Location: Application Technology Research
2020 Annual Report
Objectives
Obtain performance data and/or residue samples or analyze crop samples to support
the registration of minor-use pesticides for food, ornamental and specialty crops.
Approach
Minor-use pesticides alone or in combination with cultural and mechanical methods
will be evaluated under field, orchard, nursery and greenhouse conditions through
determination of pest control by species, crop injury and crop yield. Plant samples will be collected for determination of pesticide residues according to protocols and good laboratory practices specified by the National IR-4 Headquarters.
Progress Report
This is the final report for this project (ARS Project No. 0500-00007-107-00D) which terminated 16 July 2020. The new project title is Minor Use Pesticide – Food/Ornamentals (0500-00007-119). The IR-4 program aids growers by facilitating registrations of pesticides and biopesticides on specialty crops including nut, fruits, ornamentals, vegetables, and herbs.
In FY20, ARS researchers in Wooster, Ohio, conducted 20 vegetable, fruit, and nut (sunflower) studies using Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) for the IR-4 Ornamental Project. Results of these field trials will be used for specialty crop use label registration expansion under the IR-4 program. Since the ARS research program is co-located at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster, Ohio, trials were held at the Wooster Campus in fields and greenhouses, Snyder Farm; OARDC Muck Crops Agricultural Research Station in Huron County and at the OARDC North Central Agricultural Research Station in Sandusky County. The impacts of the IR-4 trials were to support hundreds of registrations for specialty crops that pesticide companies would not otherwise support. Experimental results were conveyed to growers at field days, trade fairs like the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Annual Meeting, American Horticulture Association’s Cultivate Meetings and at numerous Ohio State University’s Extension meetings.
This project is at its 5-year limit and expired July 16, 2020. During the lifetime of this project the ARS IR-4 Project at the OARDC conducted research on food-use and ornamental plants during 2016 to 2020. The ARS conducted 78 residue studies on vegetable crops at the OARDC Wooster, OARDC Muck Crops Branch, Celeryville, or OARDC Northern Vegetable Branch,Fremont, Ohio. Studies were conducted using GLP as specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the IR-4 Headquarters, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Residue samples were collected and sent to predetermined laboratories as specified by U.S. EPA. IR-4 Quality Assurance inspections were passed.
The Wooster, Ohio, ARS ornamentals program conducted 50 studies on greenhouse and nursery crops for plant safety of pesticides and product efficacy at the Secrest Arboretum. Data was sent to IR-4 headquarters. The impacts of the IR-4 trials were to support hundreds of registrations. Experimental results were conveyed to growers at field days, trade fairs like the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association Annual Meeting, American Horticulture Association’s Cultivate Meetings and at numerous Ohio State University’s Extension meetings.
The IR-4 project will help fulfill the USDA Secretary’s Goals for Food Safety, Children’s Nutrition and Global Food Security with more judicious and reduced pesticide use.
Accomplishments
