Southern Region IPM Center Update & Issues Jim VanKirk, Director

Outline Background & Review Activities Issues Origins & Funding Structure Activities Information network Grant programs Issues Covering the region E-extension Federal budget

Review of Mission & Role Our mission: The Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) fosters the development and adoption of IPM, a science-based approach to managing pests in ways that generate economic, environmental and human health benefits. We work in partnership with stakeholders from agricultural, urban and rural settings to identify and address regional priorities for research, education and outreach.

Part of the Section 406, Integrated Activities Funding Part of the Section 406, Integrated Activities IPM Center funding is a very small part of 406 Other 406 Programs: Food Safety Water Quality Other IPM programs CAR, RAMP Methyl Bromide Alternatives

A Brief History Started in FY2000 with Pest Management Centers. SRPMC Located at University of Florida Re-competed in fy2003 as IPM Centers National funding split evenly over 4 regions $1,000,000 annually

Structure Overview About half of our budget passed on in subcontracts Personnel: Director (.9) Assoc. Director Regulatory (.6) Assoc. Director IT (.3) Programmer (.5) Admin assistant (1.1) Editor/Writer (1.0) Advisory Council & Steering Committee

Southern Region IPM Center Activities of the Southern Region IPM Center

Activities: Information Network Connect regulators with stakeholders Provide data for better decisions State Contact is our primary route

Information Network: Other Modes Advisory Council (~35 stakeholders) Steering Committee (10 members) IPM Coordinators and SERA003 Monthly publication Website Meetings and presentations

Information Network: Website Goal: clearinghouse for all IPM-related information IPM users: how to, recommendations, etc. Research and extension: funding and job opportunities; access to data, publications; outreach Public: outreach, access to education Regulators: pesticide use data, PMSPs, grower priorities, risk assessments Policymakers: impact documentation, accountability

Grants Programs

Grants Programs: IPM Enhancement Approximately 50% of SRIPMC budget Subcontracts to SRIPMC Competition open to anyone Indirect (19-20%) allowed

IPM Enhancement Grants 2004 State contacts AR, FL, OK, TX, TN, VA, (NC) PMSPs, Crop Profiles, IPM Priorities 7 projects from 7 states Special Projects 9 projects: GA, TX, AR, FL, NC, VA Critical and emerging (year-round)

IPM Enhancement Grants Critical and emerging (year-round) Integrated Pest Management Center Network - Puerto Rico (Mossler, FL) Mating Disruption for Management of Lesser Peachtree Borer in the Southeastern U.S. Horton, GA Multistate Methyl Bromide alternatives training - Louwes, NC Regional fire ant management publication – Fuchs, TX

Grants Programs: S-RIPM This year $835,000 Land Grants only; no indirect Types: Research, Extension, Research/Extension FY2005: Relevance & Technical Panels 8 projects funded PIs from 5 states

“Miscellaneous” IRAC publication: how to avoid resistance Multi-agency evaluation working group SOD training for Master Gardeners Pink Hibiscus Mealy bug bio-control project Soybean rust 2004 workshop for specialists with SPDN Sponsor Brazil tour participation Regional Fire Ant publication for homeowners

“Miscellaneous” Methyl Bromide Organized critical use exemptions across the South Multi-state training on MB alternatives

Southern Region IPM Center Issues Facing the Southern Region IPM Center

Issues: Covering the Region Primary structure for covering the states is the State Contact State Contacts do not cover all states Contracts: AR, FL, OK, TX, TN, VA, (NC), (PR) “Volunteer”: SC, GA Not covered currently: AL, LA, MS, VI

Issues: Covering the Region So What? Methyl Bromide exemption example Why does it happen? Competitive process We don’t support a full-time position Solutions? Receive good proposals from more states Fund work in neighboring states Do more of the work out of the Center North Central solution

Issues: E-Extension Our approach to Extension resources on-line Catalogue existing resources Direct “customers” to state resources Use technology (XML, web services) to allow local “branding” while preserving other attributes Investigate ways to modernize and automate the recommendations process (CDMS) The e-extension approach (?) Designate or design the right content for any issue Use technology to distribute with local branding, etc.

Issues: The Budget Section 406 nixed in the President’s budget Rumor: IPM Centers, other IPM programs may move NRI (new) Agricultural Experiment Station If we move, what about indirects? Currently, 19-20% for NCSU and all sub-contract hosts New locations allow much higher indirect caps SRIPMC has an off-campus cap of ~27%, but most subs would not have this cap