Agricultural Research Service

Have you ever purchased a package of red, ripe strawberries only to have them spoiled by gray fuzz a day or two after you bring them home? That unappetizing gray mold is caused by the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Other common fungal diseases that damage strawberries include powdery mildew and anthracnose -- which pose monetary and crop loss for strawberry growers. See how ARS scientists are working with Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation to keep strawberries mold free: scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/tellus/stories… #NationalStrawberryMonth

Join us as ARS goes “Under the Microscope” with Florida citrus grower W. Cody Estes, Sr., of Vero Beach. Estes collaborates with ARS researchers working to gain real-time perspective into the fungal diseases devastating much of the state’s citrus crops. Learn how ARS is helping growers and stakeholders, like Estes, build a positive future for citrus production. ars.usda.gov/oc/utm/citrus-…

Building Partnership -- Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology hosted a symposium in April with ARS scientists. Those in attendance included ARS representatives from the Office of National Programs and the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, who met to discuss their agricultural research projects and opportunities to expand scientific collaboration with @FresnoState.

Grand challenge -- ARS scientists are developing innovative, scalable solutions for agriculture’s biggest issues. Through the new Digital Agriculture Systems Hub (DASH), researchers can move innovative research from proof-of-concept to deployable, scalable-solutions more quickly and efficiently. The impact of DASH will benefit farmers and stakeholders across the United States. scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/explore-our-di…

Watch ARS researchers in Boise, Idaho, as they study prescribed fires in western juniper-type landscapes. They are working to better understand how this land-management tool affects the hydrology, habitat, and overall ecosystem of the rangeland. youtube.com/watch?v=JL3tPM… #WildfireAwarenessMonth

During #WildfireAwarenessMonth, hear from ARS Researcher Arran Rumbaugh, a chemist at the Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit in Davis, California. In this podcast, Rumbaugh talks about how smoke from wildfires can affect the chemical composition of wine grapes. siysc.transistor.fm/episodes/siysc Wildfires can have a severe economic impact on the wine industry due to smoke exposure and fire. This research could have a huge impact on the U.S. wine growing industry, potentially saving wine growers time, money, and millions of wine grapes.

Check out the new interactive “Molecular Markers” book created through a collaboration of several ARS scientists and the National Program Office. This publication includes the performance of over 4,800 molecular markers, the genes associated with the markers, and their biological function. The markers allow accurate identification of accessions, improve sample collection, and preserve germplasm for the future of U.S. agriculture. colostate.pressbooks.pub/molecularmarke…

Baking with Better Wheat! ARS researchers in North Carolina are developing wheat varieties with genetic resistance to disease -- like Fusarium head blight. Their research is helping North Carolina farmers and bakers use high-yield wheat varieties to produce flour for baking artisan breads, as consumer demand for these specialty breads is on the rise. Learn more about this research and about a bake test held in North Carolina to evaluate a variety of breads. scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/tellus/stories…

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at ARS🌺

A beautiful flower, the Iris, is celebrated today as a mythical messenger of faith, hope, and wisdom. According to the U.S. Forest Service, there are approximately 280 species of Iris in the world, with 28 varieties native to the United States. fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/be…

See how ARS researchers are working to develop new lines of tomatoes to combat anthracnose, a fungal disease that causes decay in ripe tomatoes. This innovation is vital for protecting large-scale tomato crops in the United States. Learn more about this important work at: youtube.com/watch?v=AKVr0w… #ARSAgLab

During #NationalStrawberryMonth, check out this experiment for kids ages 8-12 to do at home, or in school. 🔬⚛️ By using common household items, kids can learn how ARS researchers extract DNA from strawberries to determine which cells carry the most promising traits – like size, color, taste, and disease resistance. This experiment can be done at home or in school, with parental or teacher supervision. aglab.ars.usda.gov/projects/extra… #ARSAglab

Dr. Colton Flynn, an ARS soil scientist at the Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory in Temple, TX, is showing his appreciation by giving a shoutout to his teachers starting from primary school to his current work advisors. We're celebrating all our educators during #TeacherAppreciationWeek!

Dr. Lauren Hale, an ARS soil scientist at the Water Management Research in Parlier, CA, salutes her PhD advisor during #TeacherApprectionWeek. Watch the full video with Hale, and many other ARS Young Scientists, who were inspired by their teachers and mentors at: aglab.ars.usda.gov/the-future-is-…

In #ScientificDiscoveries, ARS researchers in Wyndmoor, PA, are helping to make our produce safer to eat. They have developed a new treatment method that uses pulsed light to combat potential E-coli risks -- which can occur when consuming postharvest Romaine lettuce. scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/explore-our-di…

Spinach -- it's highly nutritious and associated with several health benefits. Learn about ARS's release of the world’s first true red spinach, called “USDA Red." Learn more in this podcast about the benefits this new powerful vegetable provides to consumers at: siysc.transistor.fm/episodes/scien…

A perfect fit at ARS! -- On #NationalTeacherDay, Dr. Gabriel Patterson, an ARS chemist at the Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA, gives kudos to his mentor Dr. Bill Orts, an ARS research leader. Patterson says it was Ort's enthusiasm that sparked his desire to pursue a job in scientific research. aglab.ars.usda.gov/the-future-is-… #ThankATeacher

On #NationalTeacherDay, Dr. Liz Walsh, an ARS research entomologist with the Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Unit, Baton Rouge, LA, credits her mentors for supporting her interest in science. aglab.ars.usda.gov/the-future-is-… #TeacherAppreicationWeek

Join us in celebrating our educators -- #NationalTeachersDay

In case you missed it, ARS scientists in Ames, IA, and their research partners have been developing a tool that allows users to visualize, explore, and analyze soil temperature data regionally over time. This tool will help Midwest farmers determine optimal planting times and make more informed decisions throughout the agricultural season. scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/explore-our-di… #ScientificDiscoveries