April 1, 2021
Pest Management Solutions for Specialty Crops and Specialty Uses
Greetings!

The following is a recap of news and updates that were announced by the IR-4 Project during the month of March. We are also highlighting new employees that have been hired in the last year.
2020 Annual Report and Year-End Summary Now Available

Despite a world-wide pandemic, the transition of IR-4 headquarters from Rutgers University to NC State University, and funding uncertainty, our dedicated team of professionals successfully adapted to the challenges and continued serving the specialty crop community. Read about our 2020 successes in the report and summary on our website.
SOAR Award: Now Accepting Nominations
Applications are currently being accepted for the 2021 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.

Nominations will be accepted until 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 16. Visit our website to learn more and apply.
Job Opening Announced
Now Hiring: Research Assistant - Research Planning

We are currently accepting applications for a research assistant to join our headquarters at NC State University. We are also still accepting applications for an associate director - regulatory sciences.

Read more
www.ir4project.org
Environmental Horticulture Updates
Botrytis Efficacy Summary - 2021

At the IR-4 Environmental Horticulture Program Workshop in 2011, Botrytis Efficacy was selected as a high priority project to expand the knowledge and list of fungicides available to growers for these diseases.

Read more
www.ir4project.org
Crop Vignette: Flowering Cherry

Ornamental flowering cherries belong to the genus Prunus in the rose family Rosacea, consisting primarily of species native to Asia. The majority of the flowering species are native to Japan and Korea.

Read more
www.ir4project.org
Two Studies Announced to Track and Mitigate Invasive Pests

Two multi-agency research studies will soon be underway to analyze the movement and mitigation of invasive pests negatively impacting plants in North America. The IR-4 Project Environmental Horticulture program is facilitating studies funded by USDA.

Read more
www.ir4project.org
New Employee Spotlight - Philip Moore
Philip Moore is one of IR-4's new study directors. Prior to joining IR-4 in May 2020, Philip worked at Eurofins Agroscience Services, where he was a study director and principal field investigator in the Honey Bee Exposure and Effects division. Philip graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and holds a master's degree in entomology and a bachelor's degree in agriculture and natural resource economics. He lives with his wife, Mackenzie, and their dog Bug in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, where they raise honey bees and sell honey and other hive products. When they are not gardening or beekeeping, Philip and Mackenzie enjoy paddling the Haw River, rock climbing at Pilot Mountain, hiking, biking and camping.

Philip's contact information is available on the IR-4 website.
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 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.