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Minutes
Pest Management Centers National Steering Committee Meeting
October 18-19, 2000
Washington, D.C.
Attendees
John Ayers, Wilfred Burr, Harold Coble, Kathy Kimble-Day, Robin Heuttle, Mike Hoffmann, Al
Jennings, Lynnae Jess, Dennis Kopp, Linda Herbst, Rick Melnicoe, Russ Mizell, Therese
Murtagh, Norm Nesheim, Larry Olsen, Eldon Ortman, Jim Parochetti, Susan Radcliffe, Ron
Stinner, Jim VanKirk, Joanne Whalen, Frank Zalom
The first task to be addressed by the Pest Management Center committee was to accept nominations for
the election of committee chair and vice-chair. Rick Melnicoe was unanimously elected chair; John
Ayers was unanimously elected vice-chair.
Al Jennings, OPMP Director, provided an update of issues being dealt with by his office. The Federal
Budget is moving toward completion and the OPMP Office has a slight increase that will mostly be
eaten up by salary. The Pesticide data program is the other big winner. The Lorsban mixer/loader
decision due soon. Dow has given OPMP a letter, but it doesn't fit commodity tones. We can share this
letter, as we deem appropriate. Therese will send this letter to all directors. There are currently around
five pest management strategic plans on the web and 347 crop profiles. We are close to all of the
submitted crop profiles on the web. Al Jennings, made a commitment to provide a member of his staff
to participate as a member of each regional pest management’s steering committee. Dennis Kopp, Pest
Management Center Program Leader, provided an update of CSREES issues. Dennis started by
informing us of the many personnel changes in the agency. Colleen Heffron, Administrator, has
replaced Charles Laughlin due to his retirement. The new Associate administrator, Dr. Rodney Foyle,
formerly administrator of the IFAFS, is from Mississippi. He has very good connections to the Land
Grant Universities. Robin Heuttle has taken a position as the Associate Dean at Auburn University as of
January 1. Steve Yaninek has taken a position as chair of the Entomology Department at Purdue
Univeristy. A new horticulturist, Dr. Tom Bewick, former director of the Massachusetts Cranberry
Research Station has come on board. Herb Bolton has joined our team in a brand new position. This
position is a shared national program leader with U.S. Army and will be at Army Environmental Station
in Aberdeen. His title will be an Army environmental liaison. He will probably work largely on invasive
species. The new environmental toxicologist responsible for PAT is Monte Johnson from Kentucky. He
is due to come on around January 1. We currently have three vacant positions Plant genetics/plant
genomes as well as Robin and Steve’s replacements.
The USDA Budget has come out of conference and the House has passed agricultural portion but the
Senate has yet to act. It looks good for pest management. Some areas within the Integrated Category are
up for increases. The PIAP line is still designated as such and shows level funding. There are increases
in the CAR, RAMP and methyl bromide programs. There is a new program in 406 – organic transitions
– at $500K. This program will offer us an opportunity to connect closer with SARE, who will probably
manage it. There are 30-40 new pork programs, $20-$30M. Big winners by state. PAS will be managing
pest management ones, there might be an opportunity for others to "glom on." Centers might be in
position to facilitate the distribution process.