Recipient Organization
UNIV OF IDAHO
875 PERIMETER DRIVE
MOSCOW,ID 83844-9803
Performing Department
Southern District
Non Technical Summary
The University of Idaho has traditionally collaborated with the Western Region and National IR-4 Project to facilitate the registration of crop protection tools for Idaho's specialty crop producers. Most of the food crops consumed are considered specialty crops, are grown on limited acres and have a high economic value to the state of Idaho. The pesticide industry lacks financial incentives to support registrations for these specialty crops. They have concerns about reduced return on their registration investment due to lower acreages, and liability associated with product stewardship. Many of the pesticide products do not have sufficient crop safety and performance data, for these specialty crops. Idaho has always played a major role in specialty crop production, with crops such as malt barley, dry beans, dry bulb onions, dry peas and chickpeas, table and wine grapes, hops, lentils, mint, seed crops, sweet corn, teff, and tree fruits. Idaho ranks 19th overall in agricultural products sold.Several organophosphate and carbamate pesticides have been cancelled or have new reduced usage patterns due to residue concerns, worker protection concerns, or lack of registrant support to supply additional data. Many Idaho commodities are dependent upon these pesticides for their pest management needs. Other concerns with pest management tools may be pesticide resistance, impacts to pollinators, and lack of diverse mode of action. In Idaho and many western states, most specialty crops only have one or two choices for pest control options. The loss of one or both pesticide tools could result in crop devastation. Production costs will increase due to changes in agronomic practices, and may disrupt production of these specialty crops. This disruption in production could also have impacts to society in the lack of affordable, diversified and nutritious foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, so important to a healthy diet.It is important that the Idaho IR-4 program continue to support the development of specialty crop pesticide registrations for Idaho and Pacific Northwest producers.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Food Program: Obtain regulatory approval of safe and effective pesticides for fruits, vegetables, nuts and other specialty food crops and minor uses on major food crops with an emphasis on low hazard or reduced risk products and uses that are compatible with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Annually, IR-4 will initiate about 100 multiyear residue studies consisting of 600 field trials and 50 efficacy/crop safety trials to facilitate pesticide tolerances and registrations. IR-4 will also assist specialty crops through the establishment of international Maximum Residue Levels to remove pesticide residues as a barrier to trade which allows producers better access to lucrative export markets. The need for IR-4â¿¿s services will increase with introduction of new/invasive pests, with pests becoming resistant to available pesticides, with increased need for product performance data, with increased complexity of regulatory data requirements, with internationalization of data requirements, and with emerging regulatory issues (e.g. pollinator protection).
Biopesticide/Organic Support Program: Research to enhance the development and registration of biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, plant incorporated protectants and other technology to manage pests for use in conventional and organic production systems. IR-4 will also assist public sector associates and small biopesticide companies by providing guidance on how to successfully navigate through EPAâ¿¿s biopesticide registration process. IR-4 will also provide regulatory support for USDA deregulation of genetically modified organisms associated with plant incorporated protectants. IR-4â¿¿s intends to conduct 20 studies to determine which biopesticide(s) exhibit potential to manage critical pests and provide regulatory support for at least two project, annually. The need for IR-4â¿¿s Biopesticide Program services will increase given growing demand for a more natural approach to pest management, including organics, for the continued challenge of new pests or pests becoming resistant to available pesticides, and for emerging regulatory issues (e.g. pollinator protection) with conventional pesticides. There is also anticipation that there will be emerging biopesticides (e.g. RNAi) that will require IR-4â¿¿s assistance.
Project Methods
METHODS AND PROCEDURES:1. Coordinate with Idaho commodity groups, Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Idaho Minor Crop Alliance and University of Idaho Extension and Research faculty to determine pest management needs and pesticide/bio-pesticide priorities for specialty crops and minor uses in Idaho. Participate in commodity organization meetings to determine current pest management needs and priorities.Facilitate the timely flow of information from IR-4 to state agency personnel, the Idaho Minor Crop Alliance, the Idaho Seed Council, University extension/research faculty, and commodity groups in order to keep all stakeholders informed of issues or policy changes that may impact current registrations or important registration objectives.Also act as a conduit for communications from state personnel and stakeholders to appropriate IR-4 staff.Identify minor crop pesticide registration gaps that may occur as a result of re-registration at EPA and contact IR-4 for potential replacement compounds or reduced risk uses.Monitor the progress of pesticide residue research and tolerance petition preparation at IR-4 and tolerance petition reviews at the EPA.Disseminate this information to the Idaho Minor Crop Alliance, Idaho Seed Council, commodity groups, University of Idaho Extension and Research faculty and other interested parties.2. Facilitate new pesticide registrations for Idaho's minor use pesticide needs. Utilize commodity priorities determined from the Western Region IPM Center Pest Management Strategic Plans.Coordinate with Pacific Northwest commodities and research and extension personnel.Assess the feasibility of registration for identified products through discussions with the manufacturers, Idaho State Department of Agriculture, IR-4 Study Directors, and Idaho commodities.Review efficacy and crop safety data for product priorities to determine if they are sufficient to support residue research decisions.Collaborate with field researchers to address any data deficiencies.Ensure that all Idaho pest management requests have an integrated pest management (IPM) fit, before adding the request to the Western Region IR-4 Priority Setting Tool.Collaborate with university researchers, manufacturers and Idaho State Department of Agriculture for preparation of use-patterns for Special Local Needs 24C registration.Provide information that will assist Idaho State Department of Agriculture personnel in the preparation of Section 18 Emergency Use Requests.Cooperate with product manufacturers to help in developing use patterns for Section 3 Federal labels applicable to Idaho production.Submit Idaho pest management needs at the National IR-4 Project Food Use Workshop and research priority setting meeting.3. Manage the Idaho Field Center to ensure that Western Region IR-4 annual field trials are successfully completed as required by research protocols.Contribute to the Western Region IR-4 field program by conducting annually assigned field residue trials in Region 11.Provide input on field study protocols prior to field season.Complete field data notebooks for each assigned study.Secure funding from various sources to ensure sustainable operation of the Idaho Field Center.4.`Evaluate improved pest management for specialty crops as a result of new pesticide registration and measure the increased level of knowledge regarding pesticide registrations.Conduct post evaluations during pesticide recertification classes to measure increased knowledge about the IR-4 Program.Track the number of new pesticide tolerances established for Idaho specialty crops.Document the number of new pesticide registrations for Idaho specialty crops.Publish this data in a University of Idaho Impact Statement.