Internal newsletter of the Northeastern Pest Management Center.
Issue 4, October 2001
Northeast
- NE PMC web pages
- Cranberry PMSP draft online
- Information Network Projects updates:
- IPM Commodity Working Groups
National
- GAO Report on IPM
- National IPM and National PMC combined meeting
- Long-term structure and funding
- National Pest Management Roadmap
- EPA/USDA Liaison
- Biopesticide Registration Workshop
- Update on the Farm Bill from CAST
- Southern Region PMC meeting
- USDA Report: Food and Agricultural Policy *(added here 10/4)
- NASS report on restricted use chemicals
We mentioned last month that the Pest Management Centers web pages will change soon to a slightly different look and to move away from use of 'frames'. For now you can take a look at the new approach at http://www.ipmcenters.org/grg/ I do not know when the new look will be instituted on the NE PMC page, but would not be surprised if it is within the coming month.
A new page on the NE PMC site provides contact information for the information network projects, state IPM programs, and the 4 regional pest management center. Find it at http://nepmc.org/network/contacts.htm
Cranberry Institute staff recently compiled the notes from the August PMSP workshop. NE PMC has transferred the resulting draft PMSP to our website along with a discussion forum to facilitate continued improvement. Participants in the workshop (and some others who were unable to attend) can read the draft, make comments online, and see the comments of others. The comment period is through October 15, with submission of the final PMSP by November 1.
The project has instituted an email list server to facilitate communication between people interested in the FQPA. It includes people on the Cornell University campus, affiliated sites, and industry. Activity is already strong.
(provided by Bill Hoffmann)
The Pennsylvania Pest Management Information Center has engaged in the following activities since it's September report.
Center personnel provided training for Pennsylvania Agricultural Statistics Service enumerators to prepare them to administer the PA Fruit Chemical Use Survey (apples) and the Agricultural Resources Management Study (corn). The center also corresponded with approximately 400 survey participants to encourage candid responses to survey questions.
The center provided information to the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) regarding guthion use on alfalfa and thiophanate-methyl use on various crops. Center personnel polled industry and extension officials to determine potential impacts of the loss of these uses and shifting use patterns due to present and future regulatory actions.
Ongoing communications to stakeholders regarding regulatory and registrant actions continued.
topSubmitted by John Baniecki
A committee of Extension personnel and a fruit grower representative met to discuss strategic planning on given commodities. Apples was suggested as an appropriate commodity to begin with since we had developed information and resources available. In looking at what was the scope of work required, it was suggested that a regional or mid-atlantic advisory committee be formed under the direction of or facilitated by the Center. A subcommittee would then be formed in the states in the mid-atlantic region. Members of the subcommittee would be selected to participate on the regional committee to develop a strategic plan that could be utilized by those states. We discussed the purpose of the strategic plan. You may have some thoughts in this regard. I need to get back with the group.
Present were: Rakesh Chandran, Henry Hogmire, Alan Biggs, Essam Dabaan, Henry Miller (grower), James Kotcon and John Baniecki. Our Ag. Economist was to come, but had a class to teach.
CWG leaders have been working this month with Information Specialist Liz Thomas to recruit group members. Attaining adeuqate representation of multiple stakeholder sectors while limiting group size to about 12 is no small feat. I am confident that these groups are now well on their way to a good start.
GAO Report on IPM
The General Accounting Office (GAO) has released its report on the national IPM effort "Agricultural Pesticides: Management Improvements Needed to Further Promote Integrated Pest Management GAO-01-815". Access the abstract or download the full report in PDF format. Some veterans of GAO reports assured the National IPM Committee meeting GAO reports tend to be critical, and that on a relative basis the IPM report is favorable.
The abstract:
Chemical pesticides play an important role in allowing Americans to enjoy an abundant and inexpensive food supply. However, these chemicals can have adverse effects on human health and the environment, and their long-term effectiveness will be increasingly limited as pests continue to develop resistance to them. Consequently, it has become clear that sustainable and effective agricultural pest management will require continued development and increased use of alternative pest management strategies such as integrated pest management (IPM). Some IPM practices yield significant environmental and economic benefits in certain crops, and IPM can lead to better long-term pest management than chemical control alone. However, the federal commitment to IPM has waned over the years. The IPM initiative is missing several management elements identified in the Government Performance and Results Act that are essential for successful implementation of any federal effort. Specifically, no one is effectively in charge of federal IPM efforts; coordination of IPM efforts is lacking among federal agencies and with the private sector; the intended results of these efforts have not been clearly articulated or prioritized; and methods for measuring IPM's environmental and economic results have not been developed. Until these shortcomings are effectively addressed, the full range of potential benefits that IPM can yield for producers, the public, and the environment is unlikely to be realized.
National Centers Meeting and National IPM Meeting
Pest Management Center Directors met concurrently with the National IPM Committee in Washington, D.C. during the week of Sept. 22. Ed Rajotte, John Ayers, Mike Hoffmann and I represented the northeast. Much of what follows is plagarized from Larry Olsen, North Central PM Center Director.
We will provide an update on long-term prospects and funding for pest management centers soon.
Long-Term structure and funding
National leadership is developing a statement on plans for long-term sturcture and function of pest management centers, which we will share with you. Eldon Ortmann, serving on an IPM at CSREES, has presented a draft initiative for that includes $36.89 million annually for USDA's pest management portfolio. If all went very well this funding could be the fy 2004 amount. This includes $10 - $12 million in new monies, and it at least maintains the base (Smith-Lever 3(d)) IPM funds.
National Pest Management Roadmap
A DRAFT national pest management roadmap has been developed that includes the objectives shown below. Review by stakeholders aand subsequent revisions are starting up now, including a national stakeholder workshop very soon. Information network project leaders and IPM coordinators have been solicited for nominations to attend this workshop.
Objectives of the DRAFT Roadmap
- 1. improve farm profitability and agricultural sustainability,
- 2. minimize non-target impacts,
- 3. eliminate unacceptable residues in food commodities,
- 4. enhance pest management options for functional recreation, roadside, right of way, and native habitats, and
- 5. implement community based programs for residential, school, public, and the work place.
EPA/USDA Liaison
Jean-Mari Peltier, Counselor to the EPA Administrator for Agricultural Policy spent a good 1 1/2 hours with us discussing her job at EPA.
Biopesticide Registration Workshop
To help facilitate the registration of low-risk alternative pesticides, EPA is announcing a workshop to provide participants with a better understanding of the biopesticide registration process in the United States, Canada and the state of California. The workshop will be held in Arlington, VA, on November 13-15, 2001. The co-hosts will be EPA, Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency, California's Department of Pesticide Regulation and the Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4), an organization that helps develop pest-management solutions for low-acreage crops. The workshop will guide participants through the process of registering biopesticides, including microbials, pheromones, biochemicals and genetically-engineered plant-incorporated protectants. Topics will include the biopesticide registration submission process, good laboratory practice requirements, scientific assessments and maintenance of existing registrations. Anyone currently involved in development, manufacturing and sales of biopesticides is especially encouraged to attend. The workshop will be held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Va. For additional information, contact Cheryl Ferrazoli at IR-4 Headquarters at 732-932-9575, ext. 601.
Update on the farm bill CAST
[The following is from an electronic newsletter put out by the Council for Agriculture Science and Technology. The newsletter as well as a steady stream of very valuable ag related publications is available from http://www.cast-science.org -Thanks to Ed Harwood, Cornell Cooperative Extension, for pointing this out.]
Chairman Combest continues to push the congressional leadership to allow the new farm bill to come to the House floor. The bill is a matter of "economic stimulus" and "National Security." -- The committee staff assumes the bill has full support from the Ranking Member (Stenholm). -- The Chairman feels the bill fully meets the criteria set out by the Administration's "White Paper". (see http://www.agriculture.house.gov for more comment.) -- The Leadership wants to avoid any controversial issues on the House floor, but Combest feels the bill can be done in one day. -- The "Kind Amendment" shifting funds from commodity programs to conservation has yet to be written. The understanding is that it would idle 14% of the Nation's farmland. The Committee staff is confident the amendment will be defeated. -- The Leadership is worried about the time that a Dairy Compact vote will consume (the Southeast and the Northeast dairy people remain firm they want a vote to continue the Northeast Compact and create the Southeast Compact. However, the committee staff says this is not a reason to avoid bringing up the bill because there will be a dairy vote of some nature anyway, whether compacts are involved or not. There has been consideration of moving two bills, the farm bill and a separate compact bill, but that idea is not recommended by the committee staff. -- the committee staff understands the money is still present in the budget for the bill. -- it is still uncertain how long Congress will stay in session this year. The rumors run from mid-October to Thanksgiving for an adjournment date.
Southern Region PMC Meeting
The Southern Region PMC plans to hold its first annual meeting in the Orlando area on November 6 and 7.
USDA Report on Food and Ag Policy
WASHINGTON, September 19, 2001 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today released the Bush Administration’s review of the food and agriculture system with a view toward identifying critical needs for the new century. The report, “Food and Agricultural Policy: Taking Stock for the New Century,” details the enormous changes that have taken place in agriculture which continue to accelerate across the American food and farm sector. Given the enormity and pace of change, the report recommends that policy makers take stock to examine past policies and programs and, where necessary, define anew goals and principles that can best guide the future growth and development of the farm, food and agriculture industry in the new century.
Nass Report on Restricted Use Chemicals
The National Ag. Statistics Service on 10/03/01 issued it's report "Ag. chemical usage - restricted use summary". This full-text report presents chemical application rates and acres treated by major producing states and US for field crops annually (corn, soybeans, cotton, potatoes, wheat); selected fruit crops and selected vegetable crops are reported in alternate years.
Special reports present information related to chemical applications for selected crops in storage facilities (post harvest) and chemicals used on livestock, poultry, buildings and roadways.
Access the report. Thanks to Aubrey Davis for the heads up.
Insider is sent to NE PMC Advisory Council members; NE PMC Information Network project leaders; NE PMC IPM Commodity Working Group members; IPM Coordinators in the Northeast; subscribers to PMC-L. Email Jim or Liz to offer submissions or suggest changes.
Jim VanKirk, Coordinator 315-787-2378 jrv1@cornell.edu
topJohn Ayers, Director 814-865-7776 (voice) email
Liz Thomas, Information Specialist 315-787-2626 egt3@cornell.edu
This page created October 2, 2001
Centers for Pest Management are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture
This page developed and managed by Jim VanKirk, NE PMC Coordinator
Logo designed by Karen English-Loeb, New York IPM Program