Welcome to Pacific West Area
Our programs ensure high agricultural productivity, good nutrition, prosperous rural and national economies, and healthy agroecosystems. The Area is composed of 49 research units at 21 locations in 8 states.
Meet our young scientists who are working to resolve agriculture's biggest challenges. Young Scientist, Emily Watkins de Jong became interested in honey bees at a young age and is currently studying honey bee nutrition and how it impacts colony health. Watch video to learn more
The United States is the global leader in blueberry production, but producers are losing millions due to postharvest fruit rot diseases, which limit the storage and shelf life of fresh blueberries. ARS researchers in Parlier, CA, applied natamycin as a postharvest dipping or spraying treatment to see if it could control postharvest blueberry rots. Learn more here
Hawaii’s unique climate and volcanic soils make it an ideal growing location for several distinctive crops, including coffee and macadamia nut. Despite being one of the most geographically isolated regions on the planet, Hawaii farmers must deal with a continuous onslaught of new pests and diseases that thrive in the tropical environment and threaten their livelihoods. Learn more here
The USDA ARS Range Sheep Production Efficiency Research Unit in Dubois, ID, aims to develop integrated methods for increasing the production efficiency of sheep while simultaneously enhancing the sustainability of rangeland ecosystems. Learn more here
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ARS scientists at the Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit in Reno, NV, have found success using pre-emergent herbicides as part of an integrated management plan to control cheatgrass, an aggressive, invasive weed from central Asia. Watch video to learn more
When it comes to the insects known as earwigs, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that they are pests of stone fruits, such as peaches and cherries. The good news, however, is that for pome fruits, such as apples and pears, earwigs are voracious natural enemies of pests. Learn more here
Did you know there are many kinds of bees? Most people know about honey bees and bumble bees, but the continental U.S. and Canada are home to approximately 3,700 species of wild bees - bees that are different from honey bees. Learn more here
Rangeland scientists at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC) tested whether virtual fencing could prevent cattle from grazing recently burned areas within sagebrush steppe pastures. Watch video to learn more
