Introduction to the Crop Profile for Apples in West Virginia

Crop Profiles - Who Uses Them and How?

USDA:

Crop profiles provide USDA with background information on crop production and pest management practices. This information is used to respond to EPA proposed risk management decisions. Profiles also identify commodity and pest management experts who are readily available when detail issues arise.

USDA/OPMP uses crop profiles to evaluate and review EPA risk assessments, Reregistration Eligibility Documents (REDs), proposed risk mitigation/management measures, and proposed label modifications (changes in application rates of PHIs, crop deletions, buffer zones, etc.). By comparing profile information with EPA assumptions we can respond to the risk assessments and other decisions that are being made.

Crop profiles held USDA identify critical pest management needs, including the importance of individual pesticides to both IPM and Resistance Management Programs. Identifying how regulatory decisions may impact these established programs will be of significant importance during the regulatory process.

The profiles provide important information for developing risk mitigation/management plans, transition strategies, possible phase-out times, and future research needs should cancellation of critical pesticides occur.

Crop profiles provide the USDA with an encyclopedia of crop production information for most of the crops produced in the United States. USDA has no such source of information at this time.

Other activities where profiles may prove valuable include the Section 18 process, new registrations, the Special Review process, and other crises as they arise on a daily basis.

Crop production experts, including growers, grower organizations, and those in the land grant system can be quickly and easily identified from crop profiles and consulted as needed.

EPA:

Crop profiles provide EPA with typical pesticide use and usage data that can replace default assumptions often used in the risk assessments. This information can also be used in risk assessment refinement.

Crop profiles provide a background of production information that can be used in a commodity approach to implementing the FQPA.

Crop profiles describe and demonstrate IPM and Resistance Management Programs and identify biological control agents and strategies.

Crop profiles provide a sound basis upon which EPA can develop risk mitigation/management plans.

States:

The development of individual state commodity specific profiles provides an informative document to show off within your state. These can be used to inform elected officials, extension directors, college deans, commodity groups, farmers and the public about the production of commodities in your state.

At the same time you are educating others about crop production in your state you are also advertising the efforts of PIAP and your activities as a liaison between the agricultural community and the regulatory activities in Washington, DC.

Profiles can be placed on your state websites for the world to see. You can create pamphlets and brochures based on the profiles and hand these out at trade shows, state fairs, conventions, etc., or any place that will get the word out about agriculture in your state.

Grower Organizations:

Profiles provide background information for grant proposals. One commodity association in California developed a crop profile and then used it to apply for a grant - they received $100,000.

Crop profiles provide background materials for promotional and consumer information.

Profiles can point to pest management research needs.

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