USDA’s principal in-house research agency committed to leading America toward a better future through #agriculture. #ARSAgLab #ScientificDiscoveries
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ARS scientists in Albany, CA, have developed a novel application for almond shells. They are using the spent shells as a replacement for non-sustainable peat moss in mushroom production. This research helps reduce our nation’s food loss and waste.
Check it out at: aglab.ars.usda.gov/learn-and…
#nationalmushroommonth
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Celebrate #nationalmushroommonth with the stunning and delicious yellow oyster mushroom (Pleurotus citrinopileatus). This unique fungus is not only beautiful but also a tasty addition to your meals.
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Imagine biting into a steak that’s always tender, juicy, and delicious—no matter the cut. Fortunately for us, scientists at the ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, in Clay Center, NE, are cracking the code on beef tenderness. Their efforts are helping U.S. ranchers, meat producers, and our favorite restaurants serve mouthwatering beef! aglab.ars.usda.gov/nutrition…
#ARSAgLab
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Did you know a baby’s personality could predict an individual’s weight at a very early age? See how ARS is working to prevent childhood obesity by studying a variety of factors that could influence how a child grows and develops.
scientificdiscoveries.ars.us… #ChildhoodObesityAwarenessMonth
ALT An ARS study shows that infants who display less joy while eating tend to gain more weight than infants who smile, giggle, and babble more in fun play-based games. (USDA photo).
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Fresh Discovery!
ARS researchers have created a novel way to help America’s food processors and farmers save money and reduce waste by extending the shelf life of fruits. In #ScientificDiscoveries, learn more about their research to improve shelf life for soft-skinned fruits—from berries to tomatoes. 🫐🍓🍅
scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
#ScientificDiscoveries
ALT Tomatoes being processed before going to market.
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American poultry farmers face a major challenge that’s hard to see and impossible to ignore: AMMONIA. High levels of ammonia can cause respiratory damage in poultry, slow bird growth, and create difficult conditions for U.S. farm workers.
During #NationalChickenMonth, see the patented indoor air scrubber, developed by ARS. The air scrubber reduces ammonia before it reaches the birds, supporting healthier flocks and more productive poultry farms.
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The Salinas Valley in Northern California is known as the world’s salad bowl. It’s here that cool coastal air meets rows of green plots—and where ARS researchers are turning some of your favorite vegetables into nutritional powerhouses. Check out today’s ARS podcast about lettuce packed with a nutritious boost! aglab.ars.usda.gov/sights-an…
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ARS scientists are exploring ways to breed potatoes that are resistant to two major diseases: Tobacco Rattle Virus and Potato Mop-Top Virus. Naturally found in soil, the viruses cause internal brown streaks and other defects in potato tubers, reducing the spud’s visual appeal and flavor. ARS research is helping U.S. potato farmers protect their crops from these diseases.
scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
#NationalPotatoMonth
ALT The Castle Russet potato.
ALT Infected Castle Russet potatoes. (Photo by the Potato Variety Management Institute).
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During #NationalPotatoMonth, check out this video with ARS scientists in Charleston, SC, using genomic tools to help American farmers avoid crop loss. They are developing innovative methods to identify sweetpotatoes—and other fruits and vegetables—that are resistant to pests. piped.video/watch?v=0bioHBrF…
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ARS researchers in Kearneysville, WV, recently conducted laboratory and field studies to determine the types of U.S. specialty crops that are at high risk for damage and yield loss from the spotted lanternfly. Learn more about how they are using a variety of methods to help U.S. grape growers and the wine industry protect their crops from the invasive insect. scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
ALT Spotted Lanternflies on a tree branch.
ALT A spotted lanternfly crawls along a grape leaf.
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Enjoy honey in your tea? 🍯
ARS scientists and the National Honey Board are examining honey’s effects on the gut, and whether honey can help the human body resist infection from certain food-borne pathogens.
scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
#nationalhoneymonth🐝
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Honey Bees Get Hangry Too?
Learn how ARS researchers are studying the behavior of honey bees in environments where pollen is scarce. Their research is helping our nation's beekeepers develop best management practices. scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
#nationalhoneymonth
ALT A honey bee (Apis mellifera) mid-flight foraging on clover in Baton Rouge, LA. Clover is an important early spring food source for honey bees in most U.S. regions. (Photo by Mandy Frake, ARS).
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Join us as we go "Under the Microscope" with Dr. Katrina Cornish (left), center director for the U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center (ALARC) in Maricopa, AZ. Cornish, a leading U.S. scientific expert on alternate rubber and latex, discusses the current state of domestic rubber production. ars.usda.gov/oc/utm/growing-…
ALT Dr. Katrina Cornish.
ALT Students, staff, and faculty from the University of California, Merced, help with vacuum harvesting ripe guayule seeds from ALARC fields. (Photo by Katrina Cornish, ARS).
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Agricultural Research Service retweeted
❗️SAVE THE DATE❗
USDA's 103rd Agricultural Outlook Forum will take place on Feb. 18-19, 2027, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA ! Join USDA’s Chief Economist who will unveil the Department’s outlook for the domestic agricultural economy and trade for 2027. Stay tuned for registration details!
#AgOutlook27
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ARS scientists in Fort Pierce, FL, are working to curb citrus greening disease as it continues to debilitate Florida’s citrus crops and production. Watch how their research is improving the screening process—and unlocking the secrets of a bacterium that causes the disease. aglab.ars.usda.gov/learn-and…
#citrusgreening #ARSAgLab
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ARS researchers in Stuttgart, AR, have found that growing certain types of rice and fish (like Koi carp) together may provide economic and production benefits for American rice farmers.
Learn more at: scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
#nationalricemonth
ALT Koi carp in a rice paddy field. (Photo by Yulin Jia, ARS).
ALT Koi fish swim in a pond.
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ARS researchers in Salinas, CA, have developed new pest control methods for America’s farmers! Learn more about their use of SO₂ fumigation treatments to control pests on fresh and stored products. Their research helps U.S. farmers curb food losses in the field and postharvest. It also enables the United States to remain competitive among fresh produce export markets. scientificdiscoveries.ars.us…
#ScientificDiscoveries
ALT A western flower thrip. This tiny, slender insect can be very destructive as it can feed on hundreds of species of plants, including fruits and vegetables like those available at the market on the right.
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Kids+Play=Healthier Bones!
Watch how @USDA_ARS researchers from the Western Human Nutrition Center in Davis, CA, are discovering that sports, outdoor play, and movement can help strengthen bones as children grow. They also find physical activity protects kids from childhood obesity.
#ChildhoodObesityAwarenessMonth
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There are rice producers all over the country, but the main producer of rice in the United States might surprise you. In this episode, we share what makes ideal rice growing conditions. We also discover a new type of rice that might make you wonder whether you have wandered into a movie theater.
aglab.ars.usda.gov/sights-an…
#nationalricemonth
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