What Is IR-4 Anyway?

This article appeared in "The Vegetable Gazette," September 1999, Volume 3, Number 9.

IR-4 stands for Interregional Project No. 4, and is a federal program funded through USDA. It was established to help minor-crop producers obtain new pest control materials.

Minor crops are those for which 'the volume of pesticide involved for a particular use is not sufficient to justify the monetary expenditure by the pesticide manufacturer'. Most, if not all, vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, and ornamental crops fall into this category. Ag researchers, state Extension personnel, and/or commodity-grower groups carry out field trials funded and overseen by IR-4 to obtain crop safety data and residue samples. These samples are then analyzed in IR-4 regional labs. IR-4 compiles the data collected, then prepares and submits petitions to the EPA requesting tolerances or exemptions for these pest control products.

Anyone (growers, Extension personnel, etc.) can request that a particular material be evaluated on a particular crop. This request will be discussed at a national workshop, and if certain criteria are met (sufficient need and/or benefit, cost involved, and chance of the work actually result in a labeled use), the request results in an IR-4 study and, hopefully, a new option for control of a pest.

This program is extremely valuable to the well-being of the Texas Produce Industry. Without it, considerably fewer compounds would be available to combat our pest problems. We are fortunate in Texas in that we have a very active committee involved in the IR-4 process: MUPAC (Minor Use Pesticide Assessment Committee). MUPAC is comprised of university researchers and Extension personnel, crop consultants, processor field men, and growers from throughout the state. These individuals meet regularly to determine priority pesticide needs. As a result, Texas pesticide needs are now being considered in the decision-making process of the IR-4 program.

If you, as a grower, shipper, or processor, have a need for a compound to control a specific pest on a specific crop for which no, or ineffective, controls are available, make your needs known to a member of MUPAC. The names and phone numbers of the committee members, as well as information on IR-4 and MUPAC, can be obtained by contacting Dr. Rodney Holloway at (409) 845-3849.