For Immediate Release: December 16th 1999
Further Information:
| Alan Schreiber, WSCPR Administrator 509 266-4305 aschreib@centurytel.net |
Tanya Wojtowych, WSCPR Secretary 208.285.0121 deenam@centurytel.net |
Resounding Response to the
Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration's New, Expanded Mandate
One of the few bright spots in agriculture these days is the funding success of the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration. In 1995, WSCPR was established to support studies and activities that would result in pesticide registrations for minor uses. This year, the Commission took its mission one step further to start supporting research on non-chemical alternatives and pesticide resistance.
On Monday, May 10, 1999, Governor Locke signed legislation to broaden WSCPR's original mandate. As of July 1, 1999, the Commission received an additional $1 million per biennium-for a total of $1 million per year-to continue its original course and to expand its scope to support research, implementation, and demonstration of any aspect of integrated pest management and pesticide resistance management.
WSCPR's new mandate has been in effect for just five months. The Commission has met to review proposals twice in that time. Twenty-nine requests for funding have been received; 22 of these were proposals for new mandate projects. Since July, $349,292 has been awarded to 17 of the 22 new mandate requests; seven original mandate projects have been granted a total of $125,373. The high volume of new mandate research proposals that have been received in such a short period of time is evidence that the Commission is addressing an unmet need.
WSCPR currently represents the largest single funding source for pest management research in the Pacific Northwest. WSCPR has recently become the largest source of publicly available funds supporting organic research in the United States; $147,730 has been awarded since July 1999. The next largest benefactor of organic research is the national Organic Farming Research Foundation, which awarded grants totaling $63,136 in 1999.
Expanding the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration's mandate to support research, implementation, and demonstration of any aspect of integrated pest management and pesticide resistance management provides a tremendous opportunity for minor crops in Washington. The State legislature's unanimous vote to increase the Commission's capabilities assures that WSCPR will be an active and integral participant in developing more effective and environmentally sound integrated pest management systems.