Minor Crop Pest Management
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
(A) a listing of all registrations, reregistrations, and tolerances for which data has been collected in the preceding year;
(B) a listing of all registrations, reregistrations, and tolerances for which data collection is scheduled to occur in the following year, with an explanation of the priority system used to develop this list; and
(C) a listing of all activities the IR–4 Program has carried out pursuant to the legislation.
A more detailed report is available on the IR-4Project website. https://www.ir4project.org/about-ir4/annual_report/
Since its founding by the USDA, IR-4 has championed farmers facilitating the registration of more than 75,000 chemicals for minor uses, including over 23,000 registrations on food crops.
Program Objective
Per section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note), the overarching goals and objectives of the IR-4 project are to assist in the collection of residue and efficacy data in support of the registration or reregistration of pesticides for minor agricultural use and for use on specialty crops under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) and tolerances for residues of minor use chemicals in or on raw agricultural commodities under sections 346a and 348 of U.S.C. Title 21. This is essential to solving the most pressing challenges these growers face and keeping American agriculture competitive and reducing world hunger by improving the availability of safe and nutritious food.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Unrestricted by Entity Type
- Unrestricted by Individual Type
Special Research Grants: State agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, Federal agencies, private organizations or corporations and individuals having a demonstrable capacity to conduct research activities to facilitate or expand promising breakthroughs in areas of the food and agricultural sciences of importance to the United States.
Per authorizing legislation:
The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an Inter-Regional Research Project Number 4 (hereinafter referred to in this subsection as the "IR–4 Program") to assist in the collection of residue and efficacy data in support of-
(A) the registration or reregistration of pesticides for minor agricultural use and for use on specialty crops (as defined in section 3 of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 (7 U.S.C. 1621 note)), under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.); and
(B) tolerances for residues of minor use chemicals in or on raw agricultural commodities under sections 346a and 348 of title 21.
The funds appropriated to this program are specific to the long established IR-4 Program. There is only one IR-4 Program and only one entity that has the infrastructure and experience to meet the intent Congress has in providing IR-4 appropriations.
Beneficiaries
- Unrestricted by Entity Type
- Unrestricted by Individual Type
How to Apply
Award Procedure
Within the limit of funds authorized, the NIFA awarding official will make grants to responsible and eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in this directed Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
NIFA will provide funding for the IR-4 Program as a continuation award for a period of four years as a non-competitive grant. Annual funding increments will be provided based on the results of the National Research Support Project (NRSP) review process and the submission of the legislatively mandated annual report by the IR-4 Project. New awards will be made at the end of the four-year funding cycle based on results of the NRSP review process. This will reduce the administrative burden to IR-4 leadership and NIFA.
Up to 180 days. Dates for specific deadlines are announced in the directed Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Contact the National Program Leader (NPL)Headquarters Office regarding dates for specific deadlines, start and end dates, and range of approval/disapproval time. Information is also available via our website and may be obtained via the Grants.gov website. NIFA’s specific links regarding general information are provided below:
http://nifa.usda.gov/
http://www.grants.gov.
SPECIAL NOTE: Please refer to the directed notice of funding opportunity for additional details. Any specific instructions in the directed Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supersede the general information provided in the CFDA database.
Program details & compliance
Description
Since the plant protection industry has little economic incentive to develop registrations for specialty crop chemicals, IR-4 develops the data that provides legal, effective, safe and IPM-compatible pest control agents for minor and specialty crops. Without this program, many specialty crops could no longer be produced in the US or would be greatly compromised in cost and quality. Therefore, this program provides assistance needed to increase profitability, expand market opportunities and protect American agriculture form new and re-emerging threats by ensuring that new and more effective crop protection products are developed and made available to minor/specialty crop producers.
Mission Categories
Primary: Research and Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Grant funds must be used for allowable costs necessary to carry out the legislatively mandated objectives as outlined in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).
Restrictions
Pursuant to the Competitive, Special and Facilities Research Grant Act of August 4, 1965 [7 U.S.C. 3157(g)], the Secretary of Agriculture shall limit allowable overhead costs, with respect to grants awarded under this section, to those necessary to carry out the purposes of the grants.
Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants must limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to 10 percent of the total funds requested.
Successful applicants must not use grant funds awarded under the authority of this notice of funding opportunity to renovate or refurbish research, education, or extension space, purchase or install fixed equipment in such space, or to plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct buildings or facilities unless specifically authorized.
The application package should include the latest submission of the legislatively mandated annual report and the results of the most recent National Research Support Project (NRSP) review process.
Required Documentation
Applicants (unless excepted under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) must
(1) Have an active SAM registration prior to applying;
(2) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier number in its application; and
(3) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an application under consideration or an active federal award.
Applicants must furnish the information required in the notice of funding opportunity. Successful applicants recommended for funding must furnish the information and assurances requested during the award documentation process.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements