Feature stories about ARS research

History of Research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Service

This timeline lists a myriad of individual discoveries covering more than a century. But these snippets don't give a real sense of the accomplishments they represent.

To read some--but certainly not all--of the most interesting and important stories in USDA and ARS research history, visit the links below.

• 20th Century Insect Control
• ARS Helps Science Flourish at 1890 Schools
• Conquering Cattle Tick Fever
• Conserving the World’s Plants
• Do You Know a Soybean When You Eat It...Wear It...Read It?
• Eradicating Hog Cholera
• Finding New Uses for Surplus Products
• Founding American Nutrition Science
• Frozen Food That’s Freezer Friendly
• Fueling the Green Revolution
• Improving Corn
• Making Fabrics Friendly
• More and Better Citrus
• Probing the Mystery of Life
• Processing Cotton
• Saving a Fragile Resource
• Starch That Slurps
• Subduing the Screwworm
• Tackling Foot and Mouth Disease
• The Rescue of Penicillin
• Tracking the Elusive Viroid
• Tripping the Light Switch Fantastic