The Southern IPM Hour presents research, issues and programs in Integrated Pest Management from the Southern Region through this webinar series.

Title: Blueberries and Beyond: How IR-4 Serves the Specialty Crop Community
Date: April 5, 1 p.m. Eastern
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4xlpay11RlK0QmSsO1fv3g

About the Webinar

After 5 years and many collaborations, IR-4 announced a new post-harvest tolerance for blueberries, with EPA naming sulfur dioxide as an option to keep berries more fresh for consumers. 2023 marks 60 years of IR-4, and this win for blueberry growers illustrates IR-4’s perennial dedication to delivering pest management tools that serve the needs of the specialty crop community. In this webinar, learn more about IR-4’s mission, the blueberry study, and how to put in a project request with IR-4 for your specialty crop.

About the IR-4 Project

The IR-4 Project was established in 1963 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and land-grant universities to ensure that specialty crop farmers have legal access to safe and effective crop protection products.

Pests do not discriminate between major crops and specialty crops. While the crop protection industry focuses its research on major crops, such as corn, cotton and soybeans, growers of specialty crops are often left with fewer tools for effectively and safely managing pests. IR-4 conducts required research to meet this important need.

IR-4 works directly with crop growers, registrants of crop protection products and other members of the specialty crop community to develop data required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the registration of pest management tools for specialty crops. IR-4 also supports the registration of minor or specialty uses on major crops.

The Blueberry Post-Harvest Tolerance Approved By EPA

In November 17, 2022, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule establishing a tolerance on blueberries for total sulfites, a key residue associated with sulfur dioxide application. This new tolerance is the outcome of years of cooperation between the blueberry industry, ARS, and IR-4, who joined forces to help growers find adaptable solutions for post-harvest quality control. The project was identified as a priority at IR-4’s 2017 Food Use Workshop. Trials started in 2018.

Post-harvest control of Botrytis fruit rot, Alternaria rot, and surface mold in fresh blueberries is essential for market viability and fruit quality. However, few options have been available to growers to slow the development of these diseases, and keep more berries fresh for consumers. Now, sulfur dioxide is an option.

In addition to being a boon to blueberry growers, a tolerance like this highlights the power of collaboration between groups like ARS, IR-4, and EPA.

How to Submit a Request to IR-4

The submission choices to put in a request for IR-4 include:

• Food Crops
• Residue and Performance
• Integrated Solutions
• Supporting/Similar
• Environmental Horticulture
• Research Request
• Biopesticide Regulatory Support
• Regulatory Assistance

Want to keep in touch with The IR-4 Project? Sign up for IR-4’s newsletter, or follow along via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Throughout this year, they’ll be sharing stories in honor of #60yearsofIR4. You can also visit ir4project.org to learn more or watch their new video.