As a world-leading scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has a mission to: Conduct research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to ensure high-quality, safe food,  and other agricultural products; assess the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the environment; and provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole.

ARS’ Southern Plains Area is a region comprising the four states of Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as one international site located in Panama City, Panama.  The environment of the region is very diverse– from an almost subtropical climate with nearly 55 inches of annual rainfall in the eastern part of Arkansas to a desert climate with less than 10 inches of annual rainfall in New Mexico.  This climatic diversity lends itself to research diversity as well.   We are the only Area that has active research programs in all of the ARS National Programs.  In terms of size, we have approximately 220 Research Scientists and another 650 support staff in 17 locations.

For an overview of the Southern Plains Area research click on the name of each corresponding state or country below.  For more detailed information on each of our locations, you may use the right side navigation links to view each location's webpage.  Please use your browser’s back button to return to this webpage.