http://www.ars.usda.gov/RSSFeeds/RSSRouter.htm This is one of the different ARS feeds available currently. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/Ecoli1112.htm An ARS microbiologist and university colleagues sampled 20 sites throughout the vast Santa Ana River Watershed for more than a year in a study to determine the origins of Escherichia coli strains. Fri, 02 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/form1112.htm Protecting deployed war-fighters from insect-transmitted diseases is important and an added benefit is that advances derived from this research may be useful for public and veterinary health as well. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/insecticide1112.htm Two new apps developed by ARS scientists are now available to provide aerial and ground-based crews with specifics on best choices--from airspeed to type of sprayer to nozzle type--for applying pesticides. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/insects1112.htm USDA and the U.S. Department of Defense have partnered in the fight against disease-spreading insects in the Deployed War-Fighter Protection (DWFP) research program. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/livestock1112.htm Capturing and recycling ammonia from livestock waste is possible using a process developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers Thu, 01 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/logs1112.htm Tests conducted by ARS scientists have shown that lawn clippings can be mixed with other natural compounds to yield eco-friendly fire logs that burn brightly and evenly. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/nov12/peach1112.htm A team of ARS scientists in California is focused on helping peach growers in the San Joaquin Valley reduce the amount of water they use. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/avocado1012.htm U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists are coming up with new strategies to combat a beetle threatening the nation's avocado trees. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/form1012.htm The goal of the national Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics, and Genetic Improvement program is enhancing American agricultural productivity and ensuring a high-quality, safe supply of food, fiber, feed, ornamentals, and industrial products. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/fruits1012.htm Scientists in ARS laboratories around the country strive to making sure consumers have an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/fungus1012.htm The nontoxigenic Aspergillus flavus (K49) has been formulated in bioplastic granules as a first-line defense against aflatoxin contamination of corn. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/pesticide1012.htm Research indicates that there are management practices you can use as a preventative measure to protect water resources around golf courses. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/piglet1012.htm To improve neonatal piglet survival, ARS scientists have developed a measuring technique referred to as the immunocrit that can determine whether neonatal piglets have received adequate colostrum from the mother. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/soils1012.htm Beef cattle manure compost may reduce levels of lead and zinc that could contaminate runoff during heavy rain. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/sorghum1012.htm Researchers are hunting for genes to develop cold-tolerant lines of sorghum and developing tools to help combat diseases that can wipe out entire fields of the crop. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/tree1012.htm Pairing conventional antifungal medications with natural, edible plant compounds such as thymol could work synergistically with some of these drugs to boost their healing effects. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/wasps1012.htm Small parasitoid wasps could become important allies in the fight to reduce multi-billion-dollar losses caused by stored-product pests. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/oct12/weevils1012.htm Ensuring the monarch butterfly's survival by saving its milkweed habitat could result from USDA studies initially intended to improve detection of boll weevils with pheromone traps. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/biofuels0912.htm Thanks to sunny skies and long growing seasons, the southeastern United States will play a major role in efforts to produce biomass for biofuels that reduce our nation's dependence on fossil fuels. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/biomass0912.htm In 2010, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack created five Regional Biomass Research Centers to help make the most of existing USDA research resources. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/cows0912.htm USDA researchers are studying how copper levels in the wastewater affected crop performance and soil microbial activities Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/flies0912.htm USDA and collaborating scientists have devised a hormone therapy for making sterile flies Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/form0912.htm ARS has long been a leader in biofuels research Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/jet0912.htm FARM to FLY is a partnership among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Airlines for America, Inc., the Boeing Company, and others to advance the development and production of aviation biofuel. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/lemonade0912.htm Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension in Chatsworth, New Jersey has developed several interesting new blueberries. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/perennials0912.htm A joint study will investigate agricultural systems in the central United States for producing advanced transportation fuels from perennial grasses grown on land that is either unsuitable or only marginally suitable for row crop production. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/sept12/plants0912.htm Growers can combat the silverleaf whitefly and other crop pests by using plants as storehouses for predatory insects that can feed on the pests. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/blueberry0812.htm Growers and consumers alike stand to benefit from Gupton and Pearl, two new southern highbush blueberry cultivars developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/cranberries0812.htm ARS scientists examined the types and amounts of compounds in cranberry pomace--the stems, skin, and pulp left over after the berries are pressed to make juice or canned products. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/cropland0812.htm An innovative Agricultural Research Service study combined a computer model with 15 to 17 years of field crop and climate data--and Colorado Water Conservation Board global change projections for Colorado through the year 2050. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/enzyme0812.htm An ARS scientist is working toward developing new herbicides by focusing on a molecular pathway that not only controls weeds in soybean fields, but might also have helped shape our nation's history. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/fertilizer0812.htm An Agricultural Research Service scientist with the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Florida is testing a relatively new, natural, and greener chelating agent as an alternative to the synthetic ones. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/form0812.htm From the flowerpot to the crop field, Agricultural Research Service scientists tackle issues that pay off in a homeowner's pride, a golfer's putt, a farmer's profits—and the nation's environmental protection. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/grasslands0812.htm Global climate changes could help some shrub-dominated deserts revert to ecosystems that support the growth and establishment of grasslands. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/meat0812.htm A noninvasive system, based on visible and near-infrared reflectance (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy, predicts both beef and pork tenderness as well as color stability in both meats. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/nal0812.htm A century of research fills at least 100 boxes at the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Md. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/pests0812.htm Lab aims it's expertise at harnessing beneficial species of insect-killing (entomopathogenic) nematodes as biocontrol agents, which can be commercially formulated as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/aug12/snow0812.htm Field-scale study compared how no-till and conventional-till management affect snow accumulation, snow distribution, and the spatial variation of soil water. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/colony0712.htm The rate of honey bee losses from colony collapse disorder seems to have leveled off; however, the cause or causes of CCD remain unclear. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/cotton0712.htm USDA scientists are using molecular tools to help cotton growers cut back on their use of pesticides in controlling one of their worst adversaries: the root-knot nematode. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/crops0712.htm Some no-till management systems can lower atmospheric levels of PM10--soil particles and other material 10 microns or less in diameter that degrade air quality--that are eroded from crop fields via the wind. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/form0712.htm Agricultural Research Service scientists have found many innovative and environmentally friendly methods to help meet the challenge of postharvest control of insect pests. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/pest0712.htm A fumigant called phosphine is more effective at controlling insects when it's combined with oxygen, according to findings by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/poultry0712.htm Hyperimmune egg yolk antibodies can be used to help control intestinal diseases in poultry, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/soybeans0712.htm Soybean varieties that grow in Southeast Asia could provide the U.S. with much-needed genes for developing soybeans tolerant to flooding--as well as other plant diseases found in waterlogged soils. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/vegetables0712.htm Parent-and-kid-focused research has yielded a globe-spanning glimpse of parenting practices pertaining to fruits and veggies. Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jul12/yeast0712.htm ARS scientists are probing a beneficial yeast's ability to protect tree nuts from the mold Aspergillus flavus Mon, 02 Jul 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/cotton0412.htm Silver nanoparticles on the surface of cotton helps cotton fabric resist microbial growth. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/may12/animal0512.htm Novel biocontrol approaches for reducing bacterial pathogens in food animal production employ strategies specifically geared to reduce or eliminate drug-resistance development. Tue, 01 May 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/may12/bug0512.htm USDA scientists are evaluating the parasitic wasp Paratelenomous saccharalis, a natural enemy of the Kudzu bug. Tue, 01 May 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/may12/form0512.htm Part of the mission at the USDA Agricultural Research Service is to conduct research to protect the safety of the nation's agriculture and food supply through improved disease detection, prevention, and control. Tue, 01 May 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/may12/green0512.htm A new genetic tool can now distinguish the mutations in a bermudagrass green from the desired grass. Tue, 01 May 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/may12/history0512.htm The USDA celebrates its 150th anniversary on May 15, 2012. Tue, 01 May 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/may12/insect0512.htm The battle between insects and plants costs growers billions of dollars each year in lost ornamentals, vegetables, citrus, and other important agricultural crops. Tue, 01 May 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/rice0413.htm A USDA research team analyzed the phytochemicals and vitamin E concentrations in five color classes of rice. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/vitamin0413.htm A new vitamin B12 assay developed by ARS scientists requires only a tiny drop of blood rather than a standard 1-milliliter sample. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/carbs0513.htm Hemicellulosic carbs extracted from wood chips from pine trees may have beneficial effects on dogs' digestive-system health. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/flavor0513.htm Flavor chemistry--a unique scientific niche that touches the lives of everyone--is one of several areas of research conducted at the Western Regional Research Center in Albany, California. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/form0513.htm The world of 2050 will force a melding of two disciplines that have diverged in recent years--agriculture and nutrition. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/olives0513.htm Research findings from ARS scientists in California could be used to assure the authenticity of olive oil. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/preemies0513.htm SScientists are confronting the challenges of nourishing premature infants via intravenous feeding. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/rice0513.htm The nutritional value of rice could be bolstered by research being done on the genes in the grain that regulate the uptake and storage of important minerals, including zinc, iron, and calcium. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/rootworms0513.htm Thousands of beneficial nematodes that can attack and kill corn rootworms are embedded within soft capsules and deposited into the soil near corn plants. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/salmon0513.htm Recent ARS studies should help alleviate concerns about whether farm-raised salmon have less available omega-3s than salmon caught in the wild. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/sheep0513.htm Scientists have verified that the gene TMEM154 affects susceptibility to OPPV infection in sheep. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/may13/yeast0513.htm A new yeast strain produces an enzyme that helps release and degrade biomass sugars which could help reduce ethanol production costs. Wed, 01 May 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/aphids0412.htm USDA scientists have found a way to distinguish aphids that spread plant viruses from those that do not which could cut back on insecticide use. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/digital0412.htm Researchers at the ARS Food Composition and Methods Development Laboratory are using new equipment and a metabolomics approach to discover compounds and to accurately identify ingredients in foods and supplements. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/erosion0412.htm An update of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2, is soon-to-be-unveiled. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/form0412.htm This month's issue of Agricultural Research, highlights USDA projects grown from seeds planted on what were once the distant horizons of biotechnology—metagenomics, genomic selection, metabolomics, and more. Sun, 01 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/insects0412.htm DNA barcodes are being developed on a wide range of plants and animals as part of a global effort to catalog the diversity of life on Earth. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/metabolites0412.htm Medical and nutrition researchers are eager to discover more about thousands of small molecules known as metabolites that are formed in and by our bodies. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/plant0412.htm An ARS scientist is using a new statistical approach to help speed the development of improved varieties of crops. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/poultry0412.htm Scientists are using metagenomics—a new discipline that involves sampling genome sequences from a community of microorganisms—to analyze RNA and DNA viruses associated with two major enteric diseases in poultry. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/salmonella0412.htm Diagnostic tests that rapidly detect disease-causing viruses in animals and humans are being developed by USDA scientists using a new technology called surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/apr12/viruses0412.htm Gold nanoparticles are being used to develop detection tools for viruses that affect animals and people. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/mar12/diet0312.htm Science-based dietary-intake data from the Agricultural Research Service provides a key foundation for multiple public health policy publications, including the council’s strategy report Thu, 01 Mar 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/mar12/food0312.htm Headed by chemist James Harnly, the Food Composition and Methods Development Laboratory's researchers design, develop, and improve analytical methods for measuring nutritional components in the food supply. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/mar12/nutrients0312.htm Researchers at Nutrient Data Laboratory are the conservators of the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, the major authoritative source of information about food composition used in the United States. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/mar12/nutrition0312.htm The ARS human nutrition monitoring program helps watch over the healthfulness of the country's food supply and diet. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/mar12/sodium0312.htm Salt has become one of a handful of sensitive nutrients in the public spotlight. Fri, 02 Mar 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/crops0413.htm ARS scientists have found a way to map the structure of an elusive protein that gives certain plant viruses the ability to travel from plants to insects, through the insects, and back into plants. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/disease0413.htm Detecting the costly, contagious Johne's disease in cattle is now easier, thanks to USDA scientists. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/flies0413.htm A promising biological control agent--salivary gland hypertrophy virus (SGHV)--was recently discovered that targets adult flies. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/form0413.htm At the Agricultural Research Service, drought-related research is based on the belief that if we understand the effects of drought on crops and habitats, we will be better equipped to address them. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/pigs0413.htm Animals affected with porcine stress syndrome have reduced amounts of dystrophin in their heart and muscle. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/soil0413.htm Researchers developed the Annual Phosphorus Loss Estimator (APLE), a user-friendly spreadsheet program that predicts field-scale phosphorus loss in runoff for a whole year. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/wastewater0413.htm ARS researchers are studying how to use spent, or already used, irrigation water to raise a salt-tolerant forage to improve the soil and feed cattle. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/apr13/water0413.htm ARS researchers in Bushland, Texas, are helping farmers make the most of their water supplies in a region where they depend on the Ogallala Aquifer, a massive underground reservoir under constant threat of overuse. Mon, 01 Apr 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/manure0313.htm ARS scientists are studying the links between manure spills and phosphorus. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/nematodes0313.htm A team of ARS and university researchers is working to exploit those plant signals to help counter the emerging threat this pest poses to America's $3.4 billion tuber crop. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/switchgrass0313.htm ARS scientists are providing complete cost-benefit breakdowns for using switchgrass pellets instead of fuel oil to heat homes and businesses in the Northeast. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/almonds0212.htm Investigators are collaborating in leading-edge studies that explore the use of a still-evolving technology, infrared heating, to help make sure almonds remain safe to eat. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/corn0212.htm A specific gene in corn seems to confer resistance to three important leaf diseases. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/drought0212.htm Farmers and water managers may soon have an online tool to help them assess drought and irrigation impacts on water use and crop development. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/form0212.htm Landsat's thermal and optical sensors provide invaluable high-resolution information for monitoring global production of food and fiber, crop health, available soil moisture, and early warning of drought. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/nitrate0212.htm Scientists at the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment in Ames, Iowa focus their research on preventing movement of nitrates from crop fields to streams. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/pests0212.htm In two separate projects, Agricultural Research Service scientists are working with their Azorean and French Polynesian counterparts to help control invasive insects there. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/potatoes0212.htm Thanks to investigations by the USDA and other agencies, potato growers in the western United States and abroad now know the identities of the pathogen-insect duo responsible for outbreaks of the costly tuber disease known as zebra chip. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/prairie0212.htm ARS researchers are studying how nitrates and phosphorus affect water quality in a crop field that has been converted to native prairie vegetation at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/rangelands0212.htm A new model created by ARS scientists helps land managers recognize how rangeland degradation processes vary across landscapes. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/feb12/selenium0212.htm Ewes that consume a natural high-selenium supplement in their food can pass the needed selenium to nursing offspring in their milk. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/mar12/form0312.htm Monitoring the amount and type of food consumed by the U.S. population is important to researchers who track related health biomarkers and to policymakers who evaluate nutrition policies Thu, 01 Mar 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/bedbugs0213.htm As part of a strategic plan to control bed bugs scientists are learning more about bed bug behavior and stepping up their efforts to develop substances that can be used to control them and other biting arthropods and urban pests. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/cattle0213.htm A team of scientists are studying interrelationships of stress and cattle temperament with transportation, immune challenges, and production traits. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/cows0213.htm Agricultural Research Service scientists have been conducting some very thorough investigations on the microbes that dwell in cattle manure--what they are, where they thrive, where they struggle, and where they may end up. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/dogwoods0213.htm USDA scientist helped select specific dogwoods best suited to the Japanese climate to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japan's gift of flowering cherry trees to the United States. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/form0213.htm ARS has responded to this rising demand for organically produced goods with an interdisciplinary program of research on the biological and physical processes of plants, invertebrates, microbes, and soils, which may naturally regulate pests and enhance soil fertility. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/organic0213.htm An ARS scientist designed a long-term investigation of several different cover cropping strategies for an annual lettuce-broccoli production system. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/root0213.htm Agricultural Research Service scientists in Ithaca, New York, have developed a new tool for studying root architecture, one that brings them out in three-dimensional color and is a major step forward in a challenging field. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/soil0213.htm ARS scientists are studying the soil microbes carried in strong winds and shedding light on wind erosion effects on soil quality. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/veggies0213.htm Research has sorted out some of the taxonomic confusion surrounding classification of the large, complex group of harmful bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas which causes bacterial blight of cruciferous crops such as arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/feb13/wheat0213.htm Pacific Northwest wheat growers now have added insurance against outbreaks of yield-robbing fungi, thanks to Cara, a soft, white, winter club wheat cultivar developed by the Agricultural Research Service that boasts high levels of disease resistance and outstanding flour quality. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/animal0313.htm Scientists at the Agricultural Research Service and the Smithsonian Institute compared the effects of citrus compounds on lone star ticks and yellowfever mosquitoes. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/crops0313.htm USDA scientists and cooperators have developed an interactive atlas of wild plants in Guatemala that are closely related to crop plants. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/form0313.htm Cutting our food losses by just 15 percent would provide enough extra food to feed more than 25 million Americans every year from existing crop, pasture, and rangelands. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/nutrition0313.htm The USDA's Children's Nutrition Research Center has shown that dietary differences in a mother's diet before and during pregnancy can affect the development of genes in the unborn children. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/protein0313.htm Researchers are working on strategies for isolating and crystallizing the enzyme rubisco activase from creosote bush, a heat-tolerant desert shrub. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/soil0313.htm Agricultural Research Service scientists and their university partners are providing guidance to growers on ways to keep soils productive and reduce their climate change footprint by turning to some of agriculture’s most tried-and-true practices. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/weight0313.htm Researchers at the Western Human Nutrition Research Center in California are conducting studies that may provide new insights into the underlying causes of this disparity in dieting success. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/mar13/yogurt0313.htm Adding about one-quarter teaspoon of a fiber-rich component of oats boosts the nutritional value of low-fat yogurt without noticeably affecting the taste or texture of this increasingly popular dairy food. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/bacteria0112.htm Scientists are finding out how leptospirosis is spread in sea lions, exploring vaccines for cattle that carry the virus, and using hamsters as models to better understand the disease. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/beet0112.htm Figuring out how to save even a small percentage of the sucrose lost in stored sugar beets, may save producers in the Pacific Northwest $4 million every year. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/bones0112.htm In a series of studies, scientists investigated the relationship of various infant formulas to baby's bone health. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/cactus0112.htm Certain cacti tolerate salty soil and take up selenium from it which could help keep the land on the west side of San Joaquin Valley productive. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/cattle0112.htm Ranchers in the Intermountain West can reduce feeding costs by grazing their animals on forage kochia in fall and winter. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/corn0112.htm A clearer picture of corn's biochemical responses to insect and fungal attacks is emerging, thanks to new findings by ARS scientists. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/crop0112.htm Work by Agricultural Research Service scientists suggests that farmers in the Southeast could use the tropical legume sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) in their crop rotations by harvesting the fast-growing annual for biofuel Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/data0112.htm Starting January 2, 2012, new rules will make important nutrition information readily available to consumers on 40 of the most popular cuts of meat and poultry. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/form0112.htm ARS scientists have been on the forefront investigating the defensive responses of plants-- asking the question, Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/range0112.htm ARS scientists across the West are collaborating to make sure the money used to sustain and repair rangelands is spent on programs that work. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2012/jan12/solar0112.htm An Agricultural Research Service scientist participated in a study comparing how efficiently plants and photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into energy. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/bacteria0113.htm Processors may be able to use a forced-hot-air treatment to dry cages between transporting flocks, lessening the number of Campylobacter on cage flooring, thereby decreasing the potential for cross-contamination during live haul. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/beetle0113.htm Understanding the feeding behavior of lady beetles will help agronomists develop cropping systems that best use these important beneficial insects as biological controls of insect pests. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/biosolids0113.htm Research is helping to clarify the long-term effects that biosolid amendments can have on some soil types--and how the amendments could affect crop production. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/citrus0113.htm Scientists at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce are using two very different strategies to help citrus growers and processors deal with Huanglongbing, a disease that poses a major threat to the survival of the citrus industry and is costing it millions of dollars each year. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/corncobs0113.htm ARS scientists investigate how corn residues protect soil from erosion and enhance soil quality. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/ditch0113.htm Drainage ditches can help clean up field runoff Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/flies0113.htm USDA scientists are developing strategies to help livestock producers control stable flies, the most damaging arthropod pests of cattle in the United States. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/form0113.htm Solving the citrus greening puzzle depends on developing a deeper understanding of its complicated nature. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/fungal0113.htm Researchers are investigating soil-dwelling bacteria's potential to biologically control root-rot fungi that cause crop yield losses of 10-30 percent annually in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and other parts of the world. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/fungi0113.htm Biopesticides containing beneficial fungi are often grown on grains or other solids, but Agricultural Research Service scientists have found that a liquid diet might be cheaper and better. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/juice0113.htm Amino acids in orange juice may hold clues to the mostly secret, highly successful attack strategy of a powerful plant pathogen. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/pulp0113.htm Agricultural Research Service researchers and colleagues have found new uses for sugar beet pulp. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/2013/jan13/stinkbug0113.htm ARS scientists are fighting stinkbugs by developing traps, sequencing the bug's genome, and testing parasitic wasps as biocontrols. Wed, 02 Jan 2013