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CSREES will entertain suggestions for RFP priorities for the other USDA grant programs
(PMAP, CAR, RAMP) any
time. However to meet deadlines, suggestions for 406 programs must be in between August and November.
Ron gave a presentation on the current status of the PMCenters web site. The internal site may be accessed at:
There are now 412 Crop profiles on the site. The IR-4 and Pipeline databases are available (searchable). The EPA label
PDF file is accessible. Pests by crop are on the web site. The expertise database still needs quite a bit of work. CSREES
and Center staff will be able to update the program areas for each expert.
Mike Fitzner gave a report on the regional IPM meetings. Each region has a committee and has an annual meeting.
Attendance at this meeting each year is very important. Each region had the topic of the new PMCs on the agenda. All
regions were positive except for the South. The Western Region is planning an IPM symposium in 2002. There are plans
for a National symposium in 2002.
Keith Pitts made a presentation on the Pew Charitable Trust. He described it as primarily a trust that works on public policy
and state government issues. They also have an environmental program. Pew is supportive of biotechnology and selling the
idea of biotechnology. Workshops are conducted on issues such as transgenic insects, etc. They are not doing
research/field work, but policy issues. There are issues with the technology such as monitoring, etc. that they are dealing with
and see a strong regional center concept being a part of this process.
Rick will put together a draft proposal concerning PMAP funds into the Center.
Al Jennings requested that his office be kept in the loop when requests come directly to the Centers from EPA. The final
letter from EPA on the benefits of crop profiles should be forwarded to all project leaders.
Thursday, May 24
Denise Keehner and Kathy Davis from EPA/BEAD discussed the risk analyses to be done on OPs regarding benefits.
There is still a lot of work to be done. Cumulative risk information is critical now. Eco and worker safety data are also
necessary. Benefits information may be used to decide what crops will remain if the cumulative risk cup is overflowing.
Policy issues have not yet been decided concerning cumulative risk assessments.
The SAP meets in September to discuss the relative potency factors for cumulative risk assessments. Many of these policy
issues have yet to be decided. One issue is how to deal with varying quality of data.
Denise and Kathy showed the group charts for commodities and pesticides with cultural practices/activities on one axis and
dates on the other. These charts show when pesticides are used. They give a graphic depiction of timing of applications.
They would like to have additional charts for high-risk crops such as tree fruits and vegetable crops. EPA may have funding
to help develop these charts. Jim will put together a proposal to do charts for EPA.
Standardized reporting for PMC Project Leaders needs to be developed. The Center Directors will work to modify the
PPRS reporting form to serve the Centers.
Each Center Director gave a brief update of their recent activities.
National PMSPs were discussed. There are plans for cranberry, onion and cotton national PMSPs. Steering committees
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can set priorities for these plans and decide on support levels.
The USDA budget will be submitted in July. Need to have information in the first couple of weeks of June.
Larry Elworth discussed his USDA funded project to work with major commodity groups to do transition strategies. They
wanted to come up with a template on how to do the process. The recommendations were put forth in a report to USDA.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m.