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{{Organization
|OrganizationName=Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
|OrganizationType=Research and Development Agencies
|Mission=The Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center aims to develop and disseminate scientific knowledge to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, food safety, and nutrition. It conducts research in areas such as crop and animal production, environmental conservation, and human nutrition to benefit both agriculture and public health.
|ParentOrganization=Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture
|CreationLegislation=Part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938
|Employees=1400
|OrganizationExecutive=Director
|Services=Crop Production Research; Animal Health; Food Safety; Plant Genetic Resources; Human Nutrition
|HeadquartersLocation=39.03072, -76.88018
|HeadquartersAddress=10300 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705
|Website=https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/
}}
{{Short description|Agricultural research complex in Beltsville, Maryland, United States}}

The '''Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center''' ('''BARC'''), also known as the '''National Agricultural Research Center''',<ref>"[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004667524/ National Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland. 1937. General statement and description (pictures and text) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 16,000 acre-farm]." [[U.S. Library of Congress]]. Retrieved on September 2, 2018.</ref> is a unit of the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]'s [[Agricultural Research Service]]. It is located in unincorporated Prince George's County, [[Maryland]],<ref>"[https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md-barc/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/ Beltsville Agricultural Research Center: Beltsville, MD]." [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]]. Retrieved on September 2, 2018. "10300 Baltimore Avenue Bldg. 003, Rm. 231, BARC-West Beltsville, MD 20705"</ref> with sections within the Beltsville census-designated place.<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_000.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Beltsville CDP, MD]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on January 31, 2018. Pages: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_001.pdf 1], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_002.pdf 2], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_003.pdf 3]</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20030824134945/http://www.mdp.state.md.us/MSDC/census/cen2000/maps/PLC00/prinplc.pdf Census Incorporated Places & Census Designated Places]." Prince George's County. As of August 24, 2003. Retrieved on September 2, 2018. This map shows that sections of the BARC are outside of the Beltsville [[Census Designated Place|CDP]].</ref> The BARC is named for Henry A. Wallace, former United States vice president and secretary of agriculture. BARC houses the Abraham Lincoln Building of the [[National Agricultural Library]].

== Research programs ==
Among its research programs are 

* Air Quality
* Animal Health
* Crop Production
* Crop Protection and Quarantine
* Food Animal Production
* Food Safety
* [[Global Change]]
* Human Nutrition
* Integrated Farming Systems
* Manure and Byproduct Utilization
* [[Methyl Bromide]] Alternatives
* Plant Biological and Molecular Processes
* Plant Diseases
* Plant Genetic Resources
* Genomics, and Genetic Improvement
* Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products
* Rangeland, Pasture, and Forages
* Soil Resource Management
* Veterinary, Medical, and Urban Entomology
* Water Quality and Management

== Trivia ==
The center's ''[[Harvest for the Hungry]]'' program donates about {{convert|75000|lb|metric ton}} of fruits and vegetables each year for distribution to local charities, in conjunction with volunteers from the community who do much of the labor of harvesting.

Each February, BARC hosts the [[Washington's Birthday Marathon]], the eighth oldest marathon in the United States.

During the [[tornado outbreak of September 24, 2001]], the BARC facilities sustained extensive damage as the result of an F3 tornado. <ref>[http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/2/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=2001/09/0187.html&PC_7_2_5JM_parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&PC_7_2_5JM_navid=NEWS_RELEASE#7_2_5JM USDA research center severely damaged in tornado]. (press release) United States Department of Agriculture, September 25, 2001. Retrieved on 2008-12-22.</ref>

The center is also referenced in local folklore as the creation place of the Goatman, claiming that Goatman was once a scientist who worked at the center before an experiment on goats backfired and mutated the scientist into a half man, half goat creature who aggressively attacks cars in the vicinity of Beltsville.<ref name=WPost2>{{cite news |last=Aratani |first=Lori |title=The Keeper of Local Haunted Lore |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102303620.html |access-date=31 August 2011 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 26, 2008}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Beltsville Small White]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/ Agricultural Research Service Northeast Area]
* {{EBird hotspot|name=Beltsville Agricultural Research Center}}
*[https://www.nal.usda.gov/collections/stories/turkey The Beltsville Small White: A Heritage Turkey] (A digital exhibit containing information about the Small White and BARC)

{{Beltsville, Maryland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:United States Department of Agriculture facilities]]
[[Category:Agricultural research institutes in the United States]]
[[Category:Beltsville, Maryland]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Prince George's County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Government buildings in Maryland]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Maryland]]
[[Category:Superfund sites in Maryland]]
[[Category:United States National Agricultural Library]]
[[Category:Georgian Revival architecture in Maryland]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Maryland]]