Food Crop Success Stories & News

Learn how IR-4 supports cranberry growers in this story by Robin Siktberg.

Learn about IR-4’s electronic Field Data Book rollout; by Raven E. Baez.

Save the date for the 2025 Food Use Workshop: September 9-11 in Denver, CO.

Saflufenacil was registered for use on mint, nuts and various fruits.

Join us February 20 for the 2025 Industry Technology Session.

Learn about IR-4’s role in supporting Hawaiian cacao growers.

Ethaboxam was registered for use on celery.

Indoxacarb was registered for use on a variety of crops, including strawberry, coffee bean, and brassicas.

Cyantraniliprole was registered for use on a wide range of crops, including herbs, peas and papaya.

Cyflumetofen was registered for use on small fruits, cucurbits and peppers.

Access to methoxyfenozide expands insecticide toolbox for future infestations in rice crops.

Cyclaniliprole was registered for use on greenhouse lettuce and cucumber.

Triclopyr was registered for use on sugarcane.

The Food Use Workshop took place September 10-12, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI. View the prioritization lists here.

Presentations are now posted from the 2024 Industry Technology Session.

Explore some of IR-4’s work on this glyphosate alternative for weed control.

Dodine was registered for use on olives, nuts and some fruits.

Presentations have been posted from the 2024 Research Symposium.

Flonicamid was registered for use on blueberries, pulses and more.

Spinetoram was registered for use on a variety of vegetables and spices.

Spinosad was registered for use on a variety of vegetables (field and greenhouse) and spices.

Fluxapyroxad + Pyraclostrobin were registered for use on stevia and coffee.

In 2022, EPA approved the use of mandestrobin on lettuce for protection against lettuce drop.

Acifluorfen was registered for use on low-growing berries and edamame.

Glufosinate was registered for use on tropical fruits, as well as grass grown for seed in the Pacific Northwest.

Trifloxystrobin was registered for use on brassicas, citrus fruits, spices and many more.

Fomesafen was registered for use on bulb vegetables, cucurbits and more.

Ethalfluralin has been approved by EPA for use on hemp seed; this is the first conventional pest management option for hemp growers.

Ethalfluralin was registered for use on hemp, stevia and more.

Fluazifop-p-butyl was registered for use on berries, brassicas and more.

Trinexapac-ethyl was registered for use on clover grown for seed.

Mandestrobin was registered for use on tuberous and corm vegetables, except potato (subgroup 1D).

Isofetamid is now an option for rusty root disease management on ginseng. Learn about IR-4’s work securing this new use through EPA.

Penthiopyrad was registered for use on banana.

Pydiflumetofen was registered for us on the caneberry subgroup, greenhouse pepper, and greenhouse lettuce.

Fluopyram was registered for use on a wide range of herbs, spices, leafy greens, peas and pulses.

The 2023 EHC Priority Setting Workshop was held October 10-12 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The 2023 Food Use Workshop was held September 12-14 in Raleigh, NC.

The 2023 Industry Technology Session took place virtually on Thursday, July 20.

Save these dates and stay tuned for more details!

Rimsulfuron was registered for use on pomegranate, as well as on crops from subgroup 23A (tropical and subtropical, small fruit, edible peel).

EPA has approved new tolerances for Pyriofenone on greenhouse cucumbers and fruiting vegetables.

EPA has approved a new tolerance for sulfur dioxide on blueberries. Read more here.

The IR-4 Project Research Symposium took place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

The 2023 NEC was held Feb. 7-9 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Presentations now available!

Cyclaniliprole was registered for use on artichoke, pepper/eggplant, sunflower, and tomato subgroups.

Sulfur dioxide was registered for use on blueberry.

Methoxyfenozide was registered for use on leafy vegetables, brassicas, tropical fruits, and more.

The EPA recently released the sixth Final Rule in a series of updates to pesticide crop groupings. The revised crop group table is now available here.

Glufosinate was registered for use on avocado, bushberry, cottonseed, and more.

Novaluron was registered for use on Bean and Legume Vegetable Subgroups 6-22A-F, and Forage Peas.

EPA has released the sixth Final Rule in a series of updates to pesticide crop groups. This update includes new commodities and additional subgroups in Legumes and Cereal Grains.

Projects nominated as “A” priorities have been posted for viewing in advance of the 2022 Food Use Workshop. Only projects nominated as “A” priorities will be considered for funding at the annual priority setting event.

Tribenuron-methyl was registered for use on rice, sorghum, field corn, barley, wheat, cottonseed, rapeseed, dried shelled pea, dried shelled bean (except soybean).

Pyriofenone was registered for use on Pepper/eggplant and tomato subgroups.

Isofetamid was registered for use on ginseng, bean and pea subgroups.

The project nomination period for the 2022 Food Use Workshop opened on Wednesday, August 17. Requests that were submitted for residue studies, product performance or integrated solutions research in 2023 must be nominated in order to be considered at the 2022 workshop. The nomination period will end on Tuesday, September 6, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

The IR-4 Project is known within the specialty crop agriculture community to be a highly productive government funded research project that has delivered many registrations of necessary crop protection products to growers.

Thanks to international partnerships and IR-4 research, ginseng and lowbush blueberry growers have a new tool to improve crop health and yields.

Mandestrobin was registered for use on lettuce head and lettuce leaf.

Registration is open for the 2022 Food Use Workshop taking place September 13-15 in Bloomington, MN

Two-spotted spider mites are attacking hops. Hop growers now have a new tool to fight back thanks to IR-4 research.

Buprofezin was registered for use on crops within bushberry subgroup 13-07B.

IR-4 is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 SOAR Award. This award honors partners who exemplify Service, Outreach, Altruism, and Research, while supporting growers and the mission of the IR-4 Project.

Experts gathered on April 18, 2022, to provide an overview of the hop industry, pest management issues, and international demand for American-grown hops.

The 2021 IR-4 Project Annual Report and Year-End Summary are now available.

Dates announced for the 2022 Industry Technology Session and Food Use Workshop. More information on each event will be available later this year.

The inaugural IR-4 Project Research Symposium took place on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Recorded presentations on entomology, plant pathology, and weed science IS and product performance projects are now available to be viewed.

The 2022 Industry Technology Session took place on July 21. Presentations are available!

The 2022 Food Use Workshop took place September 13 – 15 in Bloomington, MN. Priorities for residue, product performance, and integrated solutions research for 2023 were identified during this hybrid virtual and in-person workshop.

Federal Register Date: January 26, 2022 Active Ingredient: Ethaboxam Trade Name: Elumin Fungicide Crops/Crop Groups:Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4-16B Vegetable, Brassica, head and stem, group 5-16 Food Crop PR#s: 11877, 10680, 11870 Disclaimer: The trade names listed here are provided as a means to identify the chemical for which a tolerance has been established. A […]

Treevix by BASF has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in fig orchards to control broadleaf weeds.

Historically growers have not had fungicides available for use on pomegranates. Labels for use of Merivon on pomegranates are expected to be approved in 2022 in California and Florida.

Federal Register Date: December 15, 2021 Active Ingredient: MCPA Trade Name: MCPA-4 Amine Crops/Crop Groups: Clover Food Crop PR#s: 11994 Disclaimer: The trade names listed here are provided as a means to identify the chemical for which a tolerance has been established. A trade name listed here may not be the name of the product […]

For the first time, IR-4 has received a four-year grant for its operations, rather than a traditional one year grant. NC State University will award funding each year to IR-4’s regional host universities through subawards built into the grant. Indirect costs have been waived for the first year.

Experts from Hawaii and Puerto Rico provide a high level overview of the coffee crop, including pest management issues, economic value of domestically-produced coffee, and more.

The analytical laboratory located at Michigan State University will close effective July 31, 2022. The closure will have no impact on current or future IR-4 research or studies.

The 2021 Environmental Horticulture Priority Setting Workshop was held September 28 – 30. National and regional research priorities were identified for 2022 and 2023 during this virtual event.

International approval of mandipropamid MRLs on citrus is currently being evaluated by Codex.

The 2021 Food Use Workshop was held September 13 – 16. Research priorities for food residue studies, efficacy and crop safety research, and integrated solutions projects for 2022 were identified during this virtual workshop.

Projects nominated as “A” priorities have been posted for viewing in advance of the 2021 Food Use Workshop. Only projects nominated as “A” priorities will be considered for funding at the annual priority setting event.

Federal Register Date: August 4, 2021 Active Ingredient: Zeta-cypermethrin Trade Name(s): Mustang Insecticide, Mustang Maxx Crops/Crop Groups: Basil, fresh leaves; Basil, dried leaves; Onion, bulb, subgroup 3.07A; Onion, green, subgroup 3-07B; Leafy greens subgroup 4-16A; Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B; Brassica, leafy greens, subgroup 4-16B; Vegetable, brassica, head and stem, group 5-16; Vegetable, fruiting, group […]

Nominations for 2022 research projects will be accepted from August 18 through September 1. Research projects that were submitted must be nominated in order to be considered at the workshop.

Federal Register Date: July 13, 2021 Active Ingredient: Fluxapyroxad Trade Name(s): Merivon Crops/Crop Groups: Cottonseed, subgroup 20C Fruit, pome, group 11-10 Pomegranate Vegetable, fruiting, group 8-10 Food Crop PR#s: 12942, 12941, 11754, 12940 Disclaimer: The trade names listed here are provided as a means to identify the chemical for which a tolerance has been established. […]

Registration is now open for the 2021 Food Use Workshop! Research priorities for food residue studies, efficacy and crop safety research, as well as integrated solutions projects for 2022 will be identified during this four-day virtual workshop.

Producers of greenhouse-grown vegetables and herbs have a new tool in the fight against thrips, mites and other insects thanks to efforts of the IR-4 Project.

Federal Register Date: April 7, 2021 Active Ingredient: MCPA Trade Name(s): Curtail M Herbicide Crops/Crop Groups: Tea, Intermediate wheatgrass Food Crop PR#s: 12377, 12478 Disclaimer: The trade names listed here are provided as a means to identify the chemical for which a tolerance has been established. A trade name listed here may not be the […]

Federal Register Date: April 7, 2021 Active Ingredient: Spinosad Trade Name(s): Entrust SC Naturalyte Insect Control Crops/Crop Groups: Low growing berry except strawberry subgroup 13-07H, Celtuce, Dragon fruit, Florence fennel, Kohlrabi, Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B, Head and stem Brassica vegetable group 5-16, Leafy vegetable group 4-16 Food Crop PR#s: 11514, 12740, 12741, 12742, 12743, […]

Federal Register Date: April 7, 2021 Active Ingredient: Spinetoram Trade Name(s): Delegate, Radiant Crops/Crop Groups: Low growing berry except strawberry subgroup 13-07H, Celtuce, Dragon fruit, Florence fennel, Kohlrabi, Leaf petiole vegetable subgroup 22B, Head and stem Brassica vegetable group 5-16, Leafy vegetable group 4-16 Food Crop PR#s: 11514, 12732, 12733, 12734, 12735, 12736, 12737, 12738, […]

Since its first known discovery in Kenya in the mid-nineteenth century, coffee rust has been spreading around the world. Thanks to the IR-4 Project, coffee growers in Hawai’i have a new tool in the battle against this invasive pest.

Federal Register Date: March 8, 2021 Active Ingredient: Quizalofop Trade Name(s): Assure Crops/Crop Groups: Brassica carinata, Cottonseed subgroup 20C, Pome fruit group 11-10, Small vine climbing fruit except fuzzy kiwifruit subgroup 13-07F, Stone fruit group 12-12, Pennycress seed, Sunflower subgroup 20B Food Crop PR#s: 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10036, 12335, 12630, 12685, 12686 Disclaimer: […]

Federal Register Date: February 17, 2021 Active Ingredient: Clopyralid Trade Name(s): Curtail, Stinger Crops/Crop Groups: Caneberry subgroup 13-07A, Bulb onion subgroup 3-07A, Wheatgrass Food Crop PR#s: 05147, 11600, 12748 Disclaimer: The trade names listed here are provided as a means to identify the chemical for which a tolerance has been established. A trade name listed […]

Federal Register Date: February 9, 2021 Active Ingredient: Benzovindiflupyr Trade Name(s): Aprovia, Elatus Crops/Crop Groups: Lowbush blueberry, Ginseng Food Crop PR#s: 11760, 12636 Disclaimer: The trade names listed here are provided as a means to identify the chemical for which a tolerance has been established. A trade name listed here may not be the name […]

The IR-4 Project is now accepting nominations for the 2021 SOAR Award. This award honors external partners who exemplify the areas of Service, Outreach, Altruism and Research, while supporting specialty crop growers and the mission of the IR-4 Project. If you know someone who demonstrates excellence in these areas, we encourage you to nominate them for this award. Nominees […]

The 2021 Industry Technology Session was held on Tuesday, July 20. Video recordings and downloadable pdfs of presentations can be viewed on this page.

Federal Register Date: December 3, 2020 Active Ingredient: 2,4-D

Federal Register Date: December 3, 2020 Active Ingredient: Sethoxydim

IR-4 Project trial studies show cyflumetofen is an effective spider mite control on a variety of specialty crops. Spider mites can be a major pest on specialty crops including tomatoes, cucurbits, and strawberries. They can be a particularly difficult pest to control in southern states that produce food crops year-round. “Mites on strawberries are especially […]

The Minor Use Foundation has announced the top ten global priority crop protection needs to focus funding and research on during 2021 and 2022. The top priorities were narrowed down following a process that started earlier this year with a list of more than 4,000 new crop protection needs from 56 countries. In September, the […]

U.S. grape growers gain the use of permethrin insecticide through IR-4-sponsored residual trials. The United States is the world’s third largest producer of grapes behind China and Italy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that utilized grape production totaled 6.8 million tons in 2019. Grapes were produced on an estimated 935,000 acres with an average […]

Trying to control the diamondback moth on brassica crops can be a major challenge, especially in those areas where crops are produced year-round. Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is considered to be the most damaging pest of brassica crops worldwide. Growers of brassica crops, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussel sprouts and collards, are very […]

Federal Register Date: October 22, 2020 Active Ingredient: Clofentezine

Federal Register Date: October 8, 2020 Active Ingredient: Afidopyropen

In the ongoing fight against Phytophthora spp., citrus growers have a new integrated pest management option. Fluopicolide is a welcome tool for growers that struggle to keep groves free of the bacterial and fungal pathogens that result in root damage, yield reductions and potential crop loss. This description is apt for many. In Florida alone, […]

Federal Register Date: September 28, 2020 Active Ingredient: Pseudomonas fluorescens strain ACK55

Federal Register Date: September 25, 2020 Active Ingredient: Saflufenacil

With a limited number of miticides registered for use on peanuts, the best method to control spider mites is to minimize infestations. In these uncertain times, people look to comfort foods for something that tastes good and makes them feel good. One of these foods is peanut butter, which the HuffPost listed as one of […]

Dear Friends, We are pleased to share with you the results of the 2020 IR-4 Priority Setting Workshop. The workshop was held in a virtual format from Monday, September 14 to Thursday, September 17. During the four-day workshop, the 200-plus participants established IR-4’s research priorities for residue studies (40), product performance research (9) and integrated […]

Dear Friends, It has been several months since we last shared an update of the transition of IR-4 Headquarters from Rutgers to NC State. Activities and actions continue to happen. To start, there have been several retirements in the Rutgers office including three Management Team Members. Tammy (White) Barkalow– Since January 1993, IR-4’s national Quality […]

Dear Friends, The on-line project nomination process to assist IR-4 and its specialty crop stakeholders prioritize the 2021 IR-4 research plan under the Food Use Program (residue studies and product performance research) and Integrated Solutions (residue mitigation, organic, PPWS or resistance research) is available Aug 21 thru Sept 3, 2020. Only projects given at least […]

Federal Register Date: August 21, 2020 Active Ingredient: Flupyradifurone

Registration of acequinocyl gives blueberry growers a fast-acting miticide with a different mode of action making it a good rotation tool for resistance management. The United States is the world’s largest commercial producer of blueberries. Blueberries are commercially produced in 38 states with 10 states accounting for more than 98 percent of the U.S. production. […]

Federal Register Date: August 13, 2020 Active Ingredient: Novaluron

Federal Register Date: July 28, 2020 Active Ingredient: Permethrin

The registration of the insecticide acetamiprid through IR-4 Project adds an important integrated management tool for control of papaya mealybug. Even though the United States imports most of its fresh papaya from Mexico, the tropical fruit is grown domestically in Hawaii, Florida, Texas, California and Puerto Rico. Hawaii is the largest producer with over 10 […]

Dear Friends, IR-4 is getting closer to our first ever Virtual Workshop, September 14-17, 2020 with the Registrant Product Presentations on July 29, 2020. The planned schedule is as follows: Times Wednesday 7/29/2020 Monday 9/14/2020 Tuesday 9/15/2020 Wednesday 9/16/2020 Thursday 9/17/2020 11 am – 4 pm ET 8 am – 1 pm PT Registrant Product […]

Federal Register Date: July 6, 2020 Active Ingredient: Oxathiapiprolin

Federal Register Date: July 6, 2020 Active Ingredient: S-Metolachlor

Federal Register Date: July 1, 2020 Active Ingredient: Cyflumetofen

Last month, we talked about the devastating impact of powdery mildew on hops, and the registration of flutianil to control it. We don’t typically address the same crop two months in a row, but since this is the crop responsible for great beer, we figured another round would be welcome. So this month, we’ll turn […]

Coffee growers work with IR-4 Project researchers and university cooperative extension agents to develop effective integrated control programs to limit damage from coffee berry borer. Only the European Union imports more coffee beans than the United States. About 90 percent of the coffee consumed in the United States is imported. According to USDA, most of […]

This story originally appeared as “How a Little-Known Research Organization Keeps Watermelon on Your Picnic Menu”. WESTMINSTER, Colorado – June 25, 2020 – Sweet, juicy watermelon can be the perfect choice for a 4th of July picnic on a warm summer day. But scientists with the Weed Science Society of America say there is one […]

Federal Register Date: June 18, 2020 Active Ingredient: Fenpyroximate

Caneberry growers have a new tool for controlling root weevils with the supplemental label approval of cyantraniliprole, sold as Exirel® by FMC.  There are several species that affect blackberries, raspberries and other caneberries, belonging to the genus Otiorhynchus or Sciopithes. All are a major headache for caneberry growers. The larvae of the root weevil causes […]

It’s a great time to be alive. That is, if your criteria is beer. Never before have so many devoted their talents to brewing wildly unique flavors of beer. And whether you’re an IPA-loving hop head, a sipper of less-bitter stouts—or simply a classic pilsner or lager lover, hops are an essential part of your […]

Federal Register Date: May 28, 2020 Active Ingredient: Flonicamid

Researchers are conducting trials through IR-4 Project to determine the weed control effectiveness of clomazone as a post-transplant application. Clomazone has become an important weed control tool for specialty crop growers. This pre-emergent herbicide provides effective control of many annual grasses and common broadleaf weeds. Through the IR-4 Project, researchers are now studying whether this […]

Federal Register Date: May 15, 2020 Active Ingredient: Isoxaben

Federal Register Date: May 15, 2020 Active Ingredient: Acequinocyl

In 2018, Wisconsin growers produced 13.4 million tons of silage corn and 1.93 million tons of alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures. Interseeding alfalfa with silage corn has many advantages for growers and is beneficial for the environment and livestock, but it can be challenging due to reduced light under the corn canopy. Prohexadione calcium can be […]

Cilantro and dill growers and researchers work together to expand registration of clomazone through IR-4 Project. Growing multiple vegetable crops can be a blessing and a curse. Ratto Bros. Inc. in Modesto, Calif., produces 38 different crops, primarily leafy greens and herbs. “We grow a broad spectrum of crops,” said Brandon Narron, ranch manager at […]

Few veggies herald the advent of summer like asparagus spears emerging from underground. Asparagus appreciation dates back millennia, and Millennial bloggers continue to drive its demand today. This is a perennial plant with perennial popularity. “There’s no other crop quite like asparagus,” summarizes Brenna Aegerter, Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor at the University of California. “Fields […]

Resistant varieties and additional fungicides can assist growers in protecting their basil crops from downy mildew infection. Whether basil is grown in controlled environment structures or outdoors, downy mildew can be a destructive disease of this crop. “For organic basil crops, downy mildew can be quite devastating and usually results in total crop loss that […]

Federal Register Date: March 18, 2020 Active Ingredient: Cyazofamid

Federal Register Date: March 9, 2020 Active Ingredient: Penoxsulam

Federal Register Date: February 14, 2020 Active Ingredient: Prohexadione calcium

Federal Register Date: February 14, 2020 Active Ingredient: Cyantraniliprole

Federal Register Date: February 14, 2020 Active Ingredient: Chlorfenapyr

Federal Register Date: February 14, 2020 Active Ingredient: Acetamiprid

IR-4 Project realized the importance of registering flonicamid for use on safflower to control lygus bugs to prevent damage to other major high value crops. When Beau Howard, a safflower grower and agronomist in California, submitted the project clearance request through IR-4 Project for flonicamid to control lygus bugs (Lygus hersperus) on safflower, he knew […]

It all started about 30 years ago. A sushi-loving woman in the Vancouver area wondered if wasabi could be grown locally. Fortunately, she asked the right person: Brian Oates, who is now president and chief science officer of Pacific Coast Wasabi (PCW). The answer? Yes. But not in the ways used in Japan, which are […]

Author – Robin Siktberg, Custom Content Editor, Meister Media Worldwide Hops growers will welcome the news that they have another option for control of broadleaf weeds and basal suckers. With the removal of paraquat from use in hops production due to residue detection above permitted levels, a new herbicide registered for use on hops is […]

Registration of the herbicide clomazone through the IR-4 Project offers asparagus growers another weed management tool. Even as the consumption of asparagus by US consumers has steadily increased, the amount of domestic production continues to decline. US per capita consumption of asparagus increased from 0.8 pounds in 1980 to nearly 1.6 pounds in 2017. According […]

IR-4 Project worked with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada to conduct studies on the herbicide pendimethalin to expand its label to include celery and other minor crops. Celery is a minor crop grown primarily in California and Michigan for fresh market and processed product sales. According to the Ag Marketing Resource Center, in 2017 California […]

Federal Register Date: January 16, 2020 Active Ingredient: Fenhexamid

Author – Katie Chriest From Scarborough Fairgoers to Belfast balladeers, herbs have earned the love of lyricists as well as culinary artists for years. Their good looks and great flavors inspire all sorts of creative expression, and they’ve even enjoyed a resurgence in products promising to promote health. No wonder, then, that they’re so widely […]

Federal Register Date: December 20, 2019 Active Ingredient: Flutianil

Chances are if you grow green onions or bulb onions you’ve had to deal with thrips some time during the production cycle. Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) can be a pest anywhere onions are grown. “They tend to be a bigger problem in hotter, drier climates,” said Tim Waters, professor and regional vegetable specialist at Washington […]

Federal Register Date: December 5, 2019 Active Ingredient: Fenpyroximate

Federal Register Date: December 5, 2019 Active Ingredient: Propamocarb

Federal Register Date: December 5, 2019 Active Ingredient: Etoxazole

Author – Robin Siktberg While the US isn’t a major producer of figs, ranking eighth in world production, it does produce an average of 47 tons per year. Most figs in the US are grown in Central California, where the climate matches the arid, Mediterranean-like conditions figs need to thrive. Since figs are not a […]

By now, the legend of young George Washington confessing that he’d chopped down a prized cherry tree is widely accepted as myth. Nonetheless, cherries remain a cherished part of our country’s heritage. From u-pick orchards to cherry festivals, these delightful red orbs are beloved symbols of summer. Despite this popularity, life isn’t always “just a […]

Federal Register Date: November 12, 2019 Active Ingredient: Tebuconazole

Florida and California avocado growers support the research conducted by the IR-4 Project to identify controls that can slow down the spread of the devastating laurel wilt disease. At this year’s World Avocado Congress, Dr. Timothy Spaan, who is research program director at the California Avocado Commission, reported that consumption of avocados among Americans has […]

Hello IR-4 Stakeholders, We have been informed by Bayer CropScience that as of December 1, 2019, Gowan has acquired their fenamidone business (the AI in Reason® 500 SC fungicide). The companies are collaborating to enable a smooth transition of the business. Gowan will continue to make Reason® 500 SC fungicide available to U.S. specialty crop […]

Author – Katie Chriest Whether steamed to succulent perfection or marinated in a delectable oil and herb blend, the globe artichoke adds a singular sensory experience to any meal. This bud, harvested before flowering, is related to the thistles ubiquitous the world over,

Federal Register Date: October 25, 2019 Active Ingredient: Pendimethalin

Author – Robin Siktberg The registration of a new broad-spectrum fungicide for blueberries and caneberries, such as raspberries and blackberries, is always good news for growers. Adding to the good news is the fact that this new fungicide has a zero-day preharvest interval (PHI).

You may have noticed some changes recently to the IR-4 website. We’re adding new elements including new types of posts to showcase impacts for food program activities and improving the location of content and menu items. Updated Home Page with our Mission and Recent News To make our news items more visible, we updated the […]

When the use of bentazon on pulse crops was threatened due to outdated residue data, U.S. growers turned to the IR-4 Project to generate new data to ensure they could continue applying the herbicide. Pulses are a group of crops that includes dry peas, chickpeas, lentils and dry beans. Pulses do not include crops that […]

Federal Register Date: October 10, 2019 Active Ingredient: Indaziflam

Author – Robin Siktberg For farmers growing rosemary, weed control is a challenge. Rosemary is not a particularly fast-growing crop, and it can be easily overtaken in its early stages by more vigorous weeds. Currently, there is only one herbicide – glyphosate – registered for rosemary. While glyphosate is usually

Federal Register Date: October 7, 2019 Active Ingredient: Cyromazine

Dear Friends, We are pleased to provide you updates and preliminary results from IR-4’s first Week of Workshops (WOW). The stakeholder research priority setting event occurred September 23-26, 2019 at the Delta Marriott in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Over 225 IR-4 stakeholders and team members participated. The first day included a keynote address from USDA-National Institute […]

The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association presented its Researcher of the Year Award to Dr. Richard Raid, professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade. The award is given to deserving individuals who have dedicated themselves and their work to […]

Author – Katie Chriest If you’ve sipped chicory coffee in New Orleans or savored Belgian endive in New York, you’ve encountered the versatile Cichorium intybus, or chicory. This herbaceous perennial, native to Europe and southwestern Asia, has been used in numerous ways for millennia. Today, chicory’s growing popularity

Author – Katie Chriest If you’ve enjoyed Coke Zero, Lily’s chocolate, or numerous other sugar-free treats available today, you’ve already savored the sweetness of stevia. From yogurt to energy bars to ketchup to even toothpaste, stevia is the nonnutritive sweetener making myriad products more palatable.

The United States is the third largest foreign orange exporter to China after South Africa and Egypt. California traditionally ships more fresh citrus to China than any other state. California Citrus Mutual reported that in 2017, the amount of California citrus exported to China totaled 143,058 metric tons. This included nearly 7.9 million cartons of […]

Federal Register Date: September 12, 2019 Active Ingredient: Pyraflufen-ethyl

Federal Register Date: September 9, 2019 Active Ingredient: Abamectin

Dear Friends, The on-line project nomination process to assist IR-4 and its specialty crop stakeholders prioritize the 2020 IR-4 research plan under the Food Use Program (residue studies and product performance research) and Integrated Solutions (residue mitigation, organic, PPWS or resistance research) is available Aug 29 thru Sept 11, 2019. The process is similar to prior […]

Federal Register Date: August 29, 2019 Active Ingredient: Buprofezin

Federal Register Date: August 27, 2019 Active Ingredient: Nitrapyrin

Federal Register Date: August 27, 2019 Active Ingredient: Emamectin benzoate

Federal Register Date: August 12, 2019 Active Ingredient: Pydiflumetofen

Federal Register Date: August 12, 2019 Active Ingredient: Propiconazole

Federal Register Date: July 24, 2019 Active Ingredient: Sulfoxaflor

Dear Friends, Following up on my message earlier this year, IR-4 is getting closer to our first ever Week of Workshops, September 23-26, 2019 at the Delta Hotel (Marriott) in Hunt Valley, Maryland (just north of the Beltway around Baltimore). Recall, IR-4 is combining its traditional Food Use Residue priority setting with Food Crop Integrated […]

The age-old question: “which came first: the chicken or the egg?” is a commonly disputed question. At the IR-4 Project, a similar question arises each year for the Food Crop Program: “which comes first, the IR-4 Project Clearance Request (PCR) or the residue / efficacy / crop safety study?” Below is a general guide for […]

Introduction: Unconditional registration of the first food crop uses for the active ingredient (AI) pyrifluquinazon was granted by the EPA on November 19, 2018.

  Phorid flies are a vector of green mold (Trichoderma aggressivum), a major disease problem in the production of mushrooms.

  For over 25 years, Keith Dorschner had been the lead Entomologist with IR-4. As Senior Research Scientist, Keith attended numerous domestic and

Authors – Kathryn Homa (IR-4 Headquarters), Dan Kunkel (IR-4 Headquarters), Mike Aerts (Director, Scientific & Regulator Affairs, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association) One plane ticket to Southwest Florida International Airport: $200…

Authors – Kathryn Homa, Roger Batts, Marylee Ross, and Stephen Flanagan There’s no project too big or too small – IR-4 will handle them all! There’s no doubt that IR-4 Field Research Directors (FRDs) work long, hard days to conduct difficult trials.

Author – Thomas Pike, IR-4 Assistant Coordinator The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that was introduced to Berks County, PA sometime around 2014. Since then, it has spread further within Pennsylvania and into surrounding states. Given the damage it can cause to fruit trees and grape vines, as well as its potential as a […]

Northeast region liaisons and researchers gathered at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union on the main campus of the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park. The objective of this meeting was to discuss our challenges and successes throughout the year as well as identify our priorities for the upcoming year. We were pleased to […]

Federal Register Date: June 6, 2019 Active Ingredient: Penthiopyrad

Federal Register Date: May 29, 2019 Active Ingredient: Clofentezine

Federal Register Date: May 24, 2019 Active Ingredient: Fluensulfone

Author – Stephen Flanagan, WSR Assistant RFC The Western Region IR-4 group had a lively strategy and planning meeting in Mt Vernon Washington with old hands present along with new state representatives from Nevada, Colorado and

Federal Register Date: April 8, 2019 Active Ingredient: Flonicamid

Federal Register Date: March 22, 2019 Active Ingredient: Mandipropamid

Federal Register Date: February 15, 2019 Active Ingredient: Trifluralin

Federal Register Date: March 11, 2019 Active Ingredient: S-Metolachlor

Federal Register Date: December 21, 2018 Active Ingredient: Tolfenpyrad

Federal Register Date: December 13, 2018 Active Ingredient: 6-Benzyladenine

Federal Register Date: December 21, 2018 Active Ingredient: Mefenoxam

Federal Register Date: December 6, 2018 Active Ingredient: Clomazone

Federal Register Date: November 13, 2018 Active Ingredient: Cyantraniliprole

Federal Register Date: May 1, 2019 Active Ingredient: Bentazon