USDA Blog

Marco Antonio Alcantar Alvarez, a rising sophomore at California State University majoring in graphic design, was one of 14 students selected for an internship over the summer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) High School Equivalency Program (HEP)/College Assistance Migrant Program...

A new technology from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) may become a key tool for dairy farmers to reduce their expenses and help limit pollution.

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. USDA’s summer road trip may have come to an end, but many folks are still firing up the grills as summer winds down. With...

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. As the weather heats up this summer, many of us are firing up our grills and going on picnics. But one thing we all want to...

Think algae is just slimy green pond scum? Well, think again! Thanks to advances in science and technology, these microscopic plant-like organisms are now star players in biologically-based approaches to producing fuel for transportation and other energy needs.

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. As a plant pathologist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Rice Research Unit in Beaumont, Texas, Toni Marchetti...

Approximately one-half of 1% of the planet’s water is drinkable, and we use that water for much more than drinking – showering, brushing our teeth, watering our grass, etc. Consumer usage, however, pales in comparison to the amount of water needed to irrigate our crops.

The UN recently released a report stating that world hunger is once again on the rise, with 815 million people now hungry. That is roughly two and a half times the population of the United States. To this end, the UN lists “zero hunger” near the top of its list of Sustainable Development Goals, only...

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio. An innovative network of public- and private-sector groups are working together to transfer federal research out of the lab...

Like many of you, I bask in the excitement of the holidays—wrapping gifts, planning holiday dinners, and spending time with loved ones. However, this month also means the end of the year is near, ushering in a time of reflection and anticipation. In USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE)...