U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home News & Events News Articles Research News 2007





- ARS News & Events
- AgResearch Magazine
- Image Gallery
- News
- Search News & Events
- Pesticide Drift May Endanger Pollinators
- ARS Seeks a Fire Ant Fix
- Scientific Discoveries 2024
- ARS Featured Photos
- Down on the Farm
- Facebook Live Events
- Food and Nutrition Research Briefs
- News Archive
- Science in Your Shopping Cart
- Scientific Discoveries
- Social Media
- Under the Microscope
- AgResearch magazine
- ARS at Work
- ARS Memorial Lectures
- ARS Science Hall of Fame
- Citrus Disease (Huanglongbing)
- Contact Office of Communications
- Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Mobile Apps
- Public Affairs Contacts
- Publications and Other Resources
- USDA Blog
- Videos

Archived Page
 This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
 Samuel Coleman uses a hyperspectral spectroradiometer to measure light reflectance from the forage canopy.At the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, research leader Samuel Coleman estimates forage quality by using a hyperspectral spectroradiometer to measure light reflectance from the forage canopy. Photo courtesy Samuel Coleman.For further readingTenderizing tough BrahmansHand-held sensor to gauge forage nutrientsRemote sensing for faster forage analysis USDA's Florida Research Station Celebrates 75 Years of Excellence By Alfredo Flores  May 25, 2007 BROOKSVILLE, Fla., May 25The Subtropical Agricultural Research Station in Brooksville, Fla., operated by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), today celebrated 75 years of research accomplishments. The Brooksville station has served as the national center for characterization, evaluation and preservation of tropically adapted beef cattle germplasm. "Scientists here have advanced the genetics, physiology and nutrition of beef cattle, as well as forage production and water quality," said Ronnie D. Green, ARS' national program leader for food animal production. Among the scientists' accomplishments are the creation of a three-breed cross of Angus, Brahman and Romosinuano cattle; the use of DNA to screen beef cattle populations for better breeding; identification of gene markers responsible for slick or longer hair coats in Senepol cattle and their crossbreeds; and screening bahiagrass for cold tolerance and quality. The Brooksville station's study pertaining to water quality in lakes showed that properly managed cow-calf operations should not be major contributors to excess loads of phosphorus in surface water. Readings over a 15-year period, from 1988-2002, revealed a declining trend for all levels of phosphorus and other crop nutrients in lake waters, relieving concerns in west central Florida about runoff from nearby cow pastures. Another recent project at the station concluded the perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) adapts well to the upland soils and climate of the coastal plain, where it improves the quality of pastures and hay in subtropical U.S. areas. The Brooksville station began in 1932 with 2,100 acres of rolling timber and pastureland donated to the federal government by Col. Raymond Robins. Today it has 20 full-time federal and state employees. It covers about 3,800 acres, with nearly 85 percent of that land in permanent pasture to support approximately 500 head of breeding cows in a herd of 1,000 cows, bulls and calves. The facility is operated by ARS in cooperation with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA.


Return to top


Research
                            Media
                            About ARS
                            Work With Us


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov