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When you see a bug in your home, do you want to squash it or study it? Either way, be sure to watch our Facebook Live interview with ARS entomologist Tracey Leskey, who talks about stink bugs, ants, box elder bugs and other insects—and what we can do to keep them out of our homes.
Watch the video "Household Insects".
Today’s consumers want more choices of food products that are gluten free, low in sugar, nutritious, and tasty. ARS functional foods researchers are evaluating ways to use gluten-free alternatives, like amaranth, in popular products like cookies and pasta.
To learn more read, "With Alternative Grains, Consumers Can Have Their Cake and Eat It Too" and watch the video "USDA-ARS Food Scientists Cook Up New Uses for Ancient Grains."
Animals perform many different behaviors every day to interact with themselves, other animals, humans, and their environment. Have you ever noticed your pet's behaviors? Normal behaviors like playing or grooming tell us that an animal is happy and relaxed. When animals become stressed, bored, or sick, they may show 'abnormal behaviors' like biting, hiding, or pacing. It's important to identify and understand animal behaviors and their causes to ensure they are happy and stress free.
About the ExperimentUse this activity to learn more about different animal behaviors.
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Let's Do This!Note: This game can be played as a single player game or with multiple people.
Agriculture Research Service (ARS) scientists observe farm animals' behaviors to make sure we give them the best care. Here are some projects the scientists are working on:
Animal Welfare Information Center
The Animal Welfare Information Center at the National Agricultural Library provides information about animal wellbeing and how to house and care for animals.
Animal Welfare Information Center: Housing, Care and Welfare
Did you know that alfalfa is the fourth most widely grown crop in the United States? It may not be a part of your everyday diet, but alfalfa is key to feeding farm animals, poultry, even farm-raised fish. ARS scientists recently found an environmental benefit to growing this crop: carbon reduction in the atmosphere. Read more in "Alfalfa: A Winner for Producers and the Environment"
Do you know anyone who is allergic to peanuts, wheat, or another food? Food allergies affect many people and maybe even some of your classmates, friends, and family! When someone has a food allergy, their body behaves differently to certain proteins in food. The change could be mild, such as causing skin to itch or swell. Some people have a stronger reaction, where their throat might swell to make breathing difficult.
People with food allergies can prevent allergic reactions by not eating or touching the foods that cause them. The eight most common food allergens, or the foods that can cause an allergic reaction, are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Any food that contains these ingredients is required to state it on the food label. People can read the Nutrition Facts label to see the complete list of ingredients in a food.
Learn more about food allergies and how to stay safe on Nutrition.gov.
For some people, slurping raw oysters from the shell is a gourmet treat. But oyster fans could suffer a bout of intestinal illness if the raw oyster contains certain bacteria. Other bacteria can kill oysters before they ever reach the raw bar. ARS scientists studied tiny viruses called “phages” which infect and kill the bacteria but don’t harm humans. Read more.
Why are vitamins and minerals an important part of nutrition? These nutrients are found in healthy foods and have many roles in the body. They can help it to heal wounds, build strong bones, move muscles, fight germs that can make us sick, and much more! For example, vitamin K helps your blood to clot when you have a cut so that you stop bleeding. Get it from foods like spinach, kale, broccoli, and soybeans. Did you know that potassium keeps your muscles and nervous system working properly? Find it in bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, dairy, and other foods. Discover what the different vitamins and minerals do and how to choose foods that contain them.
Living Mulch Improves Soil Health and Farmer’s Bottom Line
Who doesn’t like a two-for-one deal, or a double-double, win-win?
A team of USDA scientists is working on a double-cropping system that may improve a farmer’s profit margin by growing cattle feed between rows of the cash crop. In the off-season, the second crop acts as a living mulch that prevents soil erosion and improves soil health. For good measure, the second crop – kura clover – improves the soil’s ability to absorb rainfall by as much as 10 times over conventionally planted fields.
Read this article to learn more.
Have you ever noticed the numbers on the back of food and drink packages? Those numbers are part of the Nutrition Facts label, which tells you what nutrients are inside of food. Many types of nutrients can be found in the food that you eat. Protein, fat, and carbohydrates give the body energy to help you grow and stay active. Vitamins and minerals help the body function. For example, you can find vitamin D and calcium that help your bones stay strong, and potassium which helps your muscles function.
The label’s percent Daily Value (%DV) section can help you learn how much of each nutrient you are eating and compare what is in different foods. The Nutrition Facts label also provides a suggested serving size, or how much to eat at one time. This helpful information can be used to choose healthy options when cooking and eating.
Use the Nutrition Facts Label to find out how much of certain nutrients are found in foods, and how they can fit into a healthy diet. Try to choose foods with more vitamin D, calcium, and potassium and less added sugars. For example, when buying breakfast cereal, you could use the label to choose a cereal that contains a lower amount of added sugars.
Want more information on the Nutrition Facts label? Learn more using the Food Labels resources on Nutrition.gov.
Hope for People With Peanut Allergy
If you or someone you know has a peanut allergy, you know how scary it can be. Peanut allergy in the United States has tripled in the last 20 years, and the reason isn’t clear. Fortunately, ARS scientists have come up with a very promising treatment.
Read "A Treatment for Peanut Allergy" to learn more.
