Agriculture Research Service
Stored: Agricultural Research Service, Agricultural Research Service
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Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the chief scientific in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), operating over 90 research facilities across the U.S. and abroad to address agricultural problems impacting food security, environmental sustainability, and human health.
Mission
The Agricultural Research Service aims to lead America toward a sustainable agricultural future by conducting research that enhances food safety, improves crop and animal production, protects natural resources, and informs nutrition policy. It tackles everyday issues like pest resistance, climate resilience, and dietary health through four national program areas: Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality; Animal Production and Protection; Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems; and Crop Production and Protection.[1]
Parent organization
The Agricultural Research Service operates under the United States Department of Agriculture, within the Research, Education, and Economics mission area, directly supporting USDA’s goals of agricultural innovation and public welfare.[2]
Legislation
The ARS was formally established by Secretary's Memorandum 1320, Supplement 4, on November 2, 1953, consolidating prior USDA research efforts under the authority of the Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1862, which initiated federal agricultural research.[3]
Partners
- State universities and land-grant institutions for collaborative research
- Federal agencies like NIH and DOE for cross-disciplinary projects[4]
- Private industry (e.g., Bayer, Syngenta) for technology transfer
Number of employees
ARS employs approximately 6,000 staff, including over 2,000 scientists and post-docs, with additional support personnel across its network.[5]
Organization structure
ARS is organized into five geographic areas under a centralized administration:
Leader
The Agricultural Research Service is headed by an Administrator.[6]
Divisions
The divisions include:
- Midwest Area for regional agricultural research.[7]
- Northeast Area for crop and animal studies.
- Pacific West Area for innovative farming practices.
- Plains Area for sustainable systems.
- Southeast Area for pest and nutrition research.
List of programs
- Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network[8]
- National Plant Germplasm System
- Human Nutrition Research Centers
Last total enacted budget
The last enacted budget for ARS was $1.9 billion for FY 2023, reflecting increased funding from its $1.2 billion in FY 2018.[9]
Staff
ARS’s workforce includes over 2,000 scientists (e.g., geneticists, agronomists) and 4,000 support staff, such as technicians and librarians, distributed across 90+ locations, with notable hubs like the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.[10]
Funding
ARS is primarily funded through USDA’s annual congressional appropriations, with FY 2023 at $1.9 billion, supplemented by partnerships and grants from federal and private sources since its 1953 founding.[11]
Services provided
ARS conducts cutting-edge research (e.g., pest-resistant crops, salinity-tolerant plants), transfers technologies to farmers and industry, collaborates globally, and disseminates findings via the National Agricultural Library and publications like Agricultural Research magazine.[12]
Regulations overseen
ARS does not directly oversee regulations but supports USDA compliance with federal standards, influencing policies on food safety and environmental sustainability.[13]
Headquarters address
5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
History
Federal agricultural research began with the 1862 Organic Act, evolving through USDA’s early efforts like seed distribution and hog cholera studies. The ARS was established on November 2, 1953, via Secretary’s Memorandum 1320, consolidating research bureaus to become USDA’s primary scientific arm, growing into the world’s largest agricultural research network.[14]
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations:
- United States Department of Agriculture
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- USDA Climate Hubs
External links
References
- ↑ "About ARS". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/about-ars/.
- ↑ "USDA Mission Areas". United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.usda.gov/our-agency/about-usda/mission-areas.
- ↑ "Records of the ARS". National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/310.html.
- ↑ "ARS Collaborations". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/collaborations/.
- ↑ "About ARS". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/about-ars/.
- ↑ "ARS Leadership". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/people-locations/leadership/.
- ↑ "Midwest Area". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/.
- ↑ "LTAR Network". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/natural-resources-and-sustainable-agricultural-systems/ltar/.
- ↑ "FY 2023 Budget Summary". United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fy2023-budget-summary.pdf.
- ↑ "People & Locations". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/people-locations/.
- ↑ "FY 2023 Budget Summary". United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fy2023-budget-summary.pdf.
- ↑ "ARS Research". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/.
- ↑ "About ARS". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/about-ars/.
- ↑ "ARS History". Agricultural Research Service. https://www.ars.usda.gov/about-ars/history/.