Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: IR-4 was established to address the “Minor Use Problem” – the dilemma that the cost for industry to develop required data to register critical pest management technology for specialty crops far exceeds the potential return on investment. The registrants of pesticides and biopesticides focus their product development efforts on major crops (e.g. corn, soybeans, wheat) where the potential sales on these large acreage crops are significant. Specialty crops are considered minor markets and the development of pest management technology for specialty crops are not usually a major objective of the private sector. The “Minor Use Problem” extends beyond specialty crops to specialty (minor) uses in major row crops IR-4 recognizes the farmers, growers and processers of domestically produced specialty crops/specialty uses as the primary stakeholders of IR-4 Project research and regulatory activities. The interests of these primary stakeholders are articulated by four main groups: Individual growers who directly interact with the IR-4 Project; The IR-4 Commodity Liaison Committee (CLC), a chartered advisory group consisting of growers, commodity groups, and food processors. This 25 member committee meets two times a year to provide IR-4 management guidance on procedures and policy. The Chair of the CLC is a full voting member of the IR-4 Project Management Committee; The Minor Crop Farmers Alliance, a national organization representing farmers, processors and other involved in the production of various horticultural crops. The Alliance is comprised of over 30 regional and national specialty crop associations and commissions; and State and federal research and extension specialists who directly represent the interests of specialty crop growers. In addition to these primary stakeholders, the IR-4 Project partners with various agencies and organizations to address specialty crop issues. USDA-NIFA who oversees the $11.916 million Congressional appropriated funding for Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4). State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAES) – This group provided a small grant to fund the coordination efforts of IR-4 HQ. More importantly, the SAES that host the IR-4 field research centers, laboratories, and offices, contribute significant in-kind support. It is estimated that the SAES annually provide at least $4 million of in-kind support. USDA-ARS works in full coordination with IR-4. ARS provides personnel and research funds for pest management research at two analytical laboratories and six field research centers for food and ornamental crops. The Crop Protection Industry – This group provides access to biological and chemical crop protection products that expand uses of their products to provide growers with solutions. This cooperation and access to their products, allows IR-4 to help specialty crop/specialty use stakeholders. IR-4 meets with most companies at least once a year to develop cooperative strategies and timelines; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Pest Management Centre (CN-PMC) cooperates and conducts research of mutual interest to U.S. and Canadian specialty crop growers. These studies are conducted concurrently in both countries. CN-PMC provides 50-60 field trials each year in support of as many as 20 IR-4 studies. They typically manage 15% of the studies. Results are combined and data packages are submitted to both United States and Canadian regulatory agencies. This effort saves IR-4 US tax payers approximately $1.0 million annually and gives US growers less restricted access to Canadian markets; USDA-FAS collaborates with IR-4 in the development of strategies to break down barriers of trade associated with pesticide residues in exported crops. FAS provides direct funding for many of IR-4 international initiatives; USDA-APHIS collaborates with IR-4 and funds research to develop pest management strategies for numerous invasive pests that attack specialty crops. Changes/Problems: The timing of release of grant funds remains a critical problem within the IR-4 system. The majority of IR-4’s field research often starts in the months March to May. However, funds are usually not released to July/August time frame. Pre-Award spending authorization minimizes the problems, however, there are still several projects that are affected by the repeated late release of funds and in certain cases research is delayed by as much as a year thereby lengthening the timeline to deliver registrations. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The majority of IR-4 research operates in a regulated environment that requires compliance to US EPA Good Laboratory Practice Requirements (GLPs). In association with the GLP, we participate with other IR-4 units in monthly GLP/research process webinars. These webinars are managed by the IR-4 Western Region office and are designed to provide continuing education in acceptable research practices. Every three years, IR-4 conducts a National Training Program that brings all the field scientists, analytical chemists, research managers, study directors, quality assurance and Project management in one location for extensive professional development. We are currently in the preliminary planning stages for the next major National Training Program which will be held in January 2016 in Jacksonville, FL. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? IR-4 employs a mix of communication tools and media, including traditional printedmaterials such as brochures, flyers, posters, news releases, quarterly newsletters (distributed to ~3,200 domestic and 250 international subscribers), annual reports as well as internet-based tools. The IR-4 website (ir4.rutgers.edu) contains a vast amount of information, and has over 5500 “hits” monthly from domestic and international visitors from 82 countries.The IR-4 website contains the most current news and information about IR-4 activities, with extensive information specific to the Food, Ornamental Horticulture, Biopesticide/Organic Support and Public Health Pesticide programs. Stakeholders can submit a “Request for Assistance” form through the website and most importantly, check the status of IR-4 research on crop and pests. Users can also access other relevant information through multiple searchable databases.IR-4 also maintains the Global Minor Use Information Portal that provides a key source of information in support of international harmonization of pesticide registrations and maximum residues levels. IR-4 also uses social media and Constant Contact to “push” information to its stakeholders. Constant Contact subscribers (over 2000) receive monthly updates about IR-4 research and other breaking news related to the program. Through this tool, IR-4 regularly delivers this same information on IR-4’s three Facebook pages (Food Use, Ornamental Horticulture, Public Health) at facebook.com/IR4Project, and its Twitter account (twitter.com/IR4_Project). IR-4 personnel regularly attend scientific, association, and trade meetings in order to contribute presentations about IR-4 accomplishments and provide information to growers. IR-4 personnel frequently submit articles for industry trade magazines and peer reviewed journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? IR-4 continues to start new research project annually to ensure that there are an adequate arsenal of crop protection technology available to answer unmet and new pest management voids. Approximately 500 food project field trials and 100 ornamental horticulture experiments are started annually to develop the necessary data to support future registrations and availability for use of the technology by growers. IR-4, in an effort to improve service to stakeholders and provide more support for IPM systems, has recently modified its Biopesticide & Organic Support Program. In association with this change, IR-4 has received over 80 new requests for assistance for the strategic use of conventional reduced risk chemical pesticides and biopesticides in a systems approach. This provides better management of pest resistance to pesticides, reduces pesticide residues at harvest, and further reduces the risk associated with pesticide use to man and the environment. A sampling of these requests for assistance include: Spotted wing Drosophila control on fruit; Fire blight management on organic apple; Residue mitigation/export crops; Varroa mite/honeybees; Weed control in nursery seed & transplant beds on ornamental horticulture crops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Food Program: Develop data that facilitates the registrations of safe and effective pest management products for specialty food crops and specialty uses on major crops. The specific goal is to register 1,000 new registrations annually. During the period of performance, IR-4 submitted petitions to EPA or industry cooperators to answer priority pest management needs articulated by specialty crop stakeholders. From these submissions, EPA published in the Federal Register 21final rules establishing 158 permanent tolerances. Utilizing crop grouping and approved regulatory extrapolations these tolerances support 737 registrations (see Appendix 1 for details). Most of these registrations were available for grower use within months of publication of tolerance. However, some registrations require additional data that IR-4 has or is currently addressing. Ornamental Program: During the period of performance IR-4 data supported 7 new federal registrations that impacted 3,698 new crop uses. These include A16901B 45WG, DPX-HGW, Mainspring 200SC, Mika WG, Sulfentrazone CA Herbicide, Trinity 2SC, Xxpire 40WG. Additionally there were two state registrations involving Marengo SC and Marengo G. Also during the period of performance, IR-4 composed 18 project summaries to support expanded registrations. The summaries submitted include: Coleopteran Efficacy, Cyflufenamid Crop Safety, Dimethenamid-p Crop Safety, Indaziflam Crop Safety, Isoxaben Crop Safety, Metconazole Crop Safety, Oxyfluorfen + Prodiamine Crop Safety, Pendimethalin + Dimethenamid-p Crop Safety, Pyridalyl Crop Safety, Pyrfluquinazone Crop Safety, Spirotetramat Crop Safety, Sulfentrazone + Prodiamine Crop Safety, Sulfosulfuron Crop Safety, Tebuconazole Crop Safety, Tolfenpyrad Crop Safety, Trifluralin + Isoxaben Crop Safety, Triticonazole Crop Safety, Whitefly Efficacy Summar. Finally, IR-4 completed 557 field trials with data from these trials being used to support new registrations in the future. Biopesticide/Organic Support Program: Proposals from stakeholders were submitted, a review committee discussed the merits of the proposals and recommended to PMC the projects to be funded. IR-4 funded the following biopesticide projects: 1 early stage; 11 advanced stage and 9 demonstration. A workshop was held in Atlanta, Georgia to determine the top pest management needs. Spotted Winged Drosphilamanagement in blueberry was best managed with Entrust, Grandevo and Jet-Ag but not by Aza-direct and Pyganic alone. Hop powdery mildew was controlled with Regalia and Sonata. Grape powdery mildew was reduced by removing leaves to open the canopy and improve spray coverage. Quintec in a program supplemented by Regalia was more reliable than Quintec rotated with Microthiol.In coconut, whitefly management with imidacloprid was improved by addition of Isaria, Beauvaria and Metarhizium. IMPACT OF IR-4’s ACCOMPLISHMENTS The availability of crop protection technology, including the latest generation of reduced risk chemical pesticides and biopesticides, is a critically important component to enhance the sustainability, competitiveness and profitability of domestically produced fruits, vegetables, nuts, ornamentals and other specialty crops. Specialty crops collectively account for >45% of U.S. farm gate value. New and emerging arthropods, diseases, and weeds, including invasive pests, can reduce the quality and quantity of the crops which results in lower revenue to the farmer, potentially higher costs to consumers, and a negative impact on the economy. For example, Citrus Greening has cost Florida over $1 billion annually and the loss of 7,000 jobs over the last few years. IR-4’s deliverables are critical to maximizing profitability for specialty crop production systems. During the past five years, IR-4’s data has facilitated 4,370 new registrations on food crops and has supported 32 registrations benefitting over 12,693 ornamental horticulture crop uses. Impacts of IR-4’s efforts are significant. In October 2012, Michigan State University’s Center for Economic Analysis issued an updated report titled “Economic Impact of the IR-4 Project and IR-4 Project Programs”. The authors noted, “Specifically, growers benefit in higher yields with higher quality output, consumers benefit by higher varieties and lower costs to food and ornamental crops, and the industry benefits through better global competitiveness of U.S. output. Including all secondary impacts, the IR-4 Project is anticipated to support research and industry sales sufficient to support 104,650 U.S. jobs and bumps annual gross domestic product by $7.3 billion. The findings support public investment in the IR-4 Program ...” It should be noted that through IR-4 efforts, fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops remain affordable and available almost any time during the year. The evidence of health benefits from eating fruits and vegetables continues to be recognized by the medical community. The availability and affordability of these crops encourage increased consumption allowing the public greater health benefits. The benefits of ornamental horticulture crops are also recognized by the medical community; recent publications note improved mental health and emotional wellbeing when consumers are exposed to environments with greenery and landscaping.
Publications
- Type:
Books
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Baron, J.J. R.E. Holm, D.L. Kunkel, P.H. Schwartz, and G.M. Markle. The IR-4 Project: 50 Years of Sustained Success.
- Type:
Books
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Malamud-Roam, K., Public Health Pesticides: An Inventory of Chemical Tools for Vector Control
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Holm, R, D.L. Kunkel, and J. Eggleston, 2014. A Quantum Leap, Progress in the discovery of New Crop Protection, in Crop Protection Handbook, MeisterPro, Willoughby, OH
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Valencia-Botin, A. J., S. N. Jeffers, C. L. Palmer, J. W. Buck. 2013. Fungicides Used Alone, in Combinations, and in Rotations for Managing Gladiolus Rust in Mexico. Plant Disease 97:1491-1496. http://cd.coi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-13-0272-RE
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Bonde, M.R., C. L. Palmer, D. G. Luster, S. E. Nester, J. M. Revell, and D. K. Berner. 2014. Viability of Puccinia horiana Teliospores Under Various Environmental Conditions. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-RS-13-0117.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Novack, S. IR-4 Newsletter, Summer- Volume 44 no3
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Novack, S. IR-4 Newsletter, Fall-Volume 44 no 4
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Novack, S. IR-4 Newsletter, Winter-Volume 45 no.1
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Novack, S. IR-4 Newsletter, Spring-Volume 45 no.2
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Bonde, M. R., C. A. Murphy, G. R. Bauchan, D. G. Luster, C. L. Palmer, S. E. Nester, D. K. Berner. 2013. Systemic infection in chrysanthemum plants by Puccinia horiana, causal agent of chrysanthemum white rust. Abstract. American Phytopathology Society Annual Meeting. Phytopathology 103(Suppl. 2):S2.18.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Valencia-Botin, A. J., J. W. Buck, S. N. Jeffers, C. L. Palmer. 2013. Resistance of gladiolus cultivars to Uromyces transversalis in field trials in Mexico: Preliminary results. Abstract. American Phytopathology Society Annual Meeting. Phytopathology 103(Suppl. 2):S2.151.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Braverman, M., D. Kunkel and J. Baron. 2013. The IR-4 Project: A Public Sector Program to Facilitate the Registration of Biopesticides. Abstract. American Chemical Society Meeting.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Braverman, M., D. Kunkel, J. Baron and J. Sandahl. Challenges of Establishing and Managing Global Pesticide Magnitude of Residue Studies. Abstract. American Chemical Society Meeting.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Braverman, M., D. Kunkel, J. Baron and M. Arsenovic. Biopesticides and Organic Herbicides for Weed Management. Tropical Weed Science Society, Chiang Mai , Thailand.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
McKenzie, C. L., V. Kumar, C. L. Palmer, R. D. Oetting and L. Osborne. Chemical class rotations for control of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia and their effect on cryptic species population composition. Abstract. Entomology Society of America Annual Meeting. November 2013, Austin, TX
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Bonde, M.R., Murphy, C.A., Bauchan, G.R., Luster, D.G., Palmer, C.L., Nester, S.E., Revell, J.M. and Berner, D.K. 2014. Evidence for systemic infection by Puccinia horiana, causal agent of chrysanthemum white rust, in chrysanthemum. Phytopathology First Look paper. htpp://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-09-13-0266-R. posted 08/14/2014.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
McKenzie, C.L., Kumar, V., Palmer, C.L., Oetting, R.D., and Osborne, L.S. 2014. Chemical class rotations for control of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on poinsettia and their effect on cryptic species population composition. Pesticide Management Science. Available online: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ps.3736/pdf
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Palmer, C. and Daughtrey, M. 2014. Impatiens: Is there life after downy mildew? AmericanHort CONNECT, 2014(2), p. 3, 8-9.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Palmer, C.L., and N. Shishkoff. 2014. Boxwood Blight: A New Scourge, a New Paradigm for Collaborative Research. Outlooks on Pest Management 25(3):230-236
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