US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Is your workout gear smelly? 👟🎽🏃♂️ In this podcast, hear ARS scientists discuss how nanoparticles help protect your body from germs and other microbials, while also helping to fight body odor -- especially from sweating. Lucky for us, ARS researchers have figured out a better way for for attaching nanoparticles to clothing! https://loom.ly/-T3sjbc

Learn how ARS researchers at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, NE, are making significant improvements to achieve consistent beef tenderness across all types and cuts of meat. Their work helps farmers, livestock producers, meat producers -- and even grocery stores and restaurants -- make sure the meat you eat is as tender and tasty as possible. 🥩🍔 https://loom.ly/glfVI04

Meet ARS Young Scientist Pierre Lau -- a research ecologist at the Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystem Research Unit in Stoneville, MS. See Dr. Lau researching ways to enhance pollinator forage habitat in agroecosystems to improve bee health and to maximize bee pollination. The goals of his research are to identify factors for enhancing bee habitat and to improve management strategies based on bee foraging activity. https://loom.ly/KVHwOjM #ARSAgLab

New Tool ID's Invasive Insect! -- USDA-ARS’ Systematic Entomology Lab has introduced a new digital tool to identify a major softwood forestry pest: the pine sawfly. The Diprion ID platform compiles identification resources and fact sheets for every pine sawfly species, with photo galleries and search tools for the public, farmers, ranchers, and producers at: https://loom.ly/SbwukUg Diprion ID is a critical tool that supports early detection efforts to help protect U.S. forests from potentially invasive threats. If you find a pine sawfly on your land and it is any of the 11 species other than the introduced pine sawfly, alert the Systematic Entomology Laboratory at: https://loom.ly/nehrmRk

See in #ScientificDiscoveries how ARS researchers in Wyndmoor, PA, have developed an improved method for finding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. This will help reduce the prevalence of “forever chemicals” in the products that we use everyday. https://loom.ly/nK06TZM

Hydration is important to our bodies, especially during exercise. Not properly hydrating during athletic competitions or every day exercising – even walking – can cause damaging effects like fatigue, exhaustion, and even heat stroke. There are also psychological factors to learn more about in this podcast at: https://loom.ly/7nlLQLw

Big News for growers! -- ARS scientists in Corvallis, OR, and #OregonStateUniversity teamed up to develop a disease surveillance software program that will help U.S. agriculture by unlocking the future of plant health. The innovative open-source tool, called PathogenSurveillance, can quickly analyze and identify novel microbial variants based on a plant's DNA sequences. https://loom.ly/CRNF5aY

For over a century, the USDA's citrus research program has played a vital role in ensuring a plentiful supply of oranges and other citrus fruits. Learn how researchers are working on innovative solutions to combat citrus greening, including improved testing methods. Visit the citrus greening portal: https://loom.ly/uwZ1stQ #NationalCitrusMonth #citrusgreening

Five North Carolina State University graduate students recently used their data science and computer technology skills to help address agricultural challenges facing American farmers. As part of the USDA-ARS Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence and SCINet Graduate Student Internships Program, each student was paired with a USDA-ARS scientist mentor for 10 weeks. The students engaged in computer vision projects that use AI to improve agriculture productivity, costs, and sustainability. https://loom.ly/4qB33TY

ARS scientists across the nation are helping farmers keep their soil and crops healthy and productive. In this series, you will see how regenerative farming practices can help improve farming productivity, enrich soil health, and build a lasting future. https://loom.ly/xMfwQUs