April 29, 2022
Pest Management Solutions for Specialty Crops and Specialty Uses
The following is a recap of news and updates announced by the IR-4 Project during the month of April.
LATEST NEWS
2022 SOAR Award Winners
The SOAR 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. This year’s winners have made significant contributions to their individual research areas and the specialty crop industry as a whole.

Congratulations to this year's winners!
  • Dr. Stanley Culpepper, professor and extension weed scientist, University of Georgia
  • Ann George, director emeritus, Hop Growers of America
  • Dr. Joseph Neal, professor of weed science and extension specialist, NC State University
  • Dr. Edward Peachey, associate professor (retired), Oregon State University
IR-4 Holds First Research Symposium
The inaugural IR-4 Project Research Symposium took place on Tuesday, April 12. During the virtual event, IR-4 headquarters staff gave presentations on several Integrated Solutions and Product Performance projects in the areas of entomology, weed science, and plant pathology.

Recordings of these presentations are available on our website.
Virtual Hop Tour Recording Now Available
On Monday, April 18, commodity representatives and pest management experts gathered virtually to discuss the growing hop industry, pest management issues, and demand for American-grown hops around the world. A recording of the hop tour is available on YouTube and by clicking the video thumbnail below.

Thank you to our speakers:
  • Mike Goodis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Maggie Elliot, Hop Growers of America
  • Doug Walsh, Washington State University
  • David Gent, USDA-Agricultural Research Service
  • Timothy Miles, Michigan State University
  • Marcelo Moretti, Oregon State University
  • Lynn Sosnoski, Cornell University

Learn more about our past crop tours on our website.
Tolerance Successes

Federal Register Date: March 2022
Trade Name: Buprofezin 40SC, Applaud 70DF
Crops/Crop Groups: Bushberry subgroup 13-07B; Individual commodities of proposed crop group subgroup 6-18A: edible podded bean subgroup
HIRING AND STAFF UPDATES
New Employee Spotlight: Christina Dineen
Christina Dineen joined IR-4 Headquarters as a chemist and study director in April. She comes to IR-4 with more than seven years of laboratory and research experience, most recently with National Foam where she worked as a research and development chemist. Prior to moving to the Raleigh area, Christina was a research and development formulation chemist with the Home & Garden division for Spectrum Brands. Christina has experience within a quality analytical laboratory, working on regulatory projects, and is familiar with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Good Laboratory Practices. She also brings extensive teaching and training experience to the IR-4 team. 

Christina has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Central Missouri, and a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Utah.
Western Region Hiring Associate Director/Field Research Coordinator
The IR-4 Project Western Region is currently accepting applications for an associate director/field research coordinator at the University of California, Davis. The position closes Monday, May 2.

The position will contribute to the leadership of the IR-4 Project's Western Region while also coordinating the region's field program. This role serves as a liaison with numerous groups, organizations, and government agencies associated with specialty crop pest management. The position will identify pest control needs not covered by existing registrations and will coordinate necessary actions to support such registrations.

Responsibilities will include overseeing efficacy and crop safety trials for food and ornamental specialty crops, as well as providing technical guidance for residue trials under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance and Good Laboratory Practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE PROGRAM NEWS
F6123 Crop Safety Summary - 2022

F6123 is a fungicide being developed by FMC for use on environmental horticulture crops to control diseases such as anthracnose, powdery mildew, black spot, rusts, leaf spot, and more.

Read more
www.ir4project.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the Dates: 2022 Industry Technology Session and Food Use Workshop
Thursday, July 21, 2022 (Location: Virtual)
The annual event gives companies the opportunity to present updates on products already in IR-4 research, as well as new technologies.

September 13-15, 2022 (Location: Bloomington, Minnesota)
Research priorities for residue studies, efficacy and crop safety research, and integrated solutions projects for 2023 will be identified during this workshop.

Additional information for each event, including registration, will be shared in the coming months.
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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2021-34383-34848 and 2020-34383-32455 with substantial cooperation and support from the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, USDA-ARS and USDA-FAS. In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.