MANAGEMENTS OF INSECTS, DISEASES, AND WEEDS IN THE FIELD ARE ESSENTIAL FOR AGRICULTURE. ANY PESTICIDES USE ON CROPS MUST BE PRE-APPROVED AND REGISTERED BY EPA TO ENSURE ITS RESIDUE LEVELS IS SAFE FOR CONSUMERS. AMERICAN FARMERS GROWER SEVERAL HUNDRED TYPES OF SPECIALTY CROPS, WHICH INCLUDE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, TREE NUTS, FORESTRY, LANDSCAPE AND FLORAL CROPS. THESE CROPS ARE VALUED NATIONALLY AT $50 BILLION; HOWEVER, ANNUAL LOSSES FROM PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS ARE ESTIMATED AT 15%-30% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION. SPECIALTY CROP FARMERS FREQUENTLY FIND THAT NO PESTICIDE WAS REGISTERED TO CONTROL AN INSECT OR A DISEASE ON THEIR CROP. THE OBJECTIVE OF IR-4 IS TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE. EACH YEAR, PEST CONTROL NEEDS ARE COLLECTED AND PRIORITIZED. FIELD AND LAB TESTS ARE CONDUCTED TO ASSESS THE EFFICACY AND RESIDUE LEVELS. THESE DATA ARE COMPILED INTO PETITIONS AND SUBMITTED TO EPA. APPROVAL OF PETITIONS GIVES FARMERS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PEST MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR SPECIALTY CROP.