Betsy A. Anderson, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Biological Science Technician, IR-4 Specialist; Michael E. Reding, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Research Entomologist; Michael G. Klein, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Research Entomologist; and Charles R. Krause, USDA/ARS, ATRU, Plant Pathologist.
A shortage of pest control products registered for use on ornamental crops is an ongoing problem. Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4) is a government- and university-sponsored program developed to facilitate registration of new products and expand labels for effective products for minor crops. IR-4 receives funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
Individual growers, grower organizations, university researchers, and Extension personnel initiate project requests. Each year a list of more than 4,000 researchable ornamental projects is compiled that includes trials of insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, bactericides, and herbicides. Data collected from the trials is sent to IR-4 Headquarters for review and coordination with the company making the product, and submission is made to the EPA for registration approval.