1997 Report from Cooperative States Research Education & Extension to NCR-148 MAJOR ISSUES/NEEDS Budget: The FY 1998 budget is a mixed bag for PS programs. At this point it appears that the IR-4 budget will increase by $3.3 million ($9.0 million total). The budget for other PS programs will remain level (Expert IPM Decision Support System = $177,000; IPM and Biological Control Research = $2.7 million; Pest Management Alternatives Program = $1.6 million; Pest Management Education = $10.8 million; NAPIAP research = $1.3 million; NAPIAP extension = $3.2 million). Funding was not provided for PAT ($1.5 million requested). It should be pointed out that level funding is considered to be a success in this budget era. However, the lack of an increase in the IPM budget is particularly disappointing. An increase in the PS budget for IPM is likely to appear in the President's budget for FY 1999. Contact Michael Fitzner (IPM,PMAP) at 202-401-4939, John Impson (PAT) at 202-401-4201, Dennis Kopp (NAPIAP) at 202-401-6437, or James Parochetti (IR-4) at 202-401-4354 for more information. Food Quality Protection Act: FQPA, which was enacted in 1996, presents many new challenges for research and extension programs -- alternative pest management approaches must be developed to replace pesticides removed from the marketplace as a result of regulatory action. Extension education programs are needed to help farmers and others to implement new approaches to managing pests. National Pesticide Impact Assessment Program: NAPIAP is expecting level budgeting for FY 1998. Over the last three funding cycles, this program has made a positive attempt to implement the intent of the merger of CSRS and CES at the federal level. Each State PIA program is viewed as a combined research and extension effort and funded as a single activity. Parallel funding is still required due to the separate lines of fiscal accountability with Smith-Lever and PL89-106 dollars. It is believed that this program will take on additional importance with FQPA implementation. NAPIAP can and will make available to EPA critical decision making information regarding the evaluation and estimation of regulatory impact on pest management issues in minor cropping systems. Pesticide Applicator Training Funds: The pass-through funds from EPA have been received by CSREES and the Office of Extramural Funding has all the information necessary to determine each state's allocation. This year, the total amount for pass-through was $1.8 M, approximately the same as last year. States should expect to receive about the same amount as last year's allotment. CSREES Office of Extramural Funding will alert your Director's office on procedure. Inquires regarding this source of funding can be directed to John Impson at (202) 401-4201. National Plant Breeding Study Published: Study was conducted by Kenneth Fry, Iowa State University. Documents plant breeding and genetics capacity in the United States (public and private). Strategic planning exercises are now underway using this study as a basis to bring attention to critical issues, and to identify needs and seek additional resources. Contact J. Preston Jones for additional details (202-401-1990). Disease Epidemic: The spread of sorghum ergot, caused by the fungus Claviceps africana, reached epidemic proportions world wide in 1995. It was first reported in the United States (Texas) in March 1997, and is predicted to spread throughout the United States where conditions are favorable for development. Contact Robin Huettel for more information (202-401-5804). Fund for Rural America: 461 planning grants and approximately 1100 standard grants were submitted. 35 planning grants have been recommended for funding, but funding decisions have not been announced. 19 panels are reviewing standard grants; reviews started in August and will be completed in November. Government Performance and Results Act: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1996 (GPRA) requires results-based budgeting. Federal agencies must demonstrate significant outcomes from investments of public funds. Due to nature of the partnership between CSREES and the land-grant university system (a loose confederation), we have to work much harder at this than do agencies with line authority. Strengthened Partnerships: Coalitions need to continue to be built and strengthened with producer groups, processor groups, and grocers associations to develop research and education programs to maintain the integrity of the food system. New ways need to be developed to further encourage the active participation of end-users and stakeholders in discussion of priority needs, assessment of the effects or benefits of research and extension programs, opportunities for greater public-private collaboration, more active collaboration between USDA and the land-grant university system, etc. Through this process, we will be building and strengthening a constituency who understands the value of what we do and is willing to provide active support for our research and extension programs. Pest Management Alternatives Program: In FY 1997, 53 proposals were received, and 24 projects (45%) totaling $1,232,167 (including $300,000 from EPA). In FY 1998, PMAP will continue to provide competitive grants to address pest control problems with few or no alternatives to pesticides that may be lost due to regulatory action or pest resistance. It is likely that the program will be focused on addressing needs resulting from implementation of FQPA. The RFP will be distributed in early 1998. Contact Michael Fitzner at (202) 401-4939 for more information. Regional IPM Grants Program: In FY 1997, a total of 100 research-only proposals were received, and 23 projects (23%) totaling $2,552,409 were funded; a total of 18 extension-only proposals were received and 11 projects (61%) totaling $280,000 were funded; and a total of 45 research-extension proposals were received and 16 projects (36%) totaling $903,500 were funded. RFPs will be distributed by each of the four regions in October. Contact Gary McIntyre at (western), David McKenzie (northeastern), Eldon Ortman (north central), or Bobby Pass (southern). Office of Pest Management Created: On September 8 Deputy Agriculture Secretary Richard Rominger announced the creation of the Office of Pest Management that will serve as USDA's focal point for pesticide regulatory issues. The new office is charged with integrating and coordinating pesticide issues within USDA along with improving communications with and strengthening the existing network of grower organizations and crop specialists at land grant institutions. The activities coordinated out of this new office should make the USDA more responsive to the agricultural community in developing alternative pest management practices to meet critical needs that may develop as a result of the regulatory process. For more information contact Al Jennings, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary, USDA at 202-720-5375. World Wide Web Sites: The National IPM Network (NIPMN) continues to be developed, with both national and regional HomePages. The CSREES IPM HomePage can be accessed from NIPMN. PERSONNEL *Robert Riley* has ended a 28 year career as Principle Entomologist. *John (Jack) Barnes* retired after a 31 year career as Principle Plant Pathologist on July 3. *Robin Huettel* arrived in December to begin work as Program Leader in Plant Pathology, with strengths in nematology, plant protection, fungal pathogens in insect biocontrol, and transmission of plant diseases. Robin was previously with USDA/APHIS, where she was Chief Operation Officer in Methods Development at Oxford, North Carolina. *H. J. (Rick) Meyer* arrived June 2 to begin work as Program Leader in Entomology, with strengths in veterinary entomology, public health entomology, livestock pest management, and insect physiology/toxicology. Rick has been on the faculty of the Entomology Department at North Dakota State University since 1974 and has been acting Department chair since 1994. Three candidates for an applied quantitative population ecologist National Program Leader position have been interviewed and an offer will be made in the near future to the leading candidate. The application period for Program Leader in Genetics/Plant Breeding closed July 28. This Program Leader will provide leadership in planning, development, organizing, and management of research, extension, and education programs related to plant breeding and genetics. Interviews for this position are scheduled at the end of October. The section has been renamed from the Plant and Animal Production, Protection and Processing Unit (PAPPP) to the Plant and Animal Systems Unit (PAS).
Last updated 1 June, 2007 This page was constructed by Gail Kampmeier at gkamp[at]uiuc.edu Please direct questions of content and prospects of collaborative research to respective scientists. Research reports do not constitute publication and results may be preliminary. They are included here for informational purposes only. You should contact the authors for further information. Any references to commercial products do not constitute endorsement. [ NCR-148 \| Movement & Dispersal Index \| News Index ]

1997 Report from

Cooperative States Research

Education & Extension to NCR-148

MAJOR ISSUES/NEEDS

Budget: The FY 1998 budget is a mixed bag for PS programs. At this point it appears that the IR-4 budget will increase by $3.3 million ($9.0 million total). The budget for other PS programs will remain level (Expert IPM Decision Support System = $177,000; IPM and Biological Control Research = $2.7 million; Pest Management Alternatives Program = $1.6 million; Pest Management Education = $10.8 million; NAPIAP research = $1.3 million; NAPIAP extension = $3.2 million). Funding was not provided for PAT ($1.5 million requested). It should be pointed out that level funding is considered to be a success in this budget era. However, the lack of an increase in the IPM budget is particularly disappointing. An increase in the PS budget for IPM is likely to appear in the President's budget for FY 1999. Contact Michael Fitzner (IPM,PMAP) at 202-401-4939, John Impson (PAT) at 202-401-4201, Dennis Kopp (NAPIAP) at 202-401-6437, or James Parochetti (IR-4) at 202-401-4354 for more information.

Food Quality Protection Act: FQPA, which was enacted in 1996, presents many new challenges for research and extension programs -- alternative pest management approaches must be developed to replace pesticides removed from the marketplace as a result of regulatory action. Extension education programs are needed to help farmers and others to implement new approaches to managing pests.

National Pesticide Impact Assessment Program: NAPIAP is expecting level budgeting for FY 1998. Over the last three funding cycles, this program has made a positive attempt to implement the intent of the merger of CSRS and CES at the federal level. Each State PIA program is viewed as a combined research and extension effort and funded as a single activity. Parallel funding is still required due to the separate lines of fiscal accountability with Smith-Lever and PL89-106 dollars. It is believed that this program will take on additional importance with FQPA implementation. NAPIAP can and will make available to EPA critical decision making information regarding the evaluation and estimation of regulatory impact on pest management issues in minor cropping systems.

Pesticide Applicator Training Funds: The pass-through funds from EPA have been received by CSREES and the Office of Extramural Funding has all the information necessary to determine each state's allocation. This year, the total amount for pass-through was $1.8 M, approximately the same as last year. States should expect to receive about the same amount as last year's allotment. CSREES Office of Extramural Funding will alert your Director's office on procedure. Inquires regarding this source of funding can be directed to John Impson at (202) 401-4201.

National Plant Breeding Study Published: Study was conducted by Kenneth Fry, Iowa State University. Documents plant breeding and genetics capacity in the United States (public and private). Strategic planning exercises are now underway using this study as a basis to bring attention to critical issues, and to identify needs and seek additional resources. Contact J. Preston Jones for additional details (202-401-1990).

Disease Epidemic: The spread of sorghum ergot, caused by the fungus Claviceps africana, reached epidemic proportions world wide in 1995. It was first reported in the United States (Texas) in March 1997, and is predicted to spread throughout the United States where conditions are favorable for development. Contact Robin Huettel for more information (202-401-5804).

Fund for Rural America: 461 planning grants and approximately 1100 standard grants were submitted. 35 planning grants have been recommended for funding, but funding decisions have not been announced. 19 panels are reviewing standard grants; reviews started in August and will be completed in November.

Government Performance and Results Act: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1996 (GPRA) requires results-based budgeting. Federal agencies must demonstrate significant outcomes from investments of public funds. Due to nature of the partnership between CSREES and the land-grant university system (a loose confederation), we have to work much harder at this than do agencies with line authority.

Strengthened Partnerships: Coalitions need to continue to be built and strengthened with producer groups, processor groups, and grocers associations to develop research and education programs to maintain the integrity of the food system. New ways need to be developed to further encourage the active participation of end-users and stakeholders in discussion of priority needs, assessment of the effects or benefits of research and extension programs, opportunities for greater public-private collaboration, more active collaboration between USDA and the land-grant university system, etc. Through this process, we will be building and strengthening a constituency who understands the value of what we do and is willing to provide active support for our research and extension programs.

Pest Management Alternatives Program: In FY 1997, 53 proposals were received, and 24 projects (45%) totaling $1,232,167 (including $300,000 from EPA). In FY 1998, PMAP will continue to provide competitive grants to address pest control problems with few or no alternatives to pesticides that may be lost due to regulatory action or pest resistance. It is likely that the program will be focused on addressing needs resulting from implementation of FQPA. The RFP will be distributed in early 1998. Contact Michael Fitzner at (202) 401-4939 for more information.

Regional IPM Grants Program: In FY 1997, a total of 100 research-only proposals were received, and 23 projects (23%) totaling $2,552,409 were funded; a total of 18 extension-only proposals were received and 11 projects (61%) totaling $280,000 were funded; and a total of 45 research-extension proposals were received and 16 projects (36%) totaling $903,500 were funded. RFPs will be distributed by each of the four regions in October. Contact Gary McIntyre at (western), David McKenzie (northeastern), Eldon Ortman (north central), or Bobby Pass (southern).

Office of Pest Management Created: On September 8 Deputy Agriculture Secretary Richard Rominger announced the creation of the Office of Pest Management that will serve as USDA's focal point for pesticide regulatory issues. The new office is charged with integrating and coordinating pesticide issues within USDA along with improving communications with and strengthening the existing network of grower organizations and crop specialists at land grant institutions. The activities coordinated out of this new office should make the USDA more responsive to the agricultural community in developing alternative pest management practices to meet critical needs that may develop as a result of the regulatory process. For more information contact Al Jennings, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary, USDA at 202-720-5375.

World Wide Web Sites: The National IPM Network (NIPMN) continues to be developed, with both national and regional HomePages. The CSREES IPM HomePage can be accessed from NIPMN.

PERSONNEL

Robert Riley has ended a 28 year career as Principle Entomologist.

John (Jack) Barnes retired after a 31 year career as Principle Plant Pathologist on July 3.

Robin Huettel arrived in December to begin work as Program Leader in Plant Pathology, with strengths in nematology, plant protection, fungal pathogens in insect biocontrol, and transmission of plant diseases. Robin was previously with USDA/APHIS, where she was Chief Operation Officer in Methods Development at Oxford, North Carolina.

H. J. (Rick) Meyer arrived June 2 to begin work as Program Leader in Entomology, with strengths in veterinary entomology, public health entomology, livestock pest management, and insect physiology/toxicology. Rick has been on the faculty of the Entomology Department at North Dakota State University since 1974 and has been acting Department chair since 1994.

Three candidates for an applied quantitative population ecologist National Program Leader position have been interviewed and an offer will be made in the near future to the leading candidate.

The application period for Program Leader in Genetics/Plant Breeding closed July 28. This Program Leader will provide leadership in planning, development, organizing, and management of research, extension, and education programs related to plant breeding and genetics. Interviews for this position are scheduled at the end of October.

The section has been renamed from the Plant and Animal Production, Protection and Processing Unit (PAPPP) to the Plant and Animal Systems Unit (PAS).