February 1, 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 January.
LATEST NEWS
IR-4 to Host Four International Borlaug Fellows in 2022

The IR-4 Project is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) to host four international researchers for a Borlaug fellowship in 2022 at NC State University. The fellowship is funded through a $100,000 grant from the USDA-FAS Borlaug Fellowship Program and is designed to foster agriculture relationships with the fellows’ host countries while breaking down trade barriers on specialty crops.
Submit Your Nomination for the 2022 SOAR Award

The IR-4 Project is now accepting nominations for the 2022 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.

The nomination period will close on Monday, February 28, at 5 p.m. EST. To submit a nomination, fill out this Google form. To learn more about the SOAR Award and other awards given by the IR-4 Project, visit our website.
New Tool Identified in Fight Against Fungal Disease on Pomegranates
The production of pomegranates is increasing globally. While India is the largest producer of this fruit, the pomegranate shrub or tree can be grown in any tropical to temperate climate. In the United States, approximately 90 percent of commercially grown pomegranates are produced in California.

Historically, no fungicides were available to growers specifically for use on pomegranates. Thanks to research funded by the IR-4 Project, pomegranate growers in California and Florida will soon be able to use Fluxapyroxad + Pyraclostrobin, manufactured by BASF and sold as Merivon® Xemium® Brand Fungicide, to reduce disease on this popular fruit.
Tolerance Successes

The following tolerance success was received in December 2021:
  • MCPA (Federal register date: December 15, 2021)
UPCOMING EVENTS
2022 IR-4 Project Research Symposium: Food Crops

Join us for the inaugural IR-4 Project Research Symposium on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. During this virtual event, presenters will share research results from Integrated Solutions and Product Performance trials on food crops. Results from these trials are used to identify potential pest management solutions and to support product registration.

Date: April 12, 2022
Time: 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., EDT
Location: Virtual

More information, including registration and a formal agenda, will be available soon.
IR-4 Northeast Region Annual Meeting
The IR-4 Northeast Region is hosting an annual meeting for everyone associated with the production of specialty crops in the Northeast. The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, April 20, at 2 p.m. EDT.

Almost all pesticide registrations for specialty crops are the result of IR-4 efforts. IR-4 also provides support for biopesticide and organic pest management strategies for growers of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture and nursery crops. During the Northeast Region Annual Meeting, staff will provide updates on important changes in the organization, answer questions, and ask for support and ideas. 

Fill out this Google form to register for this free event.

Questions? Contact Marylee Ross at mross@umd.edu or Megan James at mjames14@umd.edu.
EMPLOYEE/HIRING UPDATES
New Employee Spotlight: Allison Ballantyne
Allison Ballantyne joined the IR-4 Project on January 18 as the assistant manager with the Environmental Horticulture Program. In this capacity, Allison is responsible for coordinating research activities, assisting with the biennial priority setting process, and other tasks that work toward the program's mission to facilitate regulatory approval of sustainable pest management technologies for environmental horticulture crops.

Allison has an extensive background in pesticide product registration, label review, plant health, and agriculture, as well as experience with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). She has previously worked as a pesticide/fertilizer specialist for the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the NC State Extension Pesticide Safety Program, and most recently the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Sciences as the program manager for the management of Lymantria dispar. Allison has a bachelor’s degree in plant biology from Ohio University. She lives in the Raleigh area with her husband and two sons.
Now Hiring: Chemist and Study Director

The IR-4 Project is still accepting applications for a chemist and study director to join IR-4 Headquarters at NC State University. This role will be responsible for providing technical direction of IR-4 magnitude of residue studies, coordinating ongoing residue trials, and developing data packages, as well as evaluating and maintaining analytical data and providing analytical support to other IR-4 staff. Ideal candidates will have a master’s degree or Ph.D. in chemistry and at least three years of experience in pest management research/regulatory sciences, or a bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of experience in chemistry.

View the job posting to learn more and apply.

View other IR-4 Project openings on the Careers page of our website.
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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.