1999 Annual Report
Background
The Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4 Project) was organized 36 years ago by the Directors of the State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAES) to obtain regulatory clearances for crop protection chemicals on minor food crops when the economic incentives for the registrants precluded private sector investment. IR-4 has been administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) since its inception in 1963. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) component of the USDA established a companion minor use program in 1976 to provide further program support. The objectives of the program were expanded in 1977 to include registration of pest control products for the protection of nursery and floral crops, forest seedlings and turf grass and again in 1982 when the objective of clearance of biological control agents or biopesticides was added. Also in 1982, the project added a Minor Use Animal Drug component to the work effort. The animal drug portion of the program became a separate entity several years later and continues today as a separate project funded by CSREES. The minor crop program works as a model government funded program due to a unique collaboration formed between the USDA (CSREES and ARS), the IR-4 Headquarters and Regional Leader Laboratory staff, the land grant university system, the crop protection industry, commodity and grower groups and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bring crop protection solutions to minor crop growers.
Program
Food Use Program
In order for the program to be responsive to the needs of minor crop growers, project requests from growers, commodity groups, grower organizations and university research and extension agents/specialists are reviewed annually and prioritized for research at the Food Use Workshop. The National Research Planning Meeting takes the high priority projects determined at the workshop and develops a field residue and laboratory analytical program for the following year. In 1999, the program scheduled 149 projects comprising 566 field trials.
The scope of the program has changed rather dramatically over the past ten years since the enactment of FIFRA 88 and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) in 1996. FIFRA 88 initiated a focused program to reregister many older products for which registrants lacked economic justification to maintain many key minor crop tolerances. This program led to the successful defense of over 700 minor crop registrations as part of a dedicated effort over the past 10 years.
The passage of the FQPA presented a new set of challenges. IR-4 recognized this when it developed a new Strategic Plan to seek minor crop registrations for the new, safer, Reduced Risk chemicals in the pipeline for major crop registrations. Beside being safer to mammalian systems, these newer products are safer to birds, other wildlife, and beneficial organisms which make them ideal for use in integrated pest management (IPM) systems. The program started to integrate these new products into its effort in 1997 when over 30% of the projects involved the safer chemistries. In 1998, almost 50% of the projects were devoted to this safer chemistry program. In 1999, over half of the projects involved the safer chemistry approach and it is anticipated this trend will continue in 2000.
It is still unclear how FQPA will impact the availability of currently used products on minor crops. However, it appears certain that some uses of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, as well as the crop protection chemicals with a B2 carcinogen classification, will be restricted or possibly eliminated for use on minor crops. The 1999 negotiated decisions between the registrants of azinphos- methyl and methyl parathion and the EPA confirmed this projection. Whatever the ultimate decisions made by EPA over the next six years as part of the FQPA mandate to assess the remaining 6,000 plus tolerances, IR-4 is in a position to offer many Reduced Risk alternatives as we partner with the EPA to make these options available through final clearances or by using IR-4 generated residue data to support state Section 18 requests.
Ornamentals
Research to develop registration data (usually crop safety and efficacy) for new pest control products on ornamental (non-food) crops continues to be an important and successful component of our overall program. The IR-4 focus on safer, Reduced Risk chemicals for both food and non-food crops is clearly compatible with the objective of developing pest control solutions that are safe for workers, adaptable to existing cultural practices and are effective in IPM programs.
Future Directions
In 1999, the Project Management Committee rededicated its efforts to the entire program by holding a Strategic Planning Retreat to review and update the Strategic Plan which will be published in early 2000. Part of the effort involved the development of a Mission Statement, which is: "To provide pest management solutions to growers of fruits, vegetables and other minor crops. People who benefit from IR-4 are consumers, growers and food processors". The Strategic Plan revision will insure that the program fully addresses the FQPA challenges and the rapidly changing agricultural climate.
A New Technology Team was formed in 1998 which has been successful in its efforts to obtain the latest and newest crop protection chemistries and biological products for introduction into the system for project consideration. These efforts increased our level of safer chemistry projects to over 50% in 1999. In 2000, we expect this trend to continue with over 70% of the projects dedicated to this objective. A 30-month completion schedule goal was initiated in 1999 for projects started for that calendar year program. We are on target to submit the 1999 project petitions to the EPA on or before April 2001. Most of the 2000 projects will have the same 30-month completion goal. The Strategic Plan reinforces the importance of this objective. The 30-month completion schedule also plays a key role in our rapidly expanding partnership with the EPA, which has resulted in a number of initiatives to facilitate review of IR-4 petitions.
Several other new programs came from the New Technology Team initiatives. One was the Methyl Bromide Alternatives (MBA) Program which has received strong support from the crop protection industry and many minor crop organizations. The initial program started in the fall of 1999 focused on large (5 acre) research trials on strawberries in California and Florida, comparing some of the older standards with new chemistries in a management system approach. In 2000, the MBA Program will be expanded to tomatoes, ornamentals, nursery crops, turf and vegetables (cucurbits, peppers, etc.) in order to address critical needs as methyl bromide reduction reaches 50% by 2001 and 70% by 2003. Another new program initiated in 1999 involved some limited field efficacy trials to help evaluate herbicides and other products (insecticides/nematicides and fungicides) as potential methyl bromide alternatives. The updated Strategic Plan recognizes the need for some limited efficacy trials in order to evaluate the newest chemistries available for potential minor crop applications prior to initiating the residue trials required for registration.
IR-4 will continue to support biopesticide projects in the future because they fit well into the safer, environmentally friendly category of pest control options for minor crop growers, especially where IPM compatible products are critical to crop production and management systems. These products are also critical for organic growers who are increasingly becoming an important component of the minor crop production system. In 1999, the IR-4 Biopesticide Program started an Advanced Stage Program for products which were nearing commercialization or needed efficacy data for label expansion. Funding for that program will increase while the Early Stage Program will continue to support discovery and new product characterization efforts. The biotechnology program initiated in 1999 with three herbicide-tolerant crops (strawberries, sweet corn and lettuce) will continue at that level in 2000.
The 1999 Annual Report highlights the progress toward achieving the goal of providing safe and effective pest control (both chemical and biological) options for minor crop growers in the overall context of IPM compatible pest management systems. 1999 marked one of the most productive years in IR-4's history with 313 food use and 532 ornamental use clearances.
PROJECT: National Research Service Project No. 4 (NRSP/IR-4). A National Agricultural Program to Clear Pest Control Agents for Minor Uses. January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999.
COOPERATING AGENCIES AND PRINCIPAL LEADERS: Cooperating agencies, principal leaders of the project, support groups and IR-4 State and Federal Liaison Representatives are shown in Attachment 1. Scientists participating in the project are shown in Attachment 2.
PROGRESS of WORK and PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
FOOD USE RESEARCH PROJECTS:
There are currently 7785 IR-4 food-use requests, an increase of 428 over the 7357 requests reported in 1998. Of these, 1237 are researchable projects. In 1999, SAES and USDA-ARS cooperators scheduled research on 149 requested clearance projects (studies) which represented 566 field trials. Residue samples from 545 field trials went to SAES, USDA-ARS, and other cooperating analytical laboratories. Research protocols were prepared or revised for each study as required by EPA Good Laboratory Practice Standards. The pesticides/commodities researched in 1999 are shown in Attachment 3. In addition to the above, IR-4 funded 20 New Technology Grants. These small grants (less than $5,000 each) were intended to provide assistance in the development of new products and other solutions for minor crop pest management voids. These projects are also in Attachment 3.
FOOD USE REGULATORY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
IR-4 Supported Approvals
1999 marked one of the most productive years in IR-4's history. IR-4 was responsible for 281 new minor food use pesticide clearances and 32 re-registered uses (see Attachment 4). Thirty new tolerances were established based on IR-4 data that accounted for 127 new uses. Two tolerance exemptions were received on the biological pesticides cinnamaldehyde and formic acid that accounted for 55 new uses. Exemptions were also granted for gibberellic acid on all food commodities (EPA initiative) and copper-ethylene diamine complex on potato. One temporary tolerance exemption was established for the use of the biopesticide, Aspergillus flavus AF36, on cotton for a total of 58 biopesticide food use clearances in 1999. Seventy-three Section 18 time-limited tolerances were established based on IR-4 data that allowed for 96 uses in 1999. IR-4 received EPA opinion letters accepting IR-4 data to re-register malathion on 32 crops.
Crop Group Definitions
EPA crop groups and definitions provide for the extension of tolerances or exemptions for a pest control agent from a representative or major crop to other closely related crops [see 40 CFR 180.1(h) and 180.41] to support minor crop growers, IPM, and crop rotations. IR-4 petitions to expand crop groups and definitions substantially leverage the number of pest control options available to producers of minor crops. In 1999, IR-4 submitted 1 crop group definition petition to EPA. This is shown in Attachment 5.
REGULATORY PROGRESS:
IR-4's partnership with EPA has allowed both groups to work more efficiently. IR-4 is using a new summary format for final reports (Herndon Tables) that allows EPA to review data packages more rapidly. EPA is bundling large numbers of IR-4 data packages for the same active ingredient to improve review efficiency. All of these initiatives are resulting in a greater number of new, and in many cases reduced risk, pest control tools being available to minor crop growers. IR-4 has hired several new personnel that have contributed to a higher number of data packages being submitted to EPA. IR-4 and EPA have already developed a Workplan for 2000 which looks to be even more productive than the 1999 Workplan.
EPA's Notice of Filings for IR-4 Petitions
EPA has published Notice of Filings (NOF) in the Federal Register that will support 260 new uses on bifenthrin, cyromazine, esfenvalerate, fenpropathrin, myclobutanil, paraquat, pendimethalin, pirimicarb, pyridaben, spinosad, tebufenozide, and sucrose fatty acid (see Attachment 4). These uses are likely to become tolerances or exemptions in early 2000.
Data Package Development
IR-4 prepared and submitted data packages for 105 projects to EPA in 1999 (see Attachment 6). Some of the packages submitted in 1999 have already been approved by EPA. Eighty-two of these projects were submitted to EPA in the second half of the year (7/99 or later). There are another 204 projects that are in various stages of preparation and many are planned for submission in 2000 (see Attachment 7).
ORNAMENTAL RESEARCH AND REGISTRATIONS:
Since the IR-4 Ornamentals Program was initiated in 1977, 19,795 ornamental pesticide clearance requests have been received. There are now 6253 researchable projects still requiring research data. Requests for 872 of these projects were received during 1999. IR-4 supported 640 ornamental research trials during 1999 and prepared 12 registration packages containing 446 reports that were sent to registrants for future labeling. These included three fungicides, six herbicides, one insecticide and two plant growth regulators. During the year, industry labeled 532 ornamental uses based on IR-4 data. These are shown in Attachment 8.
BIOPESTICIDE RESEARCH AND REGISTRATIONS:
In 1999, IR-4 funded 29 research projects on the following biopesticides: Dactylaria higginsii to control nutsedge in vegetables, ornamentals and turf; Non-aflatoxin producing Aspergillus flavus AF36 to reduce aflatoxin contamination in Arizona cottonseed; Management of Sparganothis Fruitworm by pheromone-mediated mating disruption in cranberry; Pseudomonas aureofaciens for control of brown patch and Pythium on turf; Trichoderma hamatum fortified potting mixes for control of root rots on ornamentals; Microbial control of the China Mark Moth in aquatic nurseries using Bacillus thuringiensis 'kurstaki'; Alpha Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde for the control of greenhouse pests on horticulture crops; Effect of AuxiGroTM on the growth and yield of pumpkin, muskmelon, cucumber and sweetpotato; Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tagetis for control of Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense L.) in pea; Trichoderma harizanum and Bacillus subtilis in plug mixes for controlling Fusarium Crown and Root Rot of Tomato; Serenade WP BiofungicideTM for control of diseases on ginseng, raspberry, strawberry and rose; Mating Disruption of two leafroller species in apple using Isomate hand-applied disperser technology; MilsanaTM for control of powdery mildew on apple, cucurbits, grape and ornamentals; ElexaTM for powdery mildew control on poinsettia, grape and rose; MycostopTM, PrestopTM and Trichoderma harizanum for control of Thielaviopss on ornamentals; Pseudomonas clororaphis, Gliocladium virens and Trichoderma harizanum for control of soil borne diseases of strawberry; Metarhizium anasopliae for control of blackvine weevil on ornamentals; Beauveria bassiana for control of pecan weevil; Xanthomanos campestris pv. poannua for selective control of annual bluegrass; and MessengerTM for control of diseases on apple, grape and pumpkin.
In 1999, IR-4 obtained or assisted in obtaining clearances for the following biopesticide uses: Cinnamaldehyde for insect and disease control on 53 crops; Formic acid for mite control in honey bee hives; Mating disruptant pheromone [(E)-11-Tetradecen-1-yl-Acetate] for Sparganothis Fruitworm in cranberry; Nimbecidine® (Azadiractin based botanical insecticide and insect repellent) for use on ornamentals and turf; MCH (3-methyl-2cyclohex-1-one) an antiaggregation pheromone for control of Douglas Fir Beetle and Spruce Beetle; Pseudomonas aureofaciens strain TX-1 for control of pink snow mold on turf; Gibberellins for use on minor crops as plant regulators; SurroundTM WP (new more weather resistant kaolin formulation) on fruit crops for insect control.
EPA also approved the following Experimental Use Permits based on data packages prepared by IR-4: Aspergillus flavus AF36 (non-aflatoxin producing strain) for aflatoxin control in Arizona cotton; Dutch Trig (Verticillium dahliae WCS850) for disease control in elms; and Bacillus subtilus GB03 for soil disease control on turf and ornamentals.
In 1999, seven biopesticide petitions, amendments or data packages were submitted to EPA or the registrant. These are listed in Attachment 9.
Methyl Bromide Alternatives Program:
Large scale replicated field trials were initiated in Florida and in California where a number of new methyl bromide alternative candidates are being evaluated for possible future registration. Also, older standard products, characteristically variable and unpredictable in performance, are being evaluated from applications made to optimize their performances. Results to date show promise for several treatments some of which could serve as "drop in" replacements for methyl bromide. Other treatments exhibit more narrow spectrums of control but look promising in programs that will utilize two or three partners for full spectrum pest control comparable to methyl bromide.
QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA):
The IR-4 Project's Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) continued to provide monitoring and support of cooperating scientists throughout the United States. Quality Assurance Coordinators have continued conducting on-site facility compliance inspections, in-life critical phase inspections, and raw data and final report audits as required by the Good Laboratory Practice Standards, 40 CFR 160 (GLPs). QA findings, recommendations and documentation of corrective actions (160.35b(3)) were forwarded to the Study Directors and Testing Facility Management.
In addition to their standard duties, members of the IR-4 QAU were involved in four US EPA GLP compliance inspections. Three IR-4 field testing sites and one IR-4 analytical laboratory were audited for compliance. A total of 27 IR-4 related facilities have been inspected for GLP compliance since April 27, 1997 with no adverse findings.
The IR-4 QAU is comprised of Regional QA Coordinators, university cooperating QA Officers and USDA-ARS QA Officers. The IR-4 QAU functions under a set of mutually accepted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by which it mainains consistent monitoring activities of IR-4 GLP research studies. The IR-4 QAU is a cooperative unit in which representatives mutually monitor studies and coordinate activities in an efficient manner. In 1999, regular inspections included 42 facility inspections, 179 field in-life inspections, 150 analytical in-life inspections, 135 analytical summary report/data audits and 497 field data logbook audits. There were also over 79 reports finalized during the 1999 calendar year.
PROGRAM COOPERATION AND COORDINATION
The IR-4 program prides itself in being a model of interagency cooperation for a federally funded program by forming collaborations with the land grant university system, the crop protection industry, commodity interest groups, USDA-CSREES and ARS and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to bring crop protection solutions to minor crop growers. This past year, the initiatives started in 1998 with the EPA, the agricultural chemical companies, the companies developing new biological materials and commodity groups were greatly expanded. Thanks to the strong support from Jim Jones, Director of EPA's Registration Division and Dr. Margaret Stasikowski, Director of EPA's Health Effects Division, along with Hoyt Jamerson, EPA Minor Use Officer, the EPA/IR-4 Technical Working Group was formed and met four times (twice at Headquarters and twice at EPA's offices). The June meeting included a tour of New Jersey minor crop agriculture (tree fruits, cranberries, vegetables, etc.). Each meeting addressed a number of important issues involving better productivity and efficiency in handling minor crop registrations.
A number of success stories from this collaboration effort resulted:
1) Three Year Workplan. For the first time in IR-4's history, a schedule of all of the projects and their petitions has been submitted to the EPA to help them schedule their work plans for upcoming years in the most efficient manner (i.e. group several petitions on same active ingredients).
2) Herndon Summary Tables. A recommendation by Jeff Herndon, HED Chemist, led to IR-4 submitting petitions using a standard format summary saving the EPA time (1 to 2 months) and external contract review funds.
3) Super Crop Groups/Reduced Data Requirements. Based on the initiatives of IR-4 Study Direc-tors (Dr. Keith Dorschner for Spinosad and Dr. Dave Thompson for Azoxystrobin), two new Re- duced Risk products, Spinosad and Azoxystrobin, were proposed to the EPA as candidates for re- duced minor crop residue data requirements based on human and environmental safety profiles, existing registrant and IR-4 minor crop residue databases and the minor crop groupings based on Food and Feed Crops of the United States authored by IR-4 (Professor Geoge Markle and Dr. Jerry Baron) and EPA (Dr. Bernie Schneider) personnel. The EPA accepted the proposal for these two products resulting in savings of over $1,000,000 in field residue and laboratory analysis expenses in 1999. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has also agreed to the Spinosad pro- posal and is in general agreement on the overall concept.
4) Minor Crop Reduced Risk Classification. This initiative, proposed by IR-4, allows the Reduced Risk classification awarded by the EPA to selected registrants products based on a strict set of criteria on major crops to be extended to minor crops. The first product proposed was tebufenozide, which besides being a Reduced Risk insecticide, also won the President's Green Chemistry Award. Based on our request, the EPA approved the Reduced Risk Classification to include caneberries, blueberry, cranberry, mint and turnip.
Other EPA initiatives included continuing to work closely with Pat Cimino, EPA Minor Use Team Leader and Ombudsperson, to support her efforts to address minor crop policy issues and challenges brought about by FQPA implementation. In addition, Dr. Willis Wheeler, the IR-4 Washington DC Liaison, was named as IR-4 Liaison to the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) where he will work with Marcia Mulkey, OPP Director, and her staff which includes Pat Cimino on minor crop issues. Meetings have been held with Lois Rossi, Director of EPA's Special Review and Reregistration Division (SRRD) and Dr. Janet Andersen, Director of Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (BPPD) and their staffs to discuss mechanisms by which IR-4 can participate in the FQPA review of older products (SRRD) and how biopesticides can more efficiently be registered (BPPD).
In other areas, meetings with senior management from crop protection companies have reinforced ongoing minor crop programs and involved additional focus on minor crop needs and opportunities. This initiative resulted in several new chemistries being made available for minor crop programs to fit FQPA driven needs, especially with insecticides and fungicides. Ongoing technical meetings between IR-4 Study Directors and management and company representatives continue to develop closer working relationships which help facilitate new technology transfer and ongoing project completion. Visits to biopesticide companies were especially rewarding, as they have identified several new technologies which hold promise to compete equally with traditional chemicals in IPM programs. For the first time, these new biopesticides were discussed and prioritized as solutions at the Food Use Workshop. The relationships with commodity groups were continued through presentations at their annual meetngs and greater involvement by many of the organizations in the IR-4 Commodity Liaison Committee (CLC).
The 23rd IR-4/USDA Food Use Workshop was held August 25th to 27th in Denver, Colorado and brought together all stakeholders (crop protection industry including strong biopesticide company representation, the EPA, our Commodity Liaison Committee, growers, the land grant university research and extension staff, and representatives from minor crop programs in Canada and Mexico, etc.). The Workshop sponsored by IR-4 attracted nearly 150 stakeholders with 75 to 100 in attendance at each of the three sessions (Plant Pathology, Entomology and Weed Science/PGR's) to set the initial minor crop priority projects. Each session started with industry presentations on key product updates including registration status, company plans and potential minor crop projects which set the stage for the productive project discussions which followed. The Workshop provided the basis for the National Research Planning Meeting held in late October where the final projects were prioritized and laboratory analyses and field residue assignments were made by USDA (CSREES and ARS) management, regional staff (Directors and Field and Laboratory Coordinators) plus Headquarters staff.
The Annual Meeting held in Washington, D.C. October 4th through the 7th was preceded by a Symposium entitled "Future Approaches to Minor Crop Pest Management" which brought together IR-4 personnel (State Liaison Representatives, Regional Teams, ARS and Headquarters) along with invited guests from the EPA, crop protection industry, USDA, public interest groups, the land grant university system, food processors and policy makers to hear invited speakers presentations in three topic areas: 1) Speeding the Flow of New Technologies to Minor Crop Growers; 2) The Role of IR-4 in Making Biopesticides and Transgenic Varieties Available for Minor Crops; and, 3) The Future Relationship Between IR-4 and the Other USDA IPM/ Pesticide Programs. Following the presentations, the attendees were divided into discussion groups to address key questions related to the topic. Input from each discussion group was presented to the entire group with final summarized recommendations which were used by the Project Management Committee in updating the Strategic Plan.
The 12th IR-4/USDA Ornamentals Workshop was held October 18th to 22nd in Portland, Oregon and it brought together over 100 attendees, including state and federal researchers, extension agents, agricultural and biopesticide industry representatives, growers, and Canadian representatives. They reviewed and prioritized over 6000 projects for research purposes.
USEFULNESS OF THE FINDINGS
IR-4 is the only publicly funded program responsible for supporting the registration of crop protection chemicals and biological control agents for use in the production of minor food and non-food crops. The program has been responsible for data to support 313 food use clearances in 1999 (over 5,000 total since the program began), 532 ornamental clearances in 1999 (over 7,100 national ornamental registrations since the program began), and sponsored research on biopesticides which resulted in 58 clearances in 1999 (over 150 since the program began).
IR-4 goes through an extensive process each year to obtain input on the most critical pest control needs of minor crop producers and to prioritize hose research needs using committees of regional and national level agricultural experts to best match the program's resources with the current unmet needs. IR-4 provides program coordination, technical guidance and funding for both field and laboratory research to develop the residue and other data required by the EPA to register minor crop pest solutions. All IR-4 food use research is carried out according to EPA Good Laboratory Practices with coordination and implementation by the Quality Assurance Unit. Annual training of Field Cooperators, Laboratory personnel and other support staff involved in the conduct of the work is essential to the success of the IR-4 program. GLP compliance audits, both of facilities and ongoing field and laboratory procedures, provide assurance that IR-4 food safety data will be accepted by the registrants and the EPA. The success of the IR-4 Project depends on its credibility with the crop protection industry, growers and the Agency. Without the existence of the IR-4 Project, few safer and effective crop protection chemicals and biological alternatives would be available for use on minor crops today.
WORK PLANNED FOR 2000
IR-4 will continue to seek input and technical guidance from all of its stakeholders, including state and federal agricultural scientists and state extension agents and specialists, commodity groups, growers, the crop protection industry, food processors and the EPA to insure the program maintains its focus on important minor use needs. Established partnerships will be enhanced while new partnerships will be sought.
The research program for year 2000 will consist of approximately 120 studies (110 of these studies were rated Priority A at the past Food Use Workshop). Of these 120 studies, 114 will require the collection of residue samples. Six studies will be for collecting additional efficacy and/or crop safety data to support a specific data need. To support this research plan, a total of 700 field trials is planned. Most of these field trails (552) are being covered by regional state agricultural research stations, USDA-ARS will be conducting 129 field trials and Canada has agreed to cooperate on 19 trials. The number of studies is somewhat lower, however, the number of field trials are higher compared to past years. This is a result, in part, of IR-4's commitment to complete field research for a study in one year. IR-4 is looking forward to another productive research season in 2000.
IR-4 will continue its commitment to producing quality scientific data in order to meet EPA's Good Laboratory Practice requirements. IR-4 management will continue to hold GLP and/or QA training sessions for IR-4 personnel and cooperators, to review QA audits of data and reports, review and revise SOPs and strive to further enhance our effectiveness and efficiency. Members of the IR-4 QAU will participate in the Northeastern Region's technical training program scheduled for January 2000 in New Brunswick, NJ. The IR-4 QAU will meet in February 2000 at IR-4 Headquarters to conduct their annual scheduling meeting. The implementation of the IR-4 30-month time-line for study completion will be a major focus as QA assignments are planned for the year 2000. This will mean completing 40 to 50 facility inspections (field and lab), about 125 field in-life inspections, over 500 field data book audits, over 130 analytical in-life inspections, and analytical summary report/data audits, and also finalizing approximately 120 final reports per year to maintain the 30-month schedule.
Seventy-six proposals have been submitted to the IR-4 BiopesticideProgram for funding in the year 2000. A selection of the projects to be funded will be made in February, 2000 by the IR-4 Project Management Committee. The Biopesticide Program will continue to work with university and federal scientists, registrants and EPA to expand the number of registered biopesticides.
The Methyl Bromide Alternatives Program, currently underway on strawberries and scheduled to begin in fresh market tomatoes during the spring of 2000, will be expanded for at least one additional year on both crops. Previous candidates from the fall 1999 strawberry program will be reevaluated in the fall 2000 strawberry program and new products will be included. The second year tomato program will begin in early spring 2001. Other minor crops to be included in the program in 2000 and beyond include cut flowers, bulb crops, ornamentals and nurseries (including strawberry and forest tree seedling nurseries), peppers and cucurbit vegetables.
Ornamental protocols have been prepared for 98 pesticides and biopesticides. Approximately 550 research trials are being scheduled to be conducted by 33 federal and state researchers in 17 states.
Overall Summary
The IR-4 program had one of its most successful years in its 36 year history due to the dedicated efforts of everyone on the IR-4 Team including the Headquarters staff, Regional Laboratory staff, Regional Field and Quality Assurance Coordinators, Field Research Center staff and ARS personnel. Initiatives with the EPA resulted in major efficiencies due to the Three Year Workplan, Petition Summary Tables, Super Crop Groupings/Reduced Data Requirements and the EPA/IR-4 Technical Working Group. These efforts resulted in over 300 minor crop clearances (compared to a 1984 to 1996 pre-FQPA average of 100) and an anticipated 500 plus clearances in 2000 with IR-4 receiving about 50% of the total EPA work plan allocation. IR-4 plans to build on this momentum in 2000 to continue productivity and efficiency gains.
PUBLICATIONS:
Braverman, M.P. 1999. The IR-4 Project: A U.S. National Agricultural Program for Crop Protection Chemical Registration. Abstracts 17th Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society Conference. p. 129.
Frank, J.R. 1998. The 1997 IR-4 Research Program Proc. PGRSA. 25:188.
Frank, J.R. 1998. IR-4 Research for Pest Control in Nursery Crops - 1998 Proc. Of Southern Nursery Res. Conf. 43:150-153.
Frank, J.R. 1999. IR-4 Ornamental Research for 1998 Proc. NEWSS. 53:124.
Frank, J.R. 1999. 1998 Research with the IR-4 Ornamental Program. WSSA Abstracts 39:87 (174). Frank, J.R. 1999. The IR-4 Ornamental Research Program. Proc. 15th SAF Conference on Insect and Disease Management on Ornamentals. 15:13-17.
Frank, J.R., J.C. Locke, and C.R. Krause. 1998. The IR-4 Ornamentals Research Program 1977-1998 Phytopath. 88(9): 5-29.
Frank, J.R. 1998. IR-4 Crop Pest Management Program in National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations - 1998. SRS-25 p. 75-77.
Frank, J.R. 1999. Seeking Approval. American Nurseryman. August 1, 1999. 190(3) 62-65.
Hackett-Fields, K. and T.L. White. 1999. Findings and Actions Taken - IR-4's Response to a Bushel of Agency Inspections (Poster). 15th Annual Meeting of the Society of Quality Assurance. Abstract, p. III-13.
Holm, R.E. 1999. Crop Protection - A Quantum Leap. Farm Chemicals Special Edition: 2000 WOW - A Remarkable Past/A Dazzling Future. p 14-16.
Holm, R.E. 1999. New Perspectives for the Future of the IR-4 Program. European Crop Protection Association Fourth Mediterranean Conference: Transcripts of Prsentations 19 November 1999.
Holm, R.E. 1999. IR-4's Strategy, Challenges and Progress. IR-4 Symposium - Future Approaches to Minor Crop Pest Management. IR-4 Symposium Proceedings (in press).
Jordan, D.L., P.K. Bollich, M.P. Braverman, and D.E. Sanders. 1999. Influence of Tillage and Triticum aestivum Cover Crop on Herbicide Efficacy in Oryza sativa. Weed Sci. 47:332-337.
Kuack D. and J.R. Frank. 1999. J. Ray Frank on FQPA and IR-4. G.M. Pro Magazine. 19(6) 54-58.
Kunkel, D.L. and J.J. Baron. 1999. Potential Impacts of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996. WSSA Abstract 39:87 (313).
Markle, G.M. 1999. IR-4 Newsletter. NJAES No. P-27200-01-99. 30(1):33pp.
Markle, G.M. 1999. IR-4 Newsletter. NJAES No. P-27200-02-99. 30(2):38pp.
Markle, G.M. 1999. IR-4 Newsletter. NJAES No. P-27200-03-99. 30(3):39pp.
Markle, G.M. 1999. IR-4 Newsletter. NJAES No. P-27200-04-99. 30(4):39pp. December 31, 1999
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R.E. Holm, Executive Director
IR-4, Cook College, Rutgers - The State University Of New Jersey
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R.M. Hollingworth, Chair, Project Management Committee
Michigan State University
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N.P. Thompson, Chair, Administrative Advisors
University of Florida