Location: Southeast Watershed Research
2021 Annual Report
Objectives
Determine magnitude of the residues of pesticides in minor crops and conduct other residue studies as appropriate in support of registration petitions submitted to EPA by IR-4. Work primarily with reduced-risk compounds to replace uses that continue to be lost due to the tolerance reassessment mandated by the Food Quality Protection bAct (FQPA) of 1996.
Approach
All work will be in compliance with 40 CFR Part 160, "Good Laboratory Practice
Standards." Analytical methodology, Standard Operating Procedures, and GLP
documentation will be updated for the project as needed. Priorities and assignments
of crop/pesticide combinations for analysis are determined at an annual meeting.
Crop samples will be obtained from IR-4 Field Projects and analyzed by methods
approved by EPA. Laboratory residue data and all required documentation will be
reported to IR-4 Headquarters.
Progress Report
At the request of growers, pesticide residue research was conducted by ARS scientists at Tifton, Georgia, on pesticide/crop combinations (projects) to address specific insect, weed, and plant disease problems on minor crops. The field trials were conducted throughout the United States by ARS and NIFA cooperators. Samples were shipped to the Tifton, Georgia IR-4 Project (previously named Interregional Research Project #4) Laboratory located at the Southeast Watershed Research Unit, Tifton, Georgia. During FY2021, ARS scientists conducted residue analyses for 2 projects. The project for the herbicide halosulfuron-methyl on stevia covers 4 trials with 1 analyte which is currently in progress. The project was delayed in 2018 due to staffing shortages. It was restarted in FY2021 and remains in development as stevia has proven to be a problematic compound. The on-going 4-year storage study project for the fungicide ipconazole on onion which covers 4 analytes, analyzed every six months, is on track for completion in April FY2022. For the projects that were contracted out to other laboratories for completion of residue analysis in FY2019, the lab completed writing five Contributing Scientist Reports for a total of ten completed reports since samples were shipped. One Analytical Summary Report was also completed for the magnitude of the residue of difenoconazole on mango. These reports were considered late as they were left unfinished by the former Laboratory Research Director. The reports were competed and delivered in a timely manner once notice was given by IR-4 Headquarters in late FY2020. Residue work continued or was initiated on another 4 projects covering 20 trials. EPA will establish pesticide tolerances based on this data so the growers of these crops will have the pest control tools they requested.
Accomplishments
