Search Articles

Scientists at ARS are exploring solutions to help boost bees’ defenses and keep them buzzing.

Researchers develop novel way to prevent the spread of plant disease.

The invasive Arundo plant threatens local water supplies. See how ARS scientists are identifying insects that are naturally equipped to fight this problem.

ARS researchers are helping farmers use beneficial insects to protect their crops.

Welcome to AgLab. An ARS website dedicated to students, educators, and parents offering a variety of content to promote interest in exploring the intersection of where food meets science.

ARS researchers have collected and identified 50 lady beetles that are beneficial, serving as champions of Hawaiian biological pest control.

ARS is home to many amazing young minds. Learn about them in our Young Scientists series.

A team of ARS researchers is providing farmers in Hawaii with new apps to help manage threats to their crops.

Cooking with Science Episode 3: learn about research ARS is doing to improve strawberries, watch a cooking video and get recipes.

Bees are essential to healthy, biodiverse ecosystems.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals", can persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in animals, humans, and plants.

ARS researchers are finding innovative ways to reduce food loss and waste – from farm to table.

Researchers examined the ability of colored rice bran extracts to stimulate glucose uptake.

Take a look at a sampling of ARS's innovative research solutions that could help reduce food loss and waste in America.

ARS researchers worked with the Quapaw tribe to create high-resolution digital maps of soil properties for their tribal lands.

Get cooking with these great recipes from Cooking with Science!

Sorghum bran could provide both good flavor and nutritional value to gluten-free breads.

Learn about the versatility of buckwheat in cooking as well as the nutritional benefits and taste variety of beans.

What do your food plates look like, and how do they compare to the USDA’s MyPlate? Let’s find out.

How do you know if the food you eat is nutritious? Take the Nutrition Challenge, to find out.

ARS is safeguarding agriculture from the destructive fall armyworm.

ARS presents a new cooking series that blends culinary dishes with food science. Each episode highlights a talented chef who creates wonderful, delicious recipes while our research experts discuss how they are making the foods we eat safer, tastier and more sustainable.

Careers for new scientists span a variety of disciplines in agriculture. Want to know more? Check out this page.

Feeding astronauts on long space missions requires more than just leafy greens and tomatoes.

Does the future of farming include harvesting solar rays along with crops?

Vegetables can have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing.

Good nutrition is important for everyone, not just Olympic athletes. 

ARS scientists are working with NASA to develop sustainable farming techniques and technologies to grow fresh produce while in spaceflight.

ARS scientists in Idaho are using cattle to promote ecological restoration of western rangelands overrun by invasive grasses.

Scientists are perfecting a technology to embed nanoparticles of silver – a known anti-microbial agent – inside of cotton fibers.

'Agrivoltaics' is a hot new idea that uses land for both growing food and making energy from the sun in states where there’s lots of sunshine and not much water.

ARS researchers developed a weather data model to predict EcO157 contamination trends in lettuce.

ARS maintains an experimental orchard in Geneva, NY, devoted to bringing you even better apples for the future.

Did you know that fire ants are a menace to humans, animals, and agriculture? At ARS, we're working to stamp out fire ants!

Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening, poses the most serious threat that the Florida citrus industry has ever faced.

One of the great challenges to sustainability today is plastics.

A team of USDA scientists is working on a double-cropping system as a way to improve a farmer’s profit margin by growing cattle feed between rows of a cash crop, in this case corn or soybean.

USDA is launching a "Grand Challenge" initiative to combat salmonella poisoning.

ARS researchers are examining how cattle, swine, and poultry are raised in an effort to improve their quality of life.

Cooking with Science Episode 2: learn about ARS potato research, watch a cooking video and get recipes.

Researchers are collaborating to ensure that Alaska farmers have the best possible crops and practices for resilient and sustainable production in their changing condition.

Popular folk remedy witch hazel is an effective and natural alternative to conventional antibiotics.

The ARS Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit conducts research to protect both the health of consumers and the marketability of eggs.

Scientists at ARS's Eastern Regional Research Center in PA have identified a method to improve the safety of ready-to-eat foods while minimizing quality losses.

ARS keeps the pep in peppers. Cooking with Science Episode 1: Learn about ARS research to develop superior peppers, watch a cooking video and get recipes.

Scientists are working alongside industry and academia researchers to produce green jet fuel.

Nearly $8 billion per year is, literally, wasting away and there is currently no way to stop it. ARS scientists are on the case.

Researchers believe perennial grains could provide a number of crucial advantages for farmers and the environment.

ARS scientists are using non-traditional fish parts to make catfish more appealing to diners and increase profits for fish farmers.

Researchers here developed a dual-detection biosensor that is portable, enabling on-site testing of samples for mercury.

ARS scientists developed a series of algorithms capable of effectively predicting the prevalence of Salmonella.

Improving facets of animal production that deal with genetics, nutrition, health, and reproduction is a key part of a “systems-based approach.”

ARS scientists developed a new system for testing beef during processing.

Flooding fields may be a win-win for farmers and birds in the Mississippi Delta.

ARS researchers developed a new bioplastic-based spray to fight aflatoxins using natural ingredients.

Students from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences visited ARS's National Animal Disease Center

A Thanksgiving meal just wouldn’t be the same without the sweet/tart goodness of cranberries. A project funded by ARS is working to ensure the staple stays on the table.

Vertical farming, the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, allows farmers to grow fresh produce indoors year-round.

The National Agricultural Library is making it easier to stay up-to-date with new nutrition research!

Raising healthy chickens requires planning, attention to detail, and fastidiousness when it comes to completing daily chores.

A restless plant that thrives in several cemeteries in Mississippi could be linked to a royal Gypsy family.

ARS researchers are improving soil through better farming practices.

Guidelines for properly cooking meats are well documented, but what about for plant-based products?

ARS is researching the benefits of agroforestry.

A tiny parasitic wasp known as the samurai wasp, may be the solution to the major economic damage to crops perpetrated by the stink bug.

ARS researchers discovered a fuzzy gray bee that carves its nest into chunks of sandstone!

ARS researchers are using puled light as part of their approach toward combating food pathogens and diseases.

Test your knowledge of late summer fruits and vegetables at your local farm or farmers market. How many can you find?

A pair of bald eagles and their eaglet live in a tree at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.

Use this project to fin dout if you are getting enough vitamins and minerals.

Dairy cows that produce organic milk also produce manure capable of replenishing nutrients in soil while slowing nutrient-runoff to nearby water sources.

ARS researchers undertook a five-year study to improve control of the ticks that spread Lyme disease.

ARS scientists have developed a special ultraviolet-C irradiation technique that may keep strawberries mold-free without chemical fungicides.

ARS scientists in Burns OR are giving native plants, and the ecosystems they support, a helping hand by combatting invasive plants.

Add color and flavor to your water by making fruity ice cubes at home.

This insect is native to East Asia and feeds on the sap of the vividly colorful crapemyrtle trees, as well as apple and blackberry plants.

ARS developed climate smart farming systems by employing artificial intelligence (AI) to help farms become more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

ARS Soil Management and Sugar Beet Research Unit staff participated in Expedition Colorado, an annual field trip to teach students about natural resources and conservation practices.

Many ARS employees participate in STEM outreach opportunities aimed at increasing literacy in science, technology, engineering and math.

ARS scientists are exploring how a seaweed species could potentially reduce methane emissions in livestock production.

ARS scientists in Arizona are exploring ways to use water more efficiently, by recycling wastewater to irrigate crops.

Are you eating ARS-developed French fries?

Learn how ARS’s research and accomplishments promote sustainability, address climate change, and benefit the environment.

Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste that’s sent to landfills while providing soil in your gardens or fields with precious nutrients.

ARS scientists are helping to preserve the genetic diversity of our food crops by storing the seeds and other parts of hundreds of thousands of plants.

Did you know that popcorn is a 100 percent whole grain? Learn more about popcorn.

ARS scientists researched whether raising beef cattle without antibiotics would reduce antimicrobial resistance levels. Learn what they discovered.

Learn how ARS scientists are working hard to fight this pest and protect our beloved ash trees.

These parasitic wasps lay eggs inside the developing fly larva and consume them from the inside.

Did you know there are five food groups that help us stay healthy? Just download, print and get coloring!

Check out the AgLab coloring sheets. Just download, print and get coloring!

Whether you like ad-libs, word scrambles or coloring we have games for you.

Do you know what food groups are part of a healthy plate? MyPlate can help you build a healthy eating routine and can be used for kids and adults of all ages!

A new method of freezing food without turning it rock solid could not only improve the quality, but save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, too.

The ARS Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit is equipped with state-of-the-art microscopes capable of producing high-resolution, digital images.

Learn the benefits of this natural recycling method and how to get started with composting.

Should you store eggs in the refrigerator or let them sit out in the kitchen at room temperature?

Learn how ARS researchers are turning to the sun to help fight a strawberry fungus.

ARS scientists are constantly discovering and describing new species of insects like the ostrich moth.

Nematodes with a taste for "insect innards" may offer cranberry growers a natural alternative to fighting hungry crop pests with chemical insecticides.

Need a science projects for your classroom or at-home learning? Check out these projects offering a variety of topics and skill levels.

Scientists and staff at the National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center in Franklin, ME, have been improving the amount and quality of America’s Atlantic salmon for nearly 20 years.

This moth is native to Southeast Asia and its caterpillar feeds on the tissues inside stems of plants in the myrtle family.

Did you know that ARS scientists developed a tasty, nutrient-rich peanut butter alternative made from sunflower seeds?

This activity helps students learn more about different animal behaviors . Get creative painting or drawing!

ARS scientists are working to make a better jet biofuel and make air travel more sustainable.

Try this experiment around your yard or school and see how biodiversity at the plant level affects biodiversity at the insect level.

The USDA has an app, called Food Keeper, to help you learn how to store the foods that you eat properly!

This mite is used by farmers to attack and feast on bugs that destroy strawberries and other crops inside greenhouses and fields.

These caterpillars started as a “friend” but the species became an invasive “pest” when it was discovered in Florida.

Aeromonas hydrophila has ravaged the catfish farming industry in Alabama and other states since its discovery in 2009.

ARS researchers may have found an organic pesticide that could help farmers protect their crops from hungry pests.

Pumpkins are fun to carve, but they are also a favorite ingredient for many people!

Microalgae could provide a strong, sustainably produced artificial diet for honeybees.

Scientists at the ARS Fruit and Tree Nut Research Station have developed a new way to protect pecans from diseases.

Consumers aren’t likely to clean their cantaloupes with a steam cleaner, but an ARS scientist did just that. Find out why.

For this experiment, we’re going to test the effect a hard soil layer has on plant growth and root development.

ARS scientists found a way to make a valuable compound from bread waste.

ARS entomologist Tracey Leskey, who talks about stink bugs, ants, box elder bugs and other insects.

ARS researchers are evaluating ways to use gluten-free alternatives, like amaranth, in popular products like cookies and pasta.

This activity helps students learn more about different animal behaviors to ensure pets are happy and stress free.

For this experiment, we’re going to test the effect that high salt soil concentrations have on plant growth and root development.

ARS scientists recently found an environmental benefit to growing alfalfa: carbon reduction in the atmosphere.

Learn more about food allergies and how to stay safe

ARS researchers help make oysters safer.

Discover what the different vitamins and minerals do and how to choose foods that contain them.

ARS scientists have come up with a very promising for peanut allergy treatment.

ARS scientists have created a state-of-the-art machine that can reduce pesticide use between 30 and 85 percent!

This experiment helps students compare vitamin C content and rank orange varieties or juice brands from highest to lowest.

ARS study shows safest ways to cook meatballs to minimize health risks from Escherichia coli.

ARS scientists are helping farmers and ranchers convert farm and ranch leftovers and waste to sources of bioenergy (oil and gas), and high-value by-products.

Scientists are turning potentially wasted fruits and veggies into tasty, healthful products for you to enjoy.

The air potato vine introduced 115 years ago from Asia has multiplied and smothered native plant communities in all of Florida’s 67 counties.

Scientists' studies of nine milkweed species in critical breeding areas of the country show that female monarch butterflies prefer laying their eggs on certain milkweed species.

When it comes to restoring rangeland habitats, there is no replacement for "prescribed fire," according to Agricultural Research Service ecologists.

A high-tech facility called SoyFACE allows for open-air field tests simulating greenhouse gases conditions predicted for 2050.

ARS scientists aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty while researching ways to manage manure and protect water resources.

Scientists are examining biochar's potential to rejuvenate the soil, especially in degraded land areas like mining sites where high acidity and pollutants like heavy metals can stop or slow plant growth.

Scientists are experimenting with alfalfa as a promising alternative to using fishmeal, a protein-rich ingredient in aquaculture feeds given to "farm-raised" finfish and shellfish.

USDA scientists are studying ways to lower the cost of farming fish while improving omega 3 content and fillet quality.

ARS researchers helped formulate a tasty fruit-based bar with health-promoting ingredients.

This experiment helps students create a black light and use it to look at the fluorescence of different food items and plants .

Learn about photosynthesis and how plants use it to feed the planet.

A team of ARS researchers is developing a web-based tool that will help cattle producers select the best bull for their herds.

The Nutrition Facts label provides a suggested serving size and can help you learn how much of each nutrient you are eating.

Discover what fiber is and why it's important to eat it.

Healthy eating is healthy living with these online tools.

Nutrition experts Dr. Patrice Armstrong and Colleen Sideck, from the Food and Human Nutrition Information Center, answer questions and provide tips

The bacteria that live and work together to keep you healthy are called the “gut microbiota.”

With some planning, it is easy to combine plant-based foods throughout the day.

Healthy snacks can give you energy when you are hungry between meals.

Starting the day with a healthy breakfast can help you stay focused and energized while learning.

ARS offers internship programs to current students and recent graduates, and even Presidential Management Fellowships, to explore federal careers as paid employees.

ARS has bred "seedless" grape varieties with seeds so tiny that you can't even detect them.

This gallery offers photos relating to research at the Agricultural Research Service. Download the photos and learn about our research.

ARS scientists are developing innovative methods to accurately detect mold contamination in crops and food.

What you eat at certain stages of life may determine your future health.

Great pizza needs great ingredients! Did you know that two of those were developed by ARS?

Check out our new "Science in Your Shopping Cart" factsheets to learn which ARS research products may be sitting in your shopping cart!

ARS researchers in Franklin, ME, have bred an improved salmon strain and shared the eggs with commercial fish farms

ARS researchers are investigating red clover to help cows excrete less ammonia into the environment.

ARS scientists collect, study and evaluate natural enemies with potential to biologically control invasive plants.

Seaweed farming is the fastest growing sector of American aquaculture and ARS scientists can help farmers cash in on stealthy commercial market.

Farmers can reduce weeds while increasing yields by instituting complex crop rotations.

A process controls weeds by using exhaust heat produced by a walk-behind tractor.

ARS scientists develop sustainable agricultural systems to protect natural resources and support rural communities in arid and semi-arid regions.

ARS researchers are exploring using camera-mounted drones to reduce herbicide spraying where and when it’s not needed.

Researchers identified several options for controlling potato crop diseases, including spreading their plants with oregano.

An ARS scientist has joined a team of researchers working to restore oysters along the Eastern seaboard.

Scientists have shown that cover cropping can improve organic weed management.

ARS researchers and partners have developed the most complete genome sequence to date for yak and Scottish Highland cattle.

ARS scientists released “Hidden Valley” meadow fescue, a type of flowering grass that flourishes across the midwestern U.S.

ARS scientists have unearthed a natural material that helps prevent a deadly fish disease.

ARS scientists are developing integrated approaches to managing crop, animal and watershed systems.

ARS scientists developed a simple hand-operated planter which can efficiently seed a variety of small-seeded herbs and vegetables.

ARS scientists are working to increase the photosynthetic ability of food and bioenergy crops.

Did you know the way eggs are stored depends on where they’re produced?

ARS researchers have developed innovative methods to mitigate wildfires.

Learn how ARS researchers are working to keep food safe to eat.

This experiment helps students learn the importance of having clean hands.

ARS researchers have developed a feed supplement that increases the weight of fish and helps keep the fish healthier.

ARS scientists are exploring sustainable approaches to managing forage and grazing lands.

ARS scientists helped to develop Irrigator Pro, an agricultural decision support tool that helps farmers schedule irrigation.

Check out our monthly Facebook Live Q&A sessions with ARS scientists

These experiments help students learn about soil erosion.

This experiment helps students learn about growing plants with organic soil amendments.

ARS researchers are keeping bagged leafy greens safe and nutritious for your consumption.

This gallery offers photos relating to research at the Agricultural Research Service. Download the photos and learn about our research.

This experiment help students learn about plant growth and root development. (Appendix A: Resource Material)

This experiment help students learn about plant growth and osmosis. (Appendix A: Resource Material)

Nutrition experts Dr. Patrice Armstrong and Colleen Sideck answer questions and provide tips and resources for eating better and maintaining a healthy diet.