USDA Agricultural Research Service

Planting Blueberries 🫐this season? -- here's a few tips!
https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

Aquaculture — including catfish farming — is helping to ramp up our nation’s food supply through innovations developed by ARS scientists. Mediha Aksoy, a microbiologist with the Aquatic Animal Health Research Laboratory in Auburn, Alabama, has been working to increase the weight of farm-raised channel catfish by adding protein rich frass from black soldier fly larvae to the fish's diet. Learn more at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/oc/dof/fly-frass-forms-fabulous-fish-food/

Congratulations to Dr. Deana Jones for receiving the Laboratory Director of the Year Award.🎉🎉
Jones is director of the U.S. National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia. She received the award for her exemplary leadership in promoting, supporting, and executing the technology transfer mission of the USDA-ARS lab. The award was presented to Jones by the Federal Laboratory Consortium's National Advisory Council. https://federallabs.org/about/media/flc-press-releases/2026-flc-award-winners

Congratulations (from left) to Drs. Paul VanRaden (retired), Ransom L. Baldwin VI, and Curtis P. Van Tassell -- and to the ARS Dairy Cattle Genetic Enhancement Team -- for being selected 2026 Service to America honorees. 🎉🎉🎉
VanRaden, Baldwin, and Van Tassell have each played a leading role in revolutionizing dairy cattle breeding through DNA research and genetic testing. Their research has greatly improved milk production and animal health, benefiting the dairy industry and American consumers. https://servicetoamericamedals.org/honorees/

During , we feature a new tool ARS scientists have developed for pollinating the delicious fruit.🍓
Strawberries can fertilize themselves, but they still need bees or wind to move pollen to all the parts of the flower that make fruit. A full pollination from a pollinator ensures growers produce large, well-shaped berries. However, in controlled-environment agriculture, under artificial LED light, there is a huge challenge for insect pollinators to navigate strawberry flowers to achieve full pollination.
In collaboration with robotic engineers at , ARS scientists in Charleston, South Carolina, have developed a novel robotic system for pollination of the "Mara des Bois" French-bred strawberry. ARS scientists note the key to this new technology for indoor farming is to vibrate the flower while inspecting under microscope the pollen landing on the flower's stigma to ensure full pollination.

In , learn how ARS researchers are harnessing the power of AI to improve the efficiency and resilience of important U.S. crops. The development of the new DNA language model, called PlantCAD, enables plant breeders to enhance disease and pest-resistant traits – improving crop health for U.S. farmers and growers. https://scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/explore-our-discoveries/ars-scientists-use-ai-help-us-farmers

Marking A legacy in Agricultural Research -- At today's opening of the new USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, TX, Dr. Edward B. Knipling remarked on his family's legacy. Dr. Knipling and his father Edward F. Knipling -- a namesake of the new laboratory -- have worked over decades to control and eradicate parasites to protect America's livestock.
Dr. Knipling's distinguished USDA career spans 46 years, including serving as Administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service from 2004 to 2013. His father a world-renown entomologist, advocated for the use of pest specific, preventive, and environmentally safe methods to benefit American farmers and the livestock industry. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/05/27/usda-opens-state-art-livestock-insects-research-laboratory-combat-livestock-pests

Healthy rangelands support livestock, protect wildlife, and help reduce wildfire and erosion risks.
The Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP), which uses AI and satellite imagery to monitor these landscapes, has now been upgraded by ARS. These advancements will improve rangeland conditions and productivity for American ranchers and farmers. https://loom.ly/YHqbBlU

ARS scientists in Columbia, Missouri, are on a mission to find more palatable plant-based protein sources for consumers. Their innovation to combine multiple beneficial traits in soybean seeds will address a long-standing challenge for soybean farmers in the marketplace. https://scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov/tellus/stories/articles/better-taste-leads-bigger-market