University of Idaho Pest Management Center

The purpose of IR-4 is to work with farmers, agriculture scientists and extension personnel to carry out research and petition the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to obtain tolerances for specific pesticide uses needed by minor crop producers. The program has grown over the years and now includes the clearance of biological pest control agents such as microbials (bacteria and viruses) and biochemicals (pheromones and growth regulators) that can be an important part of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs on minor crops.

What does IR-4 do?

IR-4 is a federal agriculture program that carries out the research needed for the registration or "clearance" of pest control materials on minor crops. IR-4 prepares and submits petitions to the EPA requesting tolerances or exemptions for pest control products on minor crops. Cooperating scientists, consisting mainly of state and federal agricultural researchers, state extension personnel and commodity grower groups, carry out field trials to develop crop safety data and to collect residue samples. These samples are analyzed in IR-4 regional laboratories located at state agricultural experiment stations and federal analytical laboratories.
The program is closely coordinated from a Headquarters located at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

What makes IR-4 work?

IR-4's success is due to an alliance of state and federal agricultural scientists working cooperatively with private industry in response to needs expressed by growers. IR-4 works for the thousands of farmers who produce "minor" food crops that we consume daily and the nurserymen who grow the "ornamental" crops which enrich our lives. During its 30 year history, IR-4 has developed data to support over 5000 food uses and 7000 ornamental registrations needed by producers of minor crops. There have been over 100 Biopesticide clearances, to date.

What is a "need"?

A large number of agricultural pest control products are being withdrawn from the market because of the congressionally-mandated Food Quality Protection Act and the re-registration process. New products are being introduced into the market, many of which are safer to humans and the environment than older pesticides. The purpose of the IR-4 Project is to insure that producers of minor crops have an adequate "arsenal" of pest control products (both traditional pesticides and biopesticides such as microbials and naturally occurring biochemicals such as pheromones) in order to competitively produce safe and wholesome agricultural products.

Who can IR-4 help?

Practically anyone! IR-4 is a "grass roots" organization in which pest management needs can be initiated by individual growers, grower groups, nurserymen, agricultural scientists and extension personnel. There is a network of state and federal liaison representatives throughout the United States, available to help with your minor use needs.

The IR-4 network also includes regional field and laboratory research centers staffed with skilled scientists who carry out the testing necessary to provide support data for clearance petitions. The cost to carry out the field testing, laboratory analyses and preparation of regulatory documents are borne mainly by the USDA, and the state land grant institutions. Funds to support IR-4 research programs also may be provided by individuals and organizations, if they choose to do so.

What do I do to get started?

You need to make your pesticide clearance needs known to IR-4. Once a project is selected for research, IR-4 will conduct all necessary research, and prepare the tolerance petition for review and approval by EPA. The entire process generally takes four to five years to complete.

The first step in the process is to contact Idaho's state liaison representative, Ronda Hirnyck, rhirnyck@uidaho.edu. The liaison representative will provide you with a Pesticide Clearance Request (PCR) form, which asks for information such as the crop, pests and pesticide or biopesticide that is needed. Providing as much information as possible will save time and help to move the request through the review process. Return the PCR form, including your name, address and telephone number to either Idaho's liaison representative or the regional IR-4 office, Ms. Rebecca Sisco, rsisco@ucdavis.edu.

Pesticide Clearance Requests are reviewed by the Regional Coordinator and forwarded, together with supporting data, to IR-4 Headquarters. Since the scope of IR-4 is limited to field testing (effectiveness against the pest and crop safety) plus residue analyses, IR-4 checks to insure that all the necessary core data requirements, such as chemistry, toxicology and environmental fate, have been completed by an agrichemical registrant and accepted by EPA.

Assuming this has been done, the next screening action is a letter to the product registrant outlining the nature of the proposed use together with available supporting data. In this letter, IR-4 acknowledges support for the clearance request and offers to conduct the research necessary to clear the use provided the registrant will properly label the use. IR-4 does not proceed with research until the registrant confirms approval in writing.

The final screening is a review by EPA to determine whether significant data gaps may create delays in reviewing and approving IR-4 petitions for tolerance or exemptions. This review is an important and necessary step in the review process since it allows IR-4 to focus resources on projects with the greatest likelihood of successful completion.

Revised: August 27, 2008

Comments on website:
nbell@uidaho.edu