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Agricultural Research Service


Creating the Perfect Picnic with USDA’s Help

July 24, 2019 Paul M. Zankowski, Ph.D., Senior Advisor for Plant Health and Production and Plant Products, USDA Office of the Chief Scientist

Have you ever considered what it takes to create the perfect picnic beyond the hamburgers, hot dogs, and iced tea? Most often, we include wholesome fruit and veggies to create the perfect side items or sweet treats. Whether its fresh corn-on-the-cob or plump, juicy strawberries on the shortcake...

Research and Science

The Science Behind a Favorite Summertime Treat

July 02, 2019 Nancy Vanatta, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Many people consider watermelon a delicious summer treat — whether in granitas, salads or simply freshly sliced. It’s not surprising that July is National Watermelon Month.

Research and Science

Boosting Bee Health…Naturally

June 19, 2019 Sue Kendall, Writer-Editor, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Everyone wants healthy, thriving honey bee colonies. One-third of the food we eat requires pollinators, and commercial beekeepers transport honey bees hundreds of miles each year to pollinate almond trees and other crops.

Research and Science

Online Hands-On Mapping System Helps Keep Pollinators Safe

June 18, 2019 Scott Elliott, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Researchers have been working for well over a decade to enhance the health of pollinators and now beekeepers, citizen scientists, and anyone interested in pollinator health can join in using a new online tool, Beescape.

Research and Science

Don’t Let Fire Ants Ruin Your Outdoor Plans!

May 03, 2019 Mina Chung, Writer-Editor, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Warmer weather in many parts of the country means more opportunities for outdoor activities. Whether it’s a picnic, backyard barbecue, or even an intimate wedding ceremony, no one wants to feel the painful sting of the red imported fire ant.

Animals Research and Science

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

April 24, 2019 Monica Williams, Technical Information Specialist, USDA Agricultural Research Service

As a parent, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is a chance to physically demonstrate what we as parents do while our children are in school. It’s an opportunity to show them that they can aspire to be anything they dream to be. When my daughter told me she had to share with her class what her...

Research and Science

Scientific Discoveries Impact Our Everyday Lives

April 05, 2019 Nancy Vanatta, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Every day, some 2,000 ARS scientists go to work at over 90 research locations across the United States and abroad. Their job? To deliver scientific and innovative solutions to agricultural challenges affecting our Nation. As part of that job, ARS scientists frequently collaborate with research...

Research and Science

New Cotton Gauze Stops Bleeding Fast

February 21, 2019 Sue Kendall, Writer/Editor, ARS Office of Communications

Uncontrolled bleeding is the main cause of preventable death in people who experience traumatic injury. This can happen in 5 to 10 minutes if severe blood loss from the injury site isn’t slowed or stopped. Now, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in New Orleans, Louisiana, have helped...

Research and Science

REE Gives the Gift of Agricultural Research and Innovation in 2018

December 21, 2018 Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics mission area

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)...

Research and Science

The Name, the Pin, and the Bee

December 13, 2018 Sarah Federman, Agricultural Science and AAAS Fellow, Office of the Chief Scientist

She leans over her dead subject and deftly pushes a pin through its body, securing it to the foam below. To be clear, this is not about a morgue or a serial killer. This is about taxonomy, or the science of identifying, classifying, and naming organisms. The woman in question is a scientist, and her...

Research and Science
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