Agricultural Research Service

In this “classic” ARS podcast, hear how our scientists developed a revolutionary laser-guided sprayer to apply precise amounts of pesticide to their crops. This cuts down significantly on the amount of pesticide sprayed onto fruits and vegetables. siysc.transistor.fm/episodes/seaso…

The greenbug is no ordinary pest. It can live on over 70+ plant species and can cost wheat farmers over $100M in damages annually. ARS Research Entomologist Brandi Schemerhorn and fellow researchers in West Lafayette, IN, are tracking the pest's evolution. They are also screening U.S. seed nurseries to help breeders in their quest to identify wheat cultivars with resistance to insect pests. Their research helps farmers better protect our nation's crops. #NPMM

Can you fool a fruit fly? Check out this ARS video that displays a scientific approach to combating the Spotted Wing Drosophila, the notorious pest that infests ripe, ready-to-eat fruit. See how ARS scientists are studying specific odors emitted by infected fruit to better identify ways to repel the flies away from healthy fruit. youtube.com/watch?v=pjh3vb… #NPMM

The spotted wing drosophila is a problematic pest with an ovipositor (egg laying organ) that looks like a stinger with serrations. This pest can saw into fresh fruits and lay eggs. Eventually their larvae associated microbes start to rot the fruit (ex: grape sour rot) and the bugs will emerge, costing millions in losses for U.S. farmers. ARS Research Molecular Biologist David Kang in Columbia, MO, is working with fellow researchers to fight this pest by reducing the prevalence of grape sour rot to protect our fruits. #NPMM

The descendants of Stumpy are alive and well! Piper Zettel, a horticulturist at the U.S. National Arboretum, tells us they continue caring for the Stumpy propagules until they are ready for planting by the National Park Service. Come visit the U.S. National Arboretum while in Washington, D.C. Make sure to check out the beautiful azaleas -- now in peak bloom -- and the magnificent Ikebana exhibit, which is here for a limited time. usna.usda.gov/about/news/stu…

How nutritious is your orange juice? How about taking a Vitamin C challenge on National Vitamin C Day? This experiment will help you compare Vitamin C levels and rank orange varieties or juice brands from highest to lowest. Test out the experiment with your family at: aglab.ars.usda.gov/let-s-get-to-w… #NationalVitaminCDay #ARSAgLab

During National Pest Management Awareness Month, learn how scientists have discovered that seed meal from plants in the mustard family can kill mosquito larvae before they hatch. This natural remedy could prevent the spread of diseases like Zika and yellow fever. aglab.ars.usda.gov/insects-fuel-y… @ARSAgLab #NPMM

Researchers from the ARS Water Management and Conservation Research unit in Maricopa, AZ, are studying the risks of using treated wastewater to irrigate farmland prone to drought. bit.ly/4m4iiyI

ARS Administrator Joon Park and Associate Administrator Jeff Silverstein recently toured the Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit in Fayetteville, AR, engaging with scientists regarding cutting edge research. Some of what they were shown included researchers using an electron beam and other tools to detect poultry stress, and the ARS Indoor Air Scrubber for removing ammonia from poultry houses. This was developed by ARS to improve bird performance and capture nitrogen for fertilizer applications. ars.usda.gov/southeast-area… Administrator Park also celebrated ARS Technician Jerry Martin’s 25 years of service to the nation.

ARS researchers in Peoria, IL, are developing biofuels that can boost the biodiesel market -- and farmer profits. In #ScientificDiscoveries, ARS researchers are finding that pennycress, which is often considered a nuisance weed, may be well-suited for industrial applications like biodiesel fuels. Learn more about the plant and its pods at: scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/explore-our-di…

Explore the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, featuring detailed insights for planting and gardening. The map’s zip code “widget” guides you on perennial plant choices for your hardiness zone. Know your zone! Find it at: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov #NationalGardenMonth

Join ARS in celebrating #NationalGardenMonth.

In this podcast, hear from Wendy Shaw, a registered dietitian formerly with the National Agricultural Library, who discusses the importance of nutrition, from elite athletes to weekend warriors -- and even for those who have health challenges like diabetes. siysc.transistor.fm/episodes/seaso…

You may associate Georgia with peaches, but did you know it’s the largest producer of U.S. peanuts? Georgia is home to our National Peanut Research Laboratory in Dawson, where researchers advance production, conservation, and quality to strengthen the peanut industry. ars.usda.gov/southeast-area… #NationalPeanutMonth

Learn how ARS researchers are working to modernize the multibillion-dollar peanut industry. They are developing microwave-based sensors to quickly capture and accurately measure many attributes of unshelled peanuts when grading them for quality. This will help the U.S. peanut industry achieve significant cost savings. scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/tellus

ARS researchers and partners are taking proactive steps to protect U.S. peanut production from the threat of peanut smut, a devastating disease that has not yet reached the nation. ARS researcher Kelly Chamberlin and experts in Oklahoma, Georgia, and Maryland are leading efforts to identify peanut varieties with natural resistance. They are also mapping resistance genes, developing diagnostic tools to detect the pathogen, and advancing new resistant breeding lines. #NationalPeanutMonth

Check out the latest on our #peanutresearch in Griffin, GA. Wild relatives of the peanut are resistant to many peanut diseases. The disease-resistant genes from these “nut cousins” can be transferred to an edible peanut to make it resilient against diseases. Learn more at: npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/cro… #NationalPeanutMonth

ARS researchers and their partners have developed “Manteca” yellow bean varieties with more absorbable iron, benefiting those with iron deficiencies. The “Manteca” bean can boil in less than 20 minutes, saving cooking time. This bean also tastes great and has superior milling properties for processing into pasta and other food products -- providing consumers with another tasty and healthy bean choice. aglab.ars.usda.gov/nutrition-corn… #ARSAgLab

Did you know the U.S. National Arboretum has more than 70 varieties of flowering cherry trees? In addition to a beautiful picnic setting, the collection is an important scientific resource for breeding efforts. While at the nation's capital, check out the Arboretum's collection -- including the four National Arboretum-released flowering cherry cultivars, which bloom through mid-April. usna.usda.gov/visit/beyond-t…