IR-4 Project Update
from HQ
Van Starner & Jerry Baron
Assistant Director, Research Planning
& IR-4 Executive Director
(2009 Western Region SLR/CLC Meeting – 3/17-18,
Bozeman/Pray, MT)
My roles/responsibilities
Research Planning (food use program):
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plan/conduct annual FUW & NRPM
trial/study budgeting; establish field/lab program
database/website management & oversight
partnership meetings with registrants
HQ Management Team:
• supervise HQ staff
• oversight of GLP aspects of residue work
Project-wide HQ Liaison/Training:
• between HQ and regions, and between regions
• member (& past chair) of Training Comm.
Current IR-4 Core Objectives
Food Use Program:
• mostly GLP residue trials, limited efficacy & crop
safety trials (80% of funding)
• crop grouping enhancements
• international activities on behalf of specialty crops
• adds $7.7 billion to U.S. GDP
Ornamental Horticulture Program:
• efficacy and crop safety trials (10% of funding)
• adds $1.4 billion to U.S. GDP
Biopesticide and Organic Support Program:
• regulatory support; efficacy grants programs (10%
of funding)
New Tolerances Achieved by IR-4
1110
1014 991
999
793
647
567
281
212
564
538
Crop Group Revision Successes
Expanded Berries & Small Fruit from 8 to 45 commodities
Expanded Bulb Vegetable from 7 to 26 commodities
Established Edible Fungi containing 20 commodities
Pending Crop Group Revisions
Will be codified soon
 Oilseed group 20
 Citrus Fruit group 10
 Fruiting Vegetables group 8
Under EPA Review
 Pome Fruit group 11
 Stone Fruit group 12
 Tree Nut group 14
In preparation (IR-4 & ICGCC)
 Herbs and Spices group 19
 Tropical/subtropical edible peel group
 Tropical/subtropical inedible peel group
IR-4 International Activities
Canadian partnership
- joint residue studies, joint reviews
- Canada as Study Director/Sponsor
Global leadership
- Global Minor Use Summit (2007 & 2010)
- global residue study (25+ trials/20+ countries)
- harmonization of crop groups and MRLs
- involved in multi-national submissions and global
registrations
IR-4 Strategic Plan: 2009-2013
- Dec. 9-10, 2008, Strategic Planning Conference
in Washington, D.C.; 110+ attended
- Strategic Plan drafted and reviewed by
CLC and PMC Feb. 24-26
- revised draft distributed by email March 5,
and posted on IR-4 website, for broader
review by specialty crop stakeholders
- final plan is to be completed in April for the
May 19-20 USDA peer review of IR-4
Proposed 2009-2013 Objectives
Sustain/enhance Food, Ornamental Horticulture &
Biopesticide and Organic Support programs
Comparative product performance testing (Food program)
Harmonize MRLs, remove trade irritants (Food program)
Invasive species management (Food/Ornamentals programs)
Registration assistance for products for organic
markets (Biopesticide and Organic Support program)
Regulatory support for USDA/ARS & Dept. of Defense
public health pesticide development (HQ only)
Food Use Workshop 2009
September 15-16
Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center
 Sept. 14: 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Dessert Reception/Mixer
 Sept. 15: 8:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Welcome/“State of IR-4”
Entomology discussions/prioritization
Begin Weed Science discussions/prioritization
 Sept. 15: 5:30-7:30 pm reception
 Sept. 16: 8:00 – 5:15 p.m.
Complete Weed Science
Pathology discussions/prioritization
 Sept. 18 – FUW prioritization results will be posted on the IR-4 website
Prep for Food Use Workshop 2009
Website Project Nominations - August 8-30
HQ deadline for receipt of new PCRs to be
considered at Sept. workshop August 28
 MAJOR CHANGE FOR 2009
FUW PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE THE TASK OF
SELECTING 55 “A” PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR
2010 RESEARCH (vs 39 in ‘08)
Thanks to SLRs and CLC!
Serve as links between IR-4 and those who research
and grow specialty crops
Serve to communicate: 1) the mission of IR-4 to the
agricultural community, and 2) the pest management
needs of growers to IR-4
Provide guidance and advice about how the IR-4 Project
can best serve the needs of producers of specialty crops
Support federal funding initiatives for IR-4 (CLC)
Commodity Liaison Committee
Dr. Michael Aerts, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Assoc.
Mr. Mark Arney, Nat'l Watermelon Promotion Board
Mr. Kirk Baumann, Ginseng Board of Wisconsin
Dr. Lori Berger, California Specialty Crops Council **
Dr. Michael Bledsoe, Village Farms, L.P.
Dr. A. Richard Bonanno, Bonanno Farm Trust
Mr. Bruce Buurma, Buurma Farms Inc.
Mr. James Cranney, CA Citrus Quality Council **
Dr. Thomas G. Davenport, National Grape Cooperative
Dr. Brian R. Flood, Del Monte USA
Mrs. Ann E. George, Washington Hop Commission **
Mr. Hank Giclas, Western Growers Association **
Mr. John Keeling, National Potato Council
Mr. Phil Korson, Cherry Marketing Institute
Mr. Rocky Lundy, Mint Industry Research Council **
Mr. Reed Olszack, Tropical Fruit Growers of S. Florida ,Inc.
Ms. Laura Phelps, American Mushroom Institute
Mr. Ray Prewett, Texas Vegetable Association
Mr. Ray Ratto, Ratto Brothers, Modesto, CA **
Ms. Lin Schmale, Society of American Florists
Mr. Todd Scholz, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council **
Dr. Alan Schreiber, Agriculture Development Group, Inc. **
Dr. Marc Teffeau, American Nursery and Landscape Assoc.
Mr. Dave Trinka, MBG Marketing
** 8 of 24 in Western Region
Thanks to State Agr. Exp. Stations!
- Provide direct funding to IR-4 via
Regional Research funds (~$500.000/yr)
- Host many of the facilities (field sites/
laboratories/offices)
- Significant amount of in-kind support
- Some provide additional direct funding for
IR-4 research activities
- Support IR-4 on The Hill
Thank
You!
Van Starner:
starner@aesop.rutgers.edu
(732) 932-9575 ext 4621