Scientific Discoveries 2015

United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Service

May 2016 

SCIENTIFIC

DISCOVERIES

The Impact of ARS Research – Fiscal Year 2015

Scientific Discoveries 2015

Introduction

ARS FY 2015 Funding by REE Goal

Goal 1. Local and Global Food Supply and Security

Goal 2. Responding to Climate and Energy Needs

Goal 3. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

Goal 4. Nutrition and Childhood Obesity

Goal 5. Food Safety

Goal 6. Education and Science Literacy

Goal 7. Rural Prosperity/Rural-Urban Interdependence

CONTENTS

Scientific Discoveries 2015

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s (USDA) chief in-house scientific research agency. 

Each day, more than 2,000 ARS scientists at 90 laboratories 

throughout the country discover real-world solutions to 

America’s agricultural challenges. 

Our unique capacity to conduct research that has an impact on 

the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe makes 

ARS one of the world’s premier scientific organizations and a 

recognized champion of integrated research targeting national 

and regional agricultural priorities.

ARS’s mission, vision, and research plans are directly linked 

to the strategic goals and priorities of USDA and the Research, 

Education, and Economics (REE) Mission Area Action Plan. 

Through strategic use of more than $1 billion in annual 

congressional appropriations, ARS routinely collaborates and 

shares findings with research partners from universities, private 

companies, non-profit organizations, other Federal agencies, and 

other countries. ARS leadership on a wide range of agricultural 

issues ensures the timely transfer of new knowledge and technologies to potential users—a key element of ARS’s mission. 

The following select accomplishments are examples of ARS’s 

impact in crop and animal production, disease and pest protection, 

bioenergy, natural resources, food safety, and human nutrition.

INTRODUCTION

1

Scientific Discoveries 2015

ARS FY 2015 Funding by REE Goal

3

Goal 1. Local and Global Food Supply and Security 51%

1.A. Crop and Animal Production 22%

1.B. Crop and Animal Health 19%

1.C. Crop and Animal Genetics, Genomics, Genetic Resources, and Biotechnology 10%

1.D. Consumer and Industry Outreach, Policy, Markets, and Trade – 

Goal 2. Responding to Climate and Energy Needs 16%

2.A. Responding to Climate Variability 9%

2.B. Bioenergy/Biofuels and Biobased Products 7%

Goal 3. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources 10%

3.A. Water Availability: Quality and Quantity 6%

3.B. Landscape-Scale Conservation and Management 4%

Goal 4. Nutrition and Childhood Obesity 8%

Goal 5. Food Safety 10%

Goal 6. Education and Science Literacy 2%

Goal 7. Rural Prosperity/Rural-Urban Interdependence 3%

 Total: 100%

Goal 7

22%

19%

9% 10%

7%

4%

6%

10%

2%

1.A.

1.B.

1.C. 2.A.

2.B.

3.A.

3.B.

Goal 5

Goal 6

3%

Goal 1

51%

Goal 3

10%

Goal 2

16%

Goal 4

8%
Goal 1 

Local and Global Food

Supply and Security
Scientific Discoveries 2015

Honey bees and their pollination efforts increase crop 

values in the United States 

by more than $15 billion 

annually. Commercial production of many specialty 

crops like almonds and other 

tree nuts, berries, fruits, 

and vegetables depends on 

honey bee pollination. A 

collaboration between ARS 

scientists and more than 30 

national and international 

institutions resulted in two 

new pollinator bee genome 

sequences—the Eastern bumble bee (the North American 

bumble bee used most commonly for commercial pollination) 

and the Alfalfa leafcutting 

bee. This research resulted 

in the identification of genes 

associated with behavioral 

and disease-related traits of 

these species, as well as of 

the honey bee, and provided 

insights into social behavior 

and other key biological 

traits—like immune response 

to pathogens and diseases. 

While honey bees are attacked 

by a number of pathogens, 

little is known about their 

immune response. Researchers 

are now targeting genes for 

immune proteins that are 

especially responsive to 

diseases. This information 

will ultimately result in 

improved management 

strategies to promote 

better bee health. 

Making Bees Stronger

1

5
1

Citrus greening, also known 

as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a 

disease costing citrus growers 

millions of dollars annually. 

Once present only in Florida, 

the disease has spread to parts 

of Texas and California. HLB 

is the most serious threat to the 

U.S. citrus industry in history. 

ARS researchers are developing 

new strategies to combat this 

devastating disease, including 

introducing an improved 

diagnostic test to detect the 

responsible bacterium. This 

bacterium is transmitted from 

plant to plant by the Asian 

citrus psyllid, and reliably 

detecting and quantifying 

the bacterium is crucial for 

preventing citrus greening 

outbreaks. During the past 

year, ARS scientists conducted field trials and improved the assay test currently 

used by USDA’s Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) to detect 

the disease in citrus groves. 

ARS researchers made another 

unique advance in protecting 

our Nation’s citrus from diseases—using dogs to detect 

citrus diseases. A team of 

researchers trained 10 dogs 

to detect citrus greening and 

3 dogs to detect citrus canker 

with accuracy rates in excess 

of 99.97 percent. APHIS will 

deploy trained dogs during 

the next 2 years and is working 

with dog training companies 

to commercialize this service. 

The use of trained dogs is the 

only currently available way to 

quickly detect citrus greening 

before symptoms are visible. 

That makes dogs an especially 

valuable tool in the fight to 

manage citrus greening.

Guarding Against Citrus Greening

Agricultural Research Service

6
Scientific Discoveries 2015

1

An economically important crop throughout the world, peanuts 

are susceptible to many pathogens, particularly soilborne fungi 

that adversely affect peanut health and productivity. ARS scientists 

and collaborators at Oklahoma State University and Texas AgriLife Research developed and released OLé last year. During field 

test, this new Spanish peanut variety demonstrated an increased 

resistance to Sclerotinia blight, a fungal disease causing yield 

loss that is a particular problem in Oklahoma, Texas, and the 

Virginia-North Carolina region. Depending on field infestation 

severity, yield losses from this type of soilborne disease can 

reach 50 percent. Planting OLé may reduce Sclerotinia blight 

infestation, saving growers nearly $100 per acre in fungicide 

costs alone. The variety also has good resistance to pod rot and 

packs high levels of oleic acid, a beneficial monounsaturated 

fatty acid that may provide healthy heart benefits. OLé peanut 

seeds are commercially available to growers for 2016 plantings.

Building a Better Peanut

OLé peanut seeds are 

commercially available 

to growers for 2016 

plantings. 

7
Redrawing the DNA Map for Cattle and Turkeys

1

ARS researchers are developing 

better ways to improve animal 

production by using more 

precise techniques and tools, 

such as DNA markers, to map 

an animal’s genetic makeup. 

The scientists are using single 

nucleotide polymorphisms (or 

SNPs, pronounced “snips”) 

to look at the genetic makeup 

of dairy cattle and turkeys. 

After having applied the 

technology successfully in 

beef cattle production, ARS 

researchers identified 40,000 

SNPs that were included in 

a new genotyping chip that 

was put into commercial 

production by Neogen Corporation. The Council of Dairy 

Cattle Breeding is now using 

this ARS tool as its standard 

for national evaluations of 

Holstein dairy cows. 

Expanding this tool also led to 

a new genetic tool for turkey 

producers. Historically, genetic 

improvements for commercial 

turkeys were based on physical 

traits, such as body size and 

breast muscle development. 

ARS scientists, in partnership 

with poultry industry leaders 

and university collaborators, 

identified 5.49 million SNPs 

that are now being developed 

as a genomic evaluation tool 

for the turkey industry. During 

November 2015, Affymetrix, 

Inc. commercially released the 

Axiom® Turkey Genotyping 

Array. This new tool allows 

turkey producers to select for 

difficult-to-evaluate traits, 

such as those associated with 

immunity and reproduction. 

The array development was 

led by ARS researchers under 

a public-private partnership 

with Hendrix Genetics, 

Aviagen, and Affymetrix.

Agricultural Research Service

8
Scientific Discoveries 2015

1

ARS has tremendous expertise 

dealing with agricultural insects. 

As a result, ARS scientists 

partnered with our Nation’s 

military to develop products that 

protect military personnel from 

insect-transmitted diseases such 

as malaria, epidemic typhus, 

dengue fever, and more recently 

West Nile and Zika virus. ARS 

made two advances this past 

year to protect U.S. troops from 

insects. First, ARS researchers 

completed a study for a new 

U.S. military clothing treatment 

that the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) 

approved for registration. 

When applied, this product 

can protect the wearer from 

insect bites and is suitable for 

undergarments and clothing 

made of multiple fabric types. 

The protocol used during this 

study will become an EPA 

guideline for future registration 

of repellent-treated clothing.

ARS made another important 

advancement in protecting 

our military by demonstrating 

that applying aerial insecticide 

treatments to U.S. military 

blast walls containing geotextile 

material and radar-scattering 

camouflage netting reduces 

adult mosquito populations. 

This study also provided additional evidence that existing 

models used to guide U.S. 

aerial pesticide application 

do not adequately represent 

actual spray deposit. These 

findings will be integrated into 

future versions of the Mobile 

Pesticide App to improve spray 

application and will better 

track spray droplet deposit. 

Doing Our Part To Protect the U.S. Military

9
Goal 2 

Responding to Climate 

and Energy Needs
Scientific Discoveries 2015

2

Keeping Close Watch on Rift Valley Fever, 

a Livestock Disease

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease spread 

to livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, and camels) 

and humans by mosquitos. Though it has yet to 

reach the United States, the disease is a major 

human, agricultural, and economic threat in 

Africa and the Middle East. ARS researchers 

partnered with the Food and Agriculture 

Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 

the World Health Organization (WHO), and 

Federal partners from the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration (NASA), Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the 

Department of Defense (DOD) to form the Rift 

Valley Fever Outbreak Early-Warning Team. 

Their focus is establishing an early-warning 

system to detect and reduce RVF threats. The 

team recently identified environmental signals 

that predict the occurrence of unusually large 

mosquito populations. This allows mosquito 

control professionals additional time, from weeks 

to months, to deploy surveillance and control 

measures. Continued monitoring of RVF activity 

is a critical step in reducing the potential risk of 

RVF introduction into the United States.

11
2

Livestock producers using management-intensive grazing systems need improved, high-quality 

forage grass varieties that support cattle growth 

and milk production. To help fill that need, 

ARS scientists have developed and released 

“Hidden Valley” meadow fescue. Cattle are more 

productive when foraging on the new variety, 

which is a significant improvement over current 

pasture forage varieties. “Hidden Valley” also 

has a higher cold tolerance and is better adapted 

for humid temperate regions in the Eastern 

United States and Canada. Released in response 

to industry demand, “Hidden Valley” fills a 

significant demand for a cold-tolerant, droughttolerant, high-quality grass for intensive grazing 

systems in the North Central and Northeastern 

United States. 

Releasing “Hidden 

Valley” Grass

ARS has developed an improved cotton-based, 

blood-clotting wound dressing. This nonwoven 

cotton product is an improvement over standard 

care dressings, such as gauze, and shows promise as a rapid blood-clotting agent for use 

by first responders and for battlefield wounds. 

ARS scientists were able to increase the 

product’s clotting ability by varying the 

composition and design of the dressing. In 

laboratory tests, the ARS wound dressing 

outperformed commercial wound dressings. 

This new technology supports the U.S. 

Government mandate for using domestic 

cotton for Department of Defense materials. 

It was developed in collaboration with H&H 

Medical, which will manufacture the cottonbased wound dressings on an industrial scale. 

Increasing Cotton’s 

Healthcare Benefits

Agricultural Research Service

12
Scientific Discoveries 2015

2

ARS researchers are developing 

sustainable, regional approaches 

for producing crops allowing 

rural communities to participate 

in the emerging biofuels and 

biobased products economy. 

As part of this effort, ARS 

made numerous advances in 

bioenergy production this 

past year. ARS scientists 

converted Napier grass into 

ethanol with an estimated 

yield of 1,100 gallons per acre. 

By comparison, a corn field 

typically produces around 500 

gallons per acre. Napier grass, a 

warm-season grass that has low 

water and nutrient requirements, 

can grow in marginal or 

uncultivated lands, and it 

does not compete with food 

crops for growing space. It 

is being developed as a highyielding bioenergy crop for 

ethanol production in the 

Southeastern United States. 

When grown alongside corn 

as a “pull” crop, Napier grass 

attracts insects, improves soil 

fertility, and prevents erosion.

A challenge to using crops as 

biofuels involves converting 

the crops into usable bioenergy. 

Nearly 1.3 billion tons of plant 

biomass is available each year 

in the United States for use as 

energy crops. Conversion of 

this biomass into 30 billion 

gallons of biodiesel per year 

(62 percent of current U.S. 

diesel consumption) could 

happen using microorganisms 

called “oily” yeasts. Scientists 

at ARS’s Culture Collection 

in Peoria, IL, screened yeast 

strains and identified those 

that can convert biomass 

into biofuel. This new technology is expected to advance 

the economic feasibility 

of producing high-quality 

biodiesel and jet fuels from 

renewable biomass. 

Improving Bioenergy Production

13
Goal 3 

Sustainable Use of 

Natural Resources
Scientific Discoveries 2015

3

Fighting a Pretty But Potent Weed

Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial herb that grows to about 3 feet tall. Though known for 

its showy flowers and landscaping appeal, this native South American plant infests rivers and lakes 

and is considered one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds. It has become especially problematic in 

Florida, the Southeastern United States, the Gulf Coast, and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River in 

northern California. Water hyacinth impedes commercial and recreational navigation and degrades 

native aquatic plants and fish habitats. ARS scientists and collaborators have developed two new tools 

to improve water hyacinth control. The first uses satellite images to identify water hyacinth from 

other floating plant species. This tool tracks seasonal water hyacinth growth and allows pest control 

operators to track their success. The second tool is a biological control agent called “planthopper,” 

which reduces water hyacinth size and reproduction, making the plant more susceptible to other 

control methods. Nearly 400,000 planthoppers have been released in Florida and California. These 

new control tools make successful adaptive, integrated aquatic weed management possible. For 

example, peak water hyacinth coverage in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River declined 50 percent 

between 2014 and 2015, and the integrated control system in Florida is saving approximately 

$60 million per year in public lakes management.

15
3

In 2015, California faced one of the most severe droughts on record. 

Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada is a key water source for California’s 

agricultural industry, as well as other urban uses. Standard methods for 

estimating water supply from snowpack do not reflect current drought 

data and critical management information. ARS scientists developed 

a solution. In collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL), the team 

developed the iSnobal model, a new technology for forecasting 

water supply derived from melting snow. NASA/JPL and the 

Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) program used remote sensing 

to provide snow cover distribution measurements across the Sierra 

Nevada, while ARS scientists generated sophisticated snow density estimates for the same region. Combining these precise data 

resulted in highly accurate estimates of snowpack water content, 

significantly improving critical water resource management. 

Forecasting Water Supplies Based 

on Snowmelt

Agricultural Research Service

16
Scientific Discoveries 2015

3

ARS scientists, in collaboration with USDA’s Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS), made significant enhancements to 

the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Originally developed 

by ARS scientists, SWAT is the world’s leading simulation model 

for assessing the watershed-scale environmental effects of crop, 

forest, and rangeland management. It is a critical part of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), through which 

USDA evaluates the regional and national effects of conservation 

practices. The new model includes improved data structures and 

data analysis, a new Web-based interface, and improved representation of critical agricultural production regions. Congress, 

USDA agencies, and international decision-makers rely on this 

state-of-the-art tool to support natural resource management and 

conservation practices and to help shape agricultural policy. 

Improving Soil and Water Conservation 

and Agricultural Production

SWAT is the world’s 

leading simulation 

model for assessing 

the watershed-scale 

environmental effects 

of crop, forest, and 

rangeland management.

17
3

Recent Lake Erie algae blooms affecting Toledo, Ohio’s drinking water supply have increased pressure 

on farmers and ranchers to improve and optimize nutrient application and management. ARS scientists developed the “Haney Test,” an award-winning soil health tool that major soil testing laboratories 

are quickly adopting to determine optimal soil fertilizer rates. During field tests in Texas, fertilizer 

recommendations based on the Haney Test resulted in reduced fertilizer application rates and a 20- to 

40-percent reduction in fertilizer costs. In addition, using the Haney Test reduced nutrient losses and 

the related negative impacts of excess fertilizer use on air and water resources. This procedure is a 

revolutionary advancement for fertilizer management and could become an important tool for 

agricultural producers to increase profitability and sustainability. 

Protecting Our Water Supply

Agricultural Research Service

18
Scientific Discoveries 2015

3

The best way to gather data 

about the Earth’s water and 

land resources is viewing it 

from space. In 2015, ARS 

scientists helped the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) with 

the launch of SMAP (Soil 

Moisture Active-Passive), a 

new satellite measuring the 

amount of water in top soil 

layers around the world. SMAP 

gathers soil moisture data 

that help track diseases and 

famine, help predict weather 

and climate patterns, help 

emergency workers respond 

to natural disasters, and help 

farmers decide what crops to 

plant. SMAP provides the best 

global view of soil moisture to 

date. Early users include those 

in agriculture, weather, human 

health, emergency response, 

and military readiness. This 

past year, SMAP data were 

used to predict the water supply 

in New York City and predict 

large regional dust storms in 

Saharan Africa and throughout 

the Middle East. SMAP data 

were also used to map sea 

ice to help improve maritime 

navigation and to look at the 

impact of hurricanes on 

power outages. 

Monitoring Climate Change From Space

19

Photo by Kim Shiflett, NASA.
Goal 4 

Nutrition and Childhood 

Obesity
Scientific Discoveries 2015

An essential part of a child’s annual physical exam is a weight 

check. Annual visits, however, do not help healthcare practitioners monitor seasonal fluctuations in weight. ARS-supported 

researchers recently tracked weight changes of more than 7,500 

elementary school children. They found that children who were 

overweight or obese gained more weight during the summer than 

during the school year. While the researchers did not assess the 

reasons for these seasonal fluctuations, the findings shed light on 

the need for dietary strategies to help children maintain healthy 

body weights year round. 

Reducing Children’s Risk of Summer 

Weight Gain

4

Children who were overweight or obese gained 

more weight during the 

summer than during 

the school year. 

21
For the first time, scientists have found a 

relationship between cognitive control and 

emotional eating behavior in preschool 

children. ARS and University of California, 

Davis, scientists found that cognitive control—

which includes abilities to make decisions, 

plan, manage time, and maintain emotional and 

self-control—is significantly associated with the 

relationship between overeating and emotions. 

Not much is known about this connection in 

younger children. The research team examined 

the balance between emotional state, snacking, 

and cognitive control in children ages 3 to 6 at 

a preschool. Using computerized and hands-on 

tasks, parental questionnaires, and standardized 

teacher reports, researchers learned that children 

with low cognitive-control scores snacked more 

and experienced more emotions. Children with 

higher cognitive-control scores did not engage 

in this type of behavior. The research suggests 

that preschool age is a good time for anti-obesity 

intervention as both eating habits and cognitive 

control are developing rapidly.

Identifying How Emotions 

Affect Children’s 

Eating Habits

U.S. obesity rates related to poor diets are a major 

health issue, with one in three adults considered 

obese. ARS scientists, in collaboration with the 

Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute 

in Oakland, CA, have developed a low-calorie, 

fruit-based snack bar fortified with micronutrients, 

fiber, and other healthy components that are 

lacking in a typical U.S. diet. In a clinical study, 

subjects ate two bars daily for 8 weeks without 

other changes in diet or exercise. Study results 

showed healthy changes in cardiovascular health, 

insulin resistance, inflammation, and obesity. 

ARS has applied for a patent for this fruit-based 

snack bar.

Developing a Fruit-Based 

Nutrient Snack Bar

Agricultural Research Service

22

4
Scientific Discoveries 2015

ARS scientists have linked excessive consumption of foods with higher calories, sodium, saturated fat, 

and trans fat with increased disease risk. Trends in fast-food restaurant portion sizes may impact the 

consumption of these components. ARS-funded research examined portion sizes in popular food items 

in three U.S. fast-food restaurants during the past 18 years. The study included tracking changes in 

portion size and key components in French fries, cheeseburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, and 

regular cola. Overall, 56 percent of items decreased in calorie content between 1996 and 2013. 

Sodium levels in 18 percent of the items decreased significantly, while sodium levels in 33 percent of 

the items were higher. Calorie content of a large-size “meal” (cheeseburger, French fries, and regular 

cola) represented 65 to 80 percent of a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet, as well as a significant portion of 

the recommended sodium intake. These findings suggest that efforts to promote reductions in calories, 

sodium, saturated fat, and trans fat intakes need to be shifted from emphasizing portion size only to 

emphasizing additional factors such as total calories, eating frequency, number of items ordered, 

menu choices, and high-calorie beverages. 

Promoting Better-Informed Habits 

in Food Consumption

23

4
Goal 5 

Food Safety
Scientific Discoveries 2015

5

Since mid-December 2014, USDA agencies, poultry producers, and other State and local governments 

worked cooperatively to combat an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, 

in commercial poultry, wild birds, captive wild birds, and backyard poultry. The virus quickly spread 

across 21 States in 2015, resulting in the loss of 7.5 million turkeys and 42.1 million chickens, at a 

cost of more than $950 million to U.S. taxpayers. In response to the December 2014 detection of new 

HPAI viruses (H5N8 and H5N2) affecting wild waterfowl and captive raptors in the United States, 

ARS refocused its avian influenza research team and within 2 weeks developed an emergency avian 

influenza vaccine. 

Speeding Bird Flu Vaccine Development

25
5

Food safety inspectors use egg candling systems to check egg 

quality and grade eggs. Current commercial egg candling grading 

lights were based on obsolete incandescent bulbs that are no 

longer manufactured. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service 

(AMS) requested that its grading units be upgraded to new, highintensity, energy-efficient LED candling lights. To meet this need, 

ARS scientists designed and developed portable and stationary 

LED-light grading systems and a computerized software system. 

ARS’s new system can monitor, collect, and process egg cracking 

data without using current paper forms. This allows for realtime statistical and trend analysis of egg production operations. 

An industry-manufactured LED egg candling system is under 

development based on this ARS technology. 

Improving Egg Production Operations

ARS scientists designed 

and developed portable 

and stationary LEDlight grading systems 

and a computerized 

software system. 

Agricultural Research Service

26
Scientific Discoveries 2015

5

One of the leading concerns for the food industry is preventing foodborne pathogens, such as Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7. It is estimated that annually E. coli O157:H7 causes tens of 

thousands of foodborne illnesses and more than 60 deaths in the United States. Identifying the correct 

foodborne pathogen strain is an important step to enhancing food safety. To reduce foodborne illnesses, 

ARS collaborated with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a low-cost, portable 

detection system that can differentiate between active and non-active toxins in food samples. Built 

with off-the-shelf components, the sensor system costs about $300 compared with current commercial 

systems costing $35,000.

Another important step in food safety is preventing cross-contamination of pathogens on surfaces. 

ARS has developed a battery-operated, handheld fluorescence imaging device that can detect food 

residues on spinach leaf, milk, and beef—three foods particularly associated with foodborne illness 

outbreaks. Useful in a variety of situations and on large, complex processing surfaces, the costeffective optical sensing device has received considerable national and international interest from 

Federal regulatory agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the United Kingdom 

Food Standards Agency. 

Preventing Foodborne Pathogens

27
Goal 6 

Education and Science 

Literacy
Scientific Discoveries 2015

6

ARS Involvement in Training

and Mentoring - 2015

Pathways interns

Pathways recent graduates

Graduate students

Undergraduate students

Adjunct or other 

appointments

Scientists serving as 

advisors

159

 20

 575

878

 908

541

The key to solving problems facing agriculture today and in the future is to invest in the next 

generation of scientific minds—America’s students. Each year, ARS scientists bring hundreds of 

students, from high-schoolers to those seeking postgraduate degrees, into laboratories to conduct 

experiments, feed and care for animals, help with field work, and provide substantive support to 

ARS research. These students learn the research methods, procedures, and discipline needed for 

future scientific discovery. While mentoring students and young scientists is not the primary function of ARS researchers, it is an important measure of the leadership and community stewardship 

ARS scientists have always demonstrated toward agriculture and related sciences. Additionally, 

more than half of ARS scientists hold adjunct appointments at the land-grant universities where 

they are co-located, which provides them opportunities to serve as academic advisors to students 

and maintain strong research relationships with other faculty members. 

Tapping the Hidden Value of 

ARS Research

29
6

ARS is committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce. The agency has several ongoing programs to provide workplace training and experience for students from underserved communities. 

In cooperation with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), ARS hosted 

65 HACU students during 2015 who received on-the-job training and gained experience in information 

technology, real and personal property management, budget processes, human resources, and general 

management. In addition, ARS continues outreach activities at K-12 schools, land-grant colleges and 

universities, and minority-serving institutions to educate students about ARS career opportunities. 

ARS has partnered with a number of organizations including the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Latinos and Native Americans in Science; Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and 

Related Sciences; Federal Asian Pacific American Council; the League of United Latin American 

Citizens; and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to provide opportunities for minority and underrepresented groups. 

Building a Diverse Workforce 

Agricultural Research Service

30
Scientific Discoveries 2015

6

In collaboration with the turfgrass industry, ARS scientists developed a new exhibit called “Grass 

Roots” to educate the public on the importance, diversity, and benefits of turfgrass and their crop 

relatives. As part of this partnership, ARS developed a 1.3-acre outdoor exhibit at the U.S. National 

Arboretum in Washington, DC. The exhibit presents fundamental information about turfgrass, 

including its value as a landscape element and scientific efforts to improve turfgrass and turfgrass 

management. The exhibit features a small putting green and an array of grain crops such as wheat 

and sorghum. Tens of thousands of people have visited the exhibit and the Web site to learn about 

the importance of turfgrass to the U.S. economy and the environment. 

ARS also promotes scientific literacy by sharing scientific data, which often accelerates scientific 

discoveries and improvements. ARS scientists partnered with university cooperators at the iPlant 

Collaborative—a national project to facilitate access to high-performance computing, software, and 

DNA sequence analysis tools—to facilitate scientific innovation. As a result, the team developed a 

series of coordinated software programs that, for the first time, will enable researchers to assemble 

the rice genome in a day. Knowledge of crop sequencing and crop genomes is critical for accelerating 

progress in crop research and genetic improvement. Such information is particularly important for 

identifying gene sources to increase yield, enhance disease resistance, and accelerate adaptation to 

weather extremes. The iPlant Collaborative has been expanded to include an iAnimal project.

Educating the Public on Turfgrass

31
Goal 7 

Rural Prosperity/Rural-Urban 

Interdependence
Scientific Discoveries 2015

7

The U.S. Army often uses large amounts of land to prepare and train its troops to protect U.S. citizens. 

Extensive wear on the land results in lack of sufficient topsoil, organic matter, and nutrients—making 

it unsuitable for revegetation. ARS scientists developed a new garbage-processing technology that 

reduces the municipal solid waste disposal in landfills and generates a co-product that can be used to 

reclaim damaged soils. This technology sterilizes and separates municipal solid waste into metal and 

plastic recyclables and turns it into an organic material called Fluff®, which can be land applied to 

improve soil conditions. ARS field studies conducted at Fort Campbell, KY, and Fort Benning, GA, 

showed improved results when native grass was established in damaged areas. Fluff® reduced soil 

compaction and increased soil carbon and nitrogen.

Using Recycled Waste To 

Reclaim Land

33
7

A secure, resilient, and sustainable food supply requires continued progress toward controlling soil 

erosion. However, the most common wheat production method in low-rainfall areas of the Pacific 

Northwest relies on intensive tillage, leaving the soil susceptible to wind erosion. In field studies 

evaluating reduced-tillage farming practices, ARS scientists found that reducing tillage timing and 

frequency (an average of two fewer tillage equipment passes per year) on 4 million acres of lowprecipitation-zone wheat can save 1.75 million gallons of diesel fuel annually. In addition, crop yields 

either met or exceeded previous yields and exhibited greater resilience to weather conditions, such as 

wind and water erosion. This study also revealed that leaving crop residue on the soil surface through 

reduced tillage improves soil moisture. Using these management practices, farmers can reduce tillage 

and still meet or exceed crop yield goals, help protect soil from erosion, reduce fuel costs, and reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions. 

Increasing Water Supply by Saving Fuel

Agricultural Research Service

34
Scientific Discoveries 2015

7

Microbial contamination of extracted sugarcane juice during commercial processing is a serious 

problem that degrades production and causes sugar loss. Although commercial biocides that control 

microbial growth are currently added to juice in U.S. sugarcane factories, their effectiveness is 

questionable. ARS scientists evaluated three commonly used commercial biocides—bleach, sodium 

carbamate, and hops—and a newly developed ARS heat treatment. The researchers studied the 

biocides individually and in combinations at two commercial Louisiana sugar-processing facilities, 

and they found that none of the treatments were effective. However, applying the ARS heat 

treatment during the juice clarification process completely eliminated microbial contamination. 

As a result of these findings, numerous U.S. sugar factories replaced costly commercial biocide 

treatments with the ARS heat treatment. Each factory has saved approximately $47,000 per year—

an estimated savings of about $515,000 annually for the Louisiana sugarcane processing industry. 

Preventing Sugarcane Juice Losses

35
Agricultural Research Service

Web: www.ars.usda.gov

Twitter: www.twitter.com/USDA_ARS

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating 

in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national 

origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, 

or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by 

USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or 

incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., 

Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible agency or 

USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other 

than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 

AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or 

write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. 

To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to 

USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.

intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

May 2016