Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP)

Providing competitive grants supporting the development and implementation of pest management alternatives when regulatory action by EPA or voluntary cancellation by the registrant results in the unavailability of certain agricultural pesticides or pesticide uses

The Pest Management Alternatives special research grant supports projects that help farmers respond to the environmental and regulatory issues confronting agriculture. These special grant funds support research that provides farmers with replacement technologies for pesticides that are under consideration for regulatory action by EPA and for which producers do not have effective alternatives.

The passage of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) makes this special research grant of critical importance to the nation's farmers. New pest management tools are being developed to address critical pest problems identified by farmers and other stakeholders. New approaches to managing pests without some of the traditional pesticides are begin developed.

Farmers have identified the lack of effective alternative pest management tactics as a primary reason for not implementing IPM on their farms. Where effective alternative tactics have been developed, they are widely and rapidly implemented by farmers. These special research grant funds are distributed on a competitive basis to all eligible research entities through the Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP).

Project Examples

The University of California at Davis was awarded $149,314 to evaluate low-rate herbicides and cover crops for weed control in vegetable crops. There are few vegetable herbicides and most of these are old. Many existing vegetable herbicides were registered decades ago when development costs were lower, markets were less competitive, and environmental regulations were less stringent. Some currently registered vegetable herbicides have environmental issues to overcome if they are to survive recent regulatory initiatives. The overall objective of this project is to find new weed control tools for broccoli, lettuce, and spinach.
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville was awarded $128,814 to evaluate monitoring systems, pathogen detection, and alternative tactics for IPM of filth flies in poultry production facilities. The use of filth fly monitoring and alternatives to insecticides in broiler-breeder egg and turkey finishing production systems are practically nonexistent. In general, the poultry companies and producers depend completely on insecticides for fly control in these facilities. In this project, standard fly management procedures using insecticides will be compared with alternative biological control agents such as wasp parasites, insect parasitic nematodes, and pathogenic fungus. In addition, alternative methods of insecticide mixtures and application procedures such as wall spraying, spot-treatment of manure, and use of attractant/insecticide trapping devices will be evaluated.
A grant of $165,803 was awarded to Kansas State University at Manhattan to demonstrate alternative pest management for greenhouse bedding plants and to evaluate its economic feasibility for commercial greenhouse operations. The prospect of incurring economic losses from pests because chemical control options are unavailable is a risk that many U.S. agricultural producers face because of regulatory policies imposed under the Food Quality Protection Act. This project expects to make a major contribution to the multibillion dollar greenhouse bedding plant industry, and to U.S. agriculture in general, by demonstrating the practicality and profitability of a broad-based pest management program. The program expects to extend the longevity of valuable replacement pesticides and take advantage of effective biological controls in a way that not only allows growers to remain competitive, but also maximizes profits by reducing long-term risks.

Application and Financial Information
For copies of the full solicitation of proposals, the administrative provisions for the program, and the Application Kit (containing required forms, certifications, and instructions for preparing and submitting applications for funding), visit www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1114, or contact:
Proposal Services Unit
Office of Extramural Programs
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture; Stop 2245
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-2245
Phone: (202) 401-5048

When contacting the Proposal Services Unit, please indicate that you are requesting forms for the Pest Management Alternatives Program.

Grant amounts have typically been from $85,000 to $150,000 since 1996. About 10 to 12 grants are awarded annually.

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Under this authority, subject to the availability of funds, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture may make grants for periods not to exceed 5 years to state agricultural experiment stations, all colleges and universities, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, private organizations or corporations, and individuals.

Proposals from scientists affiliated with foreign organizations are not eligible for funding nor are scientists who are directly or indirectly engaged in the registration of pesticides for profit; however, their collaboration with funded projects is encouraged.

CSREES seeks proposals that identify or develop replacement or mitigation technologies. The program funds the identification and demonstration of pest management alternatives or mitigation procedures for one or more pesticides (from a list identified by CSREES). The focus should be on modifying existing approaches or introducing new methods, especially ecologically based methods, that can be rapidly brought to bear on pest management challenges resulting from implementation of FQPA.

Durability and practicality of the proposed pest management option(s) or mitigation procedure(s), and compatibility with integrated pest management systems are critical. Both technological and economic feasibility should be considered. Pest management alternatives or risk mitigation options identified should address various EPA risk concerns for pesticides being reviewed under FQPA (for example, dietary or worker exposure, groundwater or ecological risk). Replacements for methyl bromide are not addressed by this request for proposals.

Proposals must show evidence of significant involvement of producers or other pesticide user groups in project design and implementation, including data acquisition and analysis and the identification of potential solutions. Public-private partnerships and matching resources from nonfederal sources, including producer or commodity groups, are encouraged. Proposals should describe how state and federal registrations of new pest management options will be obtained when they are required before use of new methods.

Contact
Monte Johnson
National Program Office
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture; Stop 2220
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20250-2220
Phone: (202) 401-1108; Fax: (202) 401-4888
E-mail: mpjohnson@csrees.usda.gov

Internet
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1114

Last Updated June 18, 2007