THE MISSION OF THE IR-4 PROJECT (IR-4) IS TO FACILITATE THE REGULATORY APPROVAL OF SAFE, EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMICAL PEST MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR SPECIALTY CROPS (FRUITS, VEGETABLES, NUTS, HERBS, ORNAMENTALS AND OTHER HORTICULTURAL CROPS) AND SMALL OR ISOLATED (AKA MINOR) USES ON MAJOR CROPS. THE IR-4 PROJECT REMAINS RELEVANT TO HORTICULTURAL CROP FARMERS BECAUSE REGISTRANTS OF CROP PROTECTION PRODUCTS (AKA PESTICIDES) FOCUS THEIR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ON LARGE ACREAGE CROPS (MAJOR CROPS SUCH AS CORN, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, ETC.) WHERE THE POTENTIAL SALES ARE SIGNIFICANT. INSECT PESTS, PLANT DISEASES, WEEDS AND OTHER PESTS ARE INDISCRIMINATE; THE NEED FOR PEST MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS IS JUST AS GREAT FOR SMALL ACREAGE, SPECIALTY CROPS AS IT IS FOR LARGE ACREAGE ROW CROPS. REGISTRATIONS ON SPECIALTY CROPS OR MINOR USES DOES NOT PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE ECONOMIC RETURN TO INDUSTRY.THE NER ACTIVITIES ARE CLOSELY INTEGRATED WITH THE CORRESPONDING ACTIVITIES OF THE OTHER REGIONAL PROGRAMS AND THE USDA-ARS UNITS THAT COMPRISE THE NATIONAL IR-4 PROGRAM. IR-4 PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO ALL CONSUMERS AND DOMESTIC AGRICULTURE AS WELL AS THE NORTHEAST REGION. IR-4 RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE DATA VITAL TO REGISTERING CHEMICAL PESTICIDES AND BIOPESTICIDES FOR SPECIALTY CROPS. FOCUSING ON REDUCED RISK PESTICIDES ARE OFTEN INCORPORATED INTO INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH EFFORTS TO DEVELOP BIOLOGICAL CONTROL MATERIALS.