PLANT AND ANIMAL SYSTEMS
PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN FY 2000

Prepared by Steve Yaninek, NPL, Applied Ecology and Biological Control
and Rick Meyer, NPL, Entomology
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
For: NCR-148 Migration and Dispersal of Biota,
Annual meeting, Raleigh, NC, November 1-3, 1999

 

PEST MANAGEMENT NEWS FROM CSREES

• Charles "Chuck" Laughlin joins as new Administrator in July, 1999
• Agency redefining pest management portfolio
• Update on USDA's Biological Control Coordinating Council (BCCC)
• Pest Management Information Decision Support System Update
• National Program Leader sought for Horticulture at PAS
• External review of CSREES units
• Invasive species Coordinator named
• Plant & Animal Systems (PAS) on the move
• FY 2000 budget
• More information onCSREES Pest Management Programs & Personnel

NEW CSREES ADMINSTRATOR - Charles "Chuck" Laughlin joined CSREES as its new Administrator on July 5, 1999. Laughlin comes to USDA from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii-Manoa where he served as Dean and Director. Prior to that, he spent time at Colorado State University, the University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Florida. Laughlin has a Ph.D. in plant pathology and physiology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a M.S. degree in agronomy from the University of Maryland, and a B.S. degree in horticulture from Iowa State University.

CSREES PEST MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO - The agency is in the process of organizing existing pest management resources into a new comprehensive "pest management portfolio" of relevant programs and human resources. In a series of recent internal and external discussions on pest management in CSREES, three general areas were identified as needing increased attention: internal coordination, outreach/communication, and stakeholder involvement. An action plan is being developed to address each of these concerns. Progress in implementing these changes can be followed by monitoring the update announcements on the following webpage: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/pest/pest.html.

USDA'S BIOLOGICAL CONTROL COORDINATING COUNCIL UPDATE - The USDA's Biological Control Coordinating Council (BCCC) was established by the Deputy Secretary Rominger to develop and implement an action plan arising from a national meeting in 1996 on biological control in the USDA. The action plan was adopted in September, 1998 and the first order of business was to create an Interagency Action Team (IAT) of individuals representing agencies within the Department with biological control responsibilities (APHIS, ARS, CSREES, ECS, FS, NRCS). The first objective of the BCCC/IAT since the action plan was adopted has been to push through much needed changes in APHIS regulations governing weed biological control. New regulations are now drafted and will be published soon in the Federal Register for public comment. Many concerns raised in the 1996 meeting are addressed in the revised regulations. Other issues being addressed by BCCC include developing an inventory of biological control programs and human resources, enhancing communications within and between agencies, and encouraging stakeholder input into USDA needs assessment and priority setting.

PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM UPDATE - A public web site is under development by CSREES, led by PI, Dr. Ron Stinner, NCSU with the collaboration of the Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP) and Dr. Terry Janssen, EXDS, Inc. of Vienna, VA. Components of the Pest Management Information Decision Support System (PMIDSS) include information on the US Environmental Protection Agency--EPA-- review status of pesticides, crop losses caused by pests, status of minor use registrations--IR-4--, current research in progress, and priorities of IPM implementation teams. The PMIDSS data, along with OPMP/PIAP crop profiles, provide the background information that is critical to the development of commodity-specific transition strategies in response to FQPA-driven regulatory decisions.

NATIONAL PROGRAM LEADER FOR HORTICULTURE SEARCH UNDERWAY AT PAS - CSREES/Plant and Animal Systems is currently seeking a qualified individual for a National Program Leader with responsibilities for Horticulture within the Plant Systems group. The position announcement and closing dates are posted.

EXTERNAL REVIEW OF CSREES UNITS - Chuck Laughlin, the new CSREES Administrator, has called for an external review of all CSREES units within the next six months. The purpose is to evaluate all aspects of program development, administration and delivery within the agency. This will include assessing the adequacy of staffing, use of resources, and value added to the system by each unit. While formal review teams will be identified to carry out the review here in Washington DC, informal comments can always be sent directly to Chuck Laughlin.

INVASIVE SPECIES IPA - John Obrycki, Professor of Entomology from Iowa State University, has recently accepted a one year appointment as CSREES Invasive Species coordinator. John begins his duties immediately, and will move to Washington in January.

PAS ON THE MOVE - Plant and Animal Systems personnel are preparing for a move to a new location. Projections on construction now indicate that we will move to new quarters in the Waterfront Centre by the end of this calendar year. Our mail address will (probably) remain as 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 2220, Washington, DC 20250-2220. For FED EX, our address will be 800 9th Street SW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20024.

CSREES PROGRAMS IN FY 2000 ($000) - The following is a list of research, education and extension programs approved in the FY 2000 budget passed by both the House and the Senate. The President signed the bill on Friday, October, 22, 1999.

Research & Education Programs: Special Research Grants:
Critical Issues - $200
Regional IPM - $2,731
Minor Crop Pest Management (IR4) - $8,990
Pest Management Alternatives - $1,625
Research & Education Programs: National Research Initiative:
Natural Resources & Environment - $20,500
Plants - $41,000
Animals - $29,000
Extension Programs: Smith-Lever 3(d):
IPM - $10,783
Integrated Activities
Pesticide Impact Assessment - $4,541
Crops At Risk (CAR) - $1,000***
Risk Avoidance & Mitigation (RAMP) - $4,000***
Methyl Bromide Transition - $2,000***

***New competitive grant programs included in the FY 2000 budget. All three programs are listed as Integrated Activities which means they are open to all universities and colleges. The Crops At Risk (CAR) program will support intermediate-term research and implementation that provides a transition for crops or cropping systems at risk because of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). The Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP) will support multi-state, long-term, biointensive research to enhance stability and sustainability of pest management systems also at risk because of FQPA. The Methyl Bromide Transition program will support short-term research to identify and implement replacements for methyl bromide.

CSREES PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION: For more information about CSREES pest management programs and personnel contact the following website: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/pest/pest.html.