Section 18 and Inerts Branch Chief, and his staff, IR-4 continued the Section 18 Economic Benefits/Loss Avoidance Project initiated in 2000 to document potential economic impact (loss) data from state submitted Section 18‘s approved by the EPA and supported by IR-4 residue data.
- In 2004, the 2003 data where summarized and resulted in a $1.3 billion impact with 128 Section 18‘s. The total over the six year period from 1998 to 2003 where the data are available bring the total economic impact/loss avoidance to $7.5 billion from 831 Section 18s covering 47 states.
- In 2002 and 2003, the EPA credited IR-4 with eliminating 112 Section 18‘s by conversion to full Section 3 labels.
- Since 1998, 143 Section 18‘s have been converted to full Section 3 labels. The number of Section 18‘s approved by the Agency using IR-4 data have dropped from a high of 180 in 2001 to 22 in 2004. This is the result of the high rate of Section 18 to Section 3 conversions and IR-4‘s 30-month completion goal which minimizes the number of years that Section 18‘s are needed on new crop protection products before Section 3 labels are approved by the EPA.
- "IR-4 has proven to be a model partner. Of particular importance to EPA has been IR-4s focus on reduced risk pesticides...IR-4 is the most prolific submitter of pesticide tolerance petitions as well as the most successful in having their petitions approved by EPA‘s Office of Pesticide Programs. Without a doubt, this is the most productive stakeholder relationship we have." Jim Jones, Director, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
- "IR-4 has played a critical role during the past twenty years in supporting Section 18 Emergency Exemptions and facilitating the registration of nearly two dozen important insecticides, fungicides and herbicides for hops. Over 90% of the pesticides currently used by U.S. hop growers are the direct result of IR-4 registration efforts. I can safely say that without IR-4, there would be no US hop industry. Ann George, Administrator, Washington Hops Commission
Publications
Arsenovic, M., F. P. Salzman, D. L. Kunkel, J. J. Baron. IR-4 Project: Herbicide Registration Update. 2004. Proc. North Eastern Weed Sci. Soc.,Vol. 58, p.140.
Arsenovic, M., F. P. Salzman, D. L. Kunkel, J. J. Baron. IR-4 Project: Update on Weed Control Project. 2004. Proc. South. Weed Sci. Soc.
Arsenovic, M., F.P. Salzman, D.L. Kunkel, M. P. Braverman, J. J. Baron, R.E. Holm, and R.M.
Herrick. 2004. Weed Management in Minor Crops in North America. 4th International Weed Science Congress, Abstract Book, p. 7
Arsenovic, M., R.E. Holm, J. J. Baron, D.L. Kunkel, and M.P. Braverman. 2004. The IR-4 Project: a U.S. National Agricultural Program for Pest Management Solutions in Specialty Crops. 2004 Annual Meeting. Abstracts of Contributed Papers Northeastern Branch American Society of Agronomy, page 7.
Arsenovic, M., F.P. Salzman, D.L. Kunkel, and J. Baron, and R.E. Holm. The IR-4 Project: Update on Herbicide Registration in Specialty Crops in the United States. Canadian Weed Science Soc. Meeting, 2004. In press.
Braverman, M.P., D.L. Kunkel, J.J. Baron and R.E. Holm. 2004. Grants and Regulatory Assistance: The IR-4 Biopesticide Program. Weed Science Society of America Abstracts. Vol. 44.
Braverman, M.P., D.L. Kunkel, J.J. Baron and R.E. Holm. 2004. Regulatory Considerations for Researchers of Natural Products. 226th Meeting American Chemical Society.
Braverman, M.P. Biopesticide Research Report 2003. 221 pages. http://ir4.rutgers.edu//Binars/BPRsearchReport2003.pdf.
Braverman, M.P., D.L. Kunkel, J.J. Baron and R.E. Holm. 2004. Interregional Research Project No. 4 Program and Minor Crops: Developing Choices for Pest Resistance Management. IN: Management of Pesticide Resistance: Strategies Using Crop Management, Biotechnology and Pesticides. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. No. 24, pp109-115.
Chen, H., J.J. Baron, D.L. Kunkel, R.E. Holm, B.A. Schneider, Y.S. Ng, D.J. Rosenblatt, and G.J. Herndon. 2004. Crop Grouping Project and International Collaboration. European centennial meeting of the Association of Applied Biologists. Oxford, UK. December 15-17, 2004.
Chen, H., B.A. Schneider, D.C. Thompson, D.L. Kunkel, J.J. Baron, and R.E. Holm. 2004. US Crop Grouping and International Harmonization. 2004 APS Annual Meeting, Anaheim, CA, July 31 August 4, 2004.
Chen, H. and B.A. Schneider. 2004. Crop Grouping and its Impact on Risk Assessment. Lecture at EPA/OPP Risk Assessment Training and Certification Program. Training material DVD files. Washington, DC, July 22 & 28, 2004.
Dorschner, K., K. Tollerup, M. Rust, P. Phillips, and J. Klotz. 2004. Low-Toxicity Baits Control Ants in Citrus Vineyards and Grape Vineyards. California Agriculture, Vol. 58, No. 4 pp 213-217.
Ferrazoli, C. 2004. IR-4 Professional Directory. NJAES No P27200-05-04. 34 pages.
Holm, R.E. and D.L. Kunkel. 2004. IR-4 Project Target Specialty Crops. California Agriculture. Volume 58, No. 2 pp 110-111.
Kunkel, D.L., M. Arsenovic, F.P. Salzman, M.P. Braverman, J.J. Baron, and R.E. Holm. 2004. IR-4: Forty Years of Providing Pest Management Solutions to Minor Crop Growers. Proc. NEWSS, Vol. 58, p.66.
Novack, S. 2004. IR-4 Newsletter Vol. 35 No. 1, January 2004.
Novack, S. 2004. IR-4 Newsletter Vol. 35 No. 2, April 2004.
Novack, S. 2004. IR-4 Newsletter Vol. 35 No. 3, July 2004.
Novack, S. 2004. IR-4 Newsletter Vol. 46 No. 4, October 2004.
Novack, S., and M.P. Braverman. 2004. Beyond the Conventional Tour : IPM In Action.
Salzman, F.P., M. Arsenovic, and D. L. Kunkel. IR-4 Project: Weed Control Projects Update. 2004. Proc. Weed Sci. Soc.
Smith, D., H. Chen, and D.L. Kunkel. 2004. Pesticide Clearances for Small Acreage Crops in the Northeastern U.S. Northeastern Agronomy Soc. Meeting, Bordentown, NJ., July 2004
Smith, D., H. Chen, D. Kunkel, and B.A. Schneider. 2004. Crop Groupings from Efficient Pesticide Registration for Specialty Crops in the United States. 5th European Pesticide Residues Workshop. Book of Abstracts. June 13-16, 2004, Stockholm, Sweden.
Starner, V. R., D.C. Thompson, H. Chen, and D.L. Kunkel. 2004. Fungicide Registration Update from the IR-4 Project October 2004 Northeastern Division of the American Phytopathology Society Meeting in State College, PA. Abstract.
Thompson, D. C., H. Chen, V. R. Starner, W. P. Barney and D.L. Kunkel. 2004. IR-4 Fungicide Registration Update. August 2004 American Phytopathology Society Meeting in Anaheim, CA. Abstract.