The IR-4 Project

08/27/2026

Today, 8/27, is the final day to register for IR-4's Food Use Workshop at the early-bird rate. We hope to see you in Austin (or virtually) as we set next year's research priorities for the Food Crop Program. Learn more & register on the event web page:

http://ncst.at/Sc9m50ZG7Pu

08/25/2026

Across the country, IR-4 researchers are busy in the field. Nicole Soldan and Celeste Wheeler, who coordinate field research in IR-4's North Central Region, recently joined Dan Heider and Scott Chapman for a h**p harvest at their University of Wisconsin-Madison research site.

It may have been a blue sky day by the time Nicole and Celeste reached Wisconsin, but their drive from Michigan got dicey as summer storms popped up across the Indiana landscape. When Celeste got a phone alert announcing an "imminent threat" of tornadoes, the team had to pull over in a Walmart parking lot to wait out the weather. Fortunately, they stayed safe, but they saw tornado damage all along the highway after the coast was clear.

We're so glad our team stayed safe & just got a good story out of a harrowing drive 🌪️ ... and some awesome photos of the h**p harvest!

**p

08/19/2026

Christmas trees may not be top of mind for most of us in late August, but growers are working hard to get them ready for holiday festivities.

Josh Kindel, our Environmental Horticulture Program Manager, had a fantastic time attending the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association Summer Meeting and Farm Tour. We enjoy collaborating with this incredible industry to support healthy Christmas tree harvests.

Thank you to the farm hosts and organizers at Avery County Cooperative Extension for a great event! Farms pictured: Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm, Appalachian Farms of Cranberry, and Mountain Top Fraser Fir Farm. You should all be proud of these exemplary operations!

We can't wait to bring a tree home for the holidays🌲

08/13/2026

Don't miss this upcoming webinar on spotted laternfly IPM, featuring experts including Ashley Leach, IR-4's State Liaison Representative for Ohio!

🚨 Upcoming Webinar 🚨

Join us on Wednesday, August 19th, at 1:00 PM ET for a webinar, "From Detection to Action: eDNA, 3D Printing, and Grower Outreach for Spotted Lanternfly IPM," with speakers Dr. Ashley Leach and Dr. Natalie Constancio from the Speciality Crop Entomology lab at Ohio State University.

Their research and extension efforts focus on helping specialty crop growers manage insect pests through evidence-based integrated pest management programs. In this webinar, they will share Ohio’s latest work on spotted lanternfly, highlighting emerging technologies such as eDNA surveillance and 3D-printed tools that are advancing detection, monitoring, and management of this invasive pest.

The webinar will be recorded for anyone unable to attend the live session.

Register for the webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Xpd7xxP3RBqNkxWLX05chA #/registration

08/12/2026

IR-4 in action: Western Region field researcher Chanz Robbins performs a drench application for a greenhouse basil study at New Mexico State University. Fun fact about Chanz's setup: the injector piece here is typically used to give medicine to farm animals 💡🐮🪴 Photos courtesy of Laurel Hsieh.

07/29/2026

07/27/2026

IR-4 Headquarters, based at NC State University, is seeking a Study Director. The Study Director position will report directly to the IR-4 Submission Manager and Senior Study Director. This position will be an integral part of the IR-4 Project Headquarters unit. Duties of this position include protocol development, study coordination, data package development, and more. Check out the NC State job posting to learn more and apply:

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/233040

Please help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity!

07/23/2026

✌ Two weeks until our Food Use Workshop Orientation Webinar! Learn more & find a link to register below 👇

Are you new to IR-4’s Food Use Workshop, or looking to brush up on the process before joining us in September? NEW for this year, IR-4 is hosting a Food Use Workshop Orientation Webinar on Thursday, August 6, from 12-12:45 p.m. ET.

Designed to help new or returning workshop attendees, this session will give you the tools and confidence you need to participate actively. Learn more & register using the link below 🔗

http://ncst.at/iJfI50ZlFyU

07/22/2026

In June, the Environmental Horticulture Program published a new crop safety summary on isocycloseram.

Ornamental producers face persistent pressure from a range of difficult-to-manage pests, and access to effective, labeled chemistries is essential to maintaining crop quality across the diverse species found in nursery and greenhouse production.

The IR-4 Project continues to work to address this need by generating crop safety data for a new insecticide/miticide with activity against scale, mealybugs, thrips, beetles, and other key pests. Our new summary highlights findings from the past five years, supporting efforts to expand pest management options for growers in modern ornamental production. Read the summary here:

http://ncst.at/GTzU50ZrtYs

07/21/2026

👋 Next Friday, July 31, is the deadline for Jerry Baron SOAR Award nominations. Find the details below!

IR-4 is now welcoming nominations for the Jerry Baron SOAR Award, which recognizes external collaborators who excel in serving growers of specialty crops and minor uses. The selected recipient will have demonstrated clear excellence in Service, Outreach, Altruism, and Research (the core tenets of “SOAR”).

The SOAR Award was renamed in 2026 to honor IR-4 Executive Director Emeritus, Jerry Baron. Jerry perfectly exemplified the spirit of this honor and was instrumental in fostering IR-4’s culture of stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

Learn more about award criteria & make a nomination here:
http://ncst.at/y04x50Zgj0V