An urgent call for IR-4 Program protection

A. Richard Bonanno, chair of the IR-4 Program’s Commodity Liaison Committee, has put out a call to action for all growers of specialty crops to urge continued funding of Minor Crop Pest Management under the National Instiute of Food and Agriculture’s Research and Education Activities. Bonnano’s message follows, along with a link to more details on why a loss of this funding would be devastating for the fruit and vegetable industry.

"Consolidation Threatens Future of IR-4”

"Growers of fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, ornamentals, and other specialty crops rely on the services of a government-funded organization called the IR-4 Project to facilitate the registrations of crop protection chemicals and biopesticides. It is highly likely that the IR-4 Project helped secure the EPA registrations for crop protection chemicals and biopesticides used in your operations. Organic specialty crop growers have also benefited through the assistance of IR-4 in the registration of fundamental organic products including DiPel Biological Insecticide, Entrust Naturalyte Insect Control, and Regalia. In total, IR-4 has facilitated more than 25,000 crop protection materials over the last 49 years. A recent study by Michigan State University Center for Economic Analysis found that IR-4 contributes $7.2 billion annually to the gross domestic product and supports 104,650 jobs.

Even though this is a proven program with tangible results, the future of IR-4 is threatened. USDA-NIFA has proposed that the majority of funds it provides the IR-4 Project will be moved into a new Crop Protection program that focuses efforts on IPM research, outreach, and teaching. The IR-4 mission, facilitating registration of crop protection chemicals and biopesticides for food and non-food crops, is not part of the new program. USDA has proposed the plan to save money and better respond to societal needs. The Crop Protection program as proposed, does neither; in fact, if USDA-NIFA decides to change directions and maintain the IR-4 mission, it will add more than 30% to the current IR-4 costs in administrative overhead.

Now is the time to rally in support of the IR-4 Project, a program that delivers real value to specialty crop growers. Please contact your Congressional representatives to send a Program Letter to the House of Representatives- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies asking them to maintain at least $12 million for Minor Crop Pest Management (IR-4) under NIFA Research and Education Activities in the FY 2013 Appropriation Bill for Agriculture. The hard deadline for this action is close of business on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. It is important that you encourage your Congressional representative to make dedicated funding for IR-4 one of their highest priorities.