One of the most important tasks being carried out by NE PMC’s state-based information networks is the development of crop profiles. These descriptions of crop production and pest management practices, compiled by commodity, form the basis for decisions about the future of pest management in U.S. agriculture.

What’s in a crop profile?  Crop profiles contain data about crop acreage, typical pest management practices, the amounts of pesticides used, and how these pesticides are used (not just data based on pesticide labels). Usually produced on a state-by-state basis, all crop profiles have common components:

•  agricultural statistics for the crop

•  crop information for regions within the state

•  an inventory of pests and strategies used for their management, such as cultural practices, biological control, and pesticides

•  lists of key contacts, references, and online resources.

Crop profiles are considered living documents, so as the pest management situation changes, older crop profiles are revised and updated versions made available.

Where do crop profiles come from?  Crop profiles were introduced in May 1998 to meet the pesticide data requirements for the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which instructs USDA and EPA to obtain pesticide use and usage data on major and minor crops. Of particular concern are classes of pesticides whose uses may be cancelled under the FQPA, some of which may be vital to the production of many of our crops. The profiles are produced by land-grant university scientists, individuals from commodity groups, and other interested parties. In some cases, such as New England, information for the profiles is gathered using surveys, which provide an especially reliable basis for determining the current status of pest management practices.

Who uses crop profiles, and why?  Crop profiles provide valuable information to numerous audiences. In addition to using crop profiles for FQPA pesticide reassessments, EPA uses them to fill gaps in its crop matrices for pesticide use, and to replace the default or worst-case assumptions made in the absence of reliable data. The profiles are used by both EPA and USDA in preparing and evaluating pesticide risk management and mitigation plans. Crop profiles form the basis for pest management strategic plans (PMSPs) for agricultural crops, which many NE PMC groups are presently working to develop. USDA also uses them to identify critical pest management needs and to prioritize funding for agricultural research that will help us meet the needs of the future. Land-grant universities use them to inform elected officials, college administrators, producers, commodity groups, students, and others about crop production and pest management. Agricultural producers and pesticide applicators look to the profiles for information on typical production and pest management practices, as well as alternative pest management practices and resources.

Completed crop profiles are submitted by the land-grant universities and commodity groups to the USDA’s Office of Pest Management Policy, where they are reviewed and then placed on a searchable web database. You can find completed crop profiles at www.pmcenters.org/cropprofiles/.

Thanks to Steven Toth for information provided in the transcript of his June 22, 2000, presentation to  the Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition (www.epa.gov/pesticides/carat/).

Contents of this Issue:

A message from the Coordinator - NE PMC annual meeting, about the survey

Networking in New England - NEPMNet, the New England Pest Management Network

News and updates - PA School IPM law; International IPM Conference in Toronto; Fruit CWG progress

Crop profiles offer a critical snapshot - Everything you always wanted to know about crop profiles

Fourth National IPM Symposium Planned - Indianapolis, next April

Veggie Group Finds Fertile Common Ground - About the Vegetable Commodity Working Group

Reader survey - Please spend a few minutes to help make this newsletter more useful to you

Links:

In the Center index

NEIPMC home page

This newsletter is online at www.northeastipm.org/inthecenter/may2002. For more information on NE PMC, visit our web site (www.northeastipm.org) or contact NE PMCs Coordinator Jim VanKirk (315-787-2378; jrv1@cornell.edu) or Information Specialist Liz Thomas (315-787-2626; egt3@cornell.edu), NE PMC, PO Box 462, Geneva, NY 14456. Publication supported by CSREES, USDA, project number 1952-CU-USDA-9759. Writing and design: Elizabeth Myers.

Printed on recycled paper.    2M   ACT  5/02