Mr. McHUGH. Where is this work being carried out? Dr. JORDAN. The research will be conducted at the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Mr. MCHUGH. What has been accomplished to date? Dr. JORDAN. New naturally occurring microorganisms for bacterial spot of tomato and pepper, and wirestem of crucifers will be screened from washings from native host plants. Insect pests that will be emphasized for microbial control are the cabbage looper, imported cabbageworm, armyworms, and diamondback moth, all serious pests of vegetables. A known virus of the imported cabbageworm will be evaluated and developed. Searches for other exotic insect pathogens will be made. Cultural practices will emphasize organic gardening systems in vegetable production and the use of cover crops and added organic matter compared to conventional systems. The potential of mulches and soil solarization to suppress pests will be evaluated. Studies to assess the efficacy of predators, parasitoids and pathogens will be conducted. The goal of this research program is to develop alternative pest management practices to maintain production and quality levels with a reduction in the use of chemicals. Mr. MCHUGH. When do the principal researchers carrying out this work anticipate that the work will be completed? Dr. JORDAN. The university researchers anticipate that work may be completed in five years. PESTICIDE CLEARANCE Mr. McHUGH. Please provide a description of the work that has been done under the pesticide clearance program to date and the period of the existing contract. Dr. JORDAN. The pesticide clearance program-IR-4-includes the State Agricultural Experiment Stations and United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-ARS. IR-4 provides the national leadership, coordination and focal point for obtaining tolerance and safety data for pesticides and biological control agents for specialty crops such as horticultural crops. The agricultural chemical industries have not economically justified the time and expense to conduct the necessary research for pesticides with small market potential. With the Federal registration resulting from this research, a large number of small acreage crops such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices and other specialized crops have been provided with needed crop protection against pests. Under the auspices of this research program, a group of scientists representing the State and Territorial Agricultural Experiment Stations continually define and update pest control technologies for minor crops needed by farmers, ranchers, and others. Protocols are written after careful review with representatives of grower groups, the chemical industry and researchers. The researchers then carry out field trials on priority needs to determine their effectiveness, safety and usefulness and then analyze the field grown commodities, where appropriate, to identify and quantify any residue that may persist. All of this is done according to Good Laboratory Practice guidelines. The research program then assimilates the data from all the participating experiment stations, grower groups and chemi cal industry, and petitions are written for tolerances and Federal registration or reregistration. The grants awarded in fiscal year 1991 terminate between February 1992 and February 1994. The 1992 grants terminate between February 1993 and September 1993. Mr. McHUGH. How long has this work been underway and how much has been appropriated through fiscal year 1992? Dr. JORDAN. Grants have been awarded from funds appropriated as follows: Program redirection in fiscal year 1975, $250,000; fiscal year 1976, $500,000; fiscal years 1977-1980, $1,000,000 per year; fiscal year 1981, $1,250,000; fiscal years 1982-1985, $1,400,000 per year; fiscal years 1986-1989, $1,369,000 per year; fiscal year 1990, $1,975,000; fiscal year 1991, $3,000,000; and fiscal year 1992, $3,500,000. A total of $25,711,000 has been appropriated. Mr. MCHUGH. Where is this work carried out? Dr. JORDAN. Field work is performed at the State and Territorial Experiment Stations. Laboratory analysis is conducted primarily at the California, New York, Florida, and Michigan Agricultural Experiment Stations with assistance by the Oregon, Hawaii, North Dakota, Arkansas, North Carolina, Washington, Virginia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations. Protocol development, data assimilation, writing petitions, and registration processing are coordinated through the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. ARS is conducting minor use pesticide studies at locations in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. ARS laboratories located in Georgia, Maryland, and Washington are cooperating with analyses. Mr. MCHUGH. What has been accomplished to date? Dr. JORDAN. For food crops, to date a total of 1,017 tolerances for residues of pesticides have been established. In addition six biological pest control agents have received clearance. For ornamental crops a total of 3,036 labels for use of pesticides have been issued. IR-4's efforts account for about one-half of the registrations issued by EPA within the last several years. Mr. MCHUGH. When do the principal researchers carrying out this work anticipate that the work will be completed? Dr. JORDAN. Selected categories of the Special Research Grants program address important national and regional research initiatives. The pesticide clearance program involves research on biological systems that by their nature are ever changing and presenting new challenges to agriculture. The IR-4 workload is anticipated to be long term because of the new sensitivities about food safety and the environment, plus the 1988 amendments to FIFRA regarding reregistration. IR-4 administration has developed a strategy in response to the FIFRA '88 amendments. If adequate funding is available, the strategy is to register 2,600 new minor uses and reregister 1,000 needed minor uses within the specific timeframe of FIFRA '88. Additionally, the biocontrol pest program which promotes new and safer pest control technology for minor crops will be expanded. PESTICIDE IMPACT ASSESSMENT Mr. MCHUGH. Please provide a description of the work that has been done under the pesticide impact assessment program to date and the period of the existing contract. Dr. JORDAN. The National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, NAPIAP, is a coordinating mechanism for USDA and State research activities and information sources which promote informed regulatory decisions on registered, agricultural pesticides. NAPIAP is a multiagency effort which, under its new structure, draws on the expertise primarily from United States Department of Agriculture agencies and their cooperators in State Agricultural Experiment_Stations SAES, Cooperative Extension Services, and State Department of Agriculture. CSRS-NAPIAP funds together with those of Extension Service have provided support for the participation of 53 States and Territories in this program. The NAPIAP focal point in each state serves as the primary link between Federal and state agencies, as well as clientele groups on a variety of pesticide issues. SAES scientists have also been funded through CSRS-NAPIAP for research to fill informational needs and for assessment team activity. Mr. MCHUGH. How long has this work been underway and how much has been appropriated through fiscal year 1992? Dr. JORDAN. Grants have been awarded from funds appropriated as follows: fiscal years 1977-1981, $1,810,000 per year; fiscal years 1982-1985, $2,069,000 per year; fiscal years 1986-1988, $1,968,000 per year; fiscal year 1989, $2,218,000; fiscal year 1990, $2,437,000; and fiscal years 1991 and 1992 $2,968,000 per year. A total of $33,821,000 has been appropriated. Mr. MCHUGH. Where is this work being carried out? Dr. JORDAN. This work is underway at SAES in 53 States and Territories. Competitively awarded research funds to fill informational needs are coordinated through a lead State in each of the four regions of the United States which are the West, California; North Central, Ohio; Northeast, Pennsylvania; and the South, Georgia. Mr. MCHUGH. What has been accomplished to date? Dr. JORDAN. Research efforts to date have contributed important information on environmental effects, human exposure risks, economic impacts and yield/quality data. Information has been generated which is useful in minimizing potential risks; this includes application technology, pesticide, detection methodology, and determination of factors governing environmental fate. Additional regulatory activity associated with re-registration and impacts on nontarget organisms will require increased research on the ramifications of pesticide use. Assessment activity is anticipated to increase. A major fungicide assessment project covering 83 commodities or commodity groupings was published and distributed. An economic impact model is being pilot tested in ten states nationwide. Mr. MCHUGH. When do the principal researchers carrying out this work anticipate that the work will be completed? Dr. JORDAN. Selected categories of the Special Research Grants program address important national/regional research initiatives. The pesticide impact assessment program involves research on biological systems that by their nature are ever changing and presenting new challenges to agriculture. There is a high priority for continuation of these ongoing projects particularly in view of increased public concerns about food safety and the environment. In addition, we are concerned about an increased workload resulting from FIFRA '88. An allied program, IR-4, is currently addressing about one-half of its resources to the reregistration effort as a result of FIFRA '88. The NAPIAP and IR-4 programs have discussed several specific high priority cooperative projects and each program will collect critical data to be used in support of reregistration. There are specific projects for NAPIAP to contribute data required under FIFRA '88, but that level of support is expected to be at a much lower level than that of IR-4. PESTICIDE RESEARCH, WASHINGTON Mr. MCHUGH. Please provide a description of the work that has been done under the pesticide research program to date and the period of the existing contract. Dr. JORDAN. This special grant is for Washington, Idaho, and Oregon for food quality/pesticide research with Washington State University as the lead organization. The purpose of the research is to ensure the continued availability of pesticides required by producers of crops and animal products in the tri-state region. Objectives include: determine the range of pesticide residue studies needed by producers and processors, with emphasis on regional specialty crops; identify crops and animal products with anticipated critical residue investigations needed in the next five to ten years; project the types of studies needed to control environmental contamination by pesticides; identify development needs, i.e., general laboratory availability, equipment and supplies, operational costs; and identify appropriate support staff requirements. Washington is establishing a Food and Environment Quality Laboratory to investigate the fate of pesticides on crops and in the environment and to support minor crop registrations through the IR-4 program. The fiscal year 1991 grant supports research through February 1994. The 1992 grant proposal has been requested by CSRS. Mr. McHUGH. How long has this work been underway and how much has been appropriated through fiscal year 1992? Dr. JORDAN. Grants have been awarded from appropriated funds as follows: fiscal year 1990, $49,000; fiscal year 1991, $484,000; and fiscal year 1992, $667,000. A total of $1,200,000 has been appropriated. Mr. MCHUGH. Where is this work being carried out? Dr. JORDAN. Research is being conducted at Washington State University in cooperation with the University of Idaho and Oregon State University. Mr. MCHUGH. What has been accomplished to date? Dr. JORDAN. With special grant funding the analytical chemist/ director, environmental toxicologist, and three technical support staff are being hired. The Washington state legislature has provid ed long-term support for Food and Environmental Quality Laboratory professional and support staff and for minimal basic operations. Funds are being used to purchase laboratory analytical instruments, supplies, and services. Oregon State University is hiring a postdoctoral fellow for experimental analytical procedures, and the University of Idaho is providing expertise and purchasing the basic equipment to develop the tri-state pesticide laboratory information management system. Mr. MCHUGH. When do the principal researchers carrying out this work anticipate that the work will be completed? Dr. JORDAN. The university researchers anticipate that work through fiscal year 1996 should result in significant achievements towards the objectives of this project. PHYTOPHTHORA ROOT ROT, NEW MEXICO Mr. MCHUGH. Please provide a description of the work that has been done under the Phytophthora root rot program to date and the period of the existing contract. Dr. JORDAN. The objectives of this research are to develop improved control of Phytophthora root rot in various types of Chile cultivars. Disease resistance has been identified and breeding has been initiated. Cultural practices such as water management are also being investigated. Considerable progress has been made in initiating a Chile breeding program for disease resistance. The fiscal year 1991 grant supports research through March 1992. The fiscal year 1992 grant has been awarded and supports research through March 1993. Mr. MCHUGH. How long has this work been underway and how much has been appropriated through fiscal year 1992? Dr. JORDAN. The work support by this grant began in fiscal year 1991 and the appropriation for fiscal year 1991 was $125,000. The fiscal year 1992 appropriation is $150,000. A total of $275,000 has been appropriated. Mr. McHUGH. Where is this work being carried out? Dr. JORDAN. Research is being conducted at New Mexico State University. Mr. MCHUGH. What has been accomplished to date? Dr. JORDAN. With financial support obtained from a newly formed New Mexico Chile Commission and from CSRS, scientists have begun introducing disease resistance into several types of peppers. In the summer of 1991, advanced lines of root rot resistant material were grown and evaluated for horticultural traits. Sixteen resistant populations were evaluated for horticultural traits. Depending on additional research, some may be ready for release next fall. The relationship between root rot and water potential was investigated. Now irrigation methods may reduce the incidence of the disease. Mr. MCHUGH. When do the principal researchers carrying out this work anticipate that the work will be completed? Dr. JORDAN. The university researchers anticipate that work may be completed in fiscal year 1995. |