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

ARS enjoys deep-historic roots as the principal in-house research agency of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Federally-supported agricultural research dates back to the 1862 Organic Act, which established what is now the USDA. The Organic Act charged the then-Commissioner of Agriculture “To acquire and preserve… all information he can obtain by means of books and correspondences, and by practical and scientific experiments…” ARS was founded in 1963 with the vision of leading America towards a better future by fulfilling this charge through agricultural research and information. ARS employs 2000 scientists and post-docs at over 90 locations across the country. Collectively, our scientists are engaged in almost 700 cutting-edge research projects at any given moment. Projects range from how to reduce nitrate runoff on Midwest farms, to best practices for Honey Bee management. The information, technology, and improved techniques originating in the ARS scientific community have profound and wide-ranging impacts on all consumers domestic and abroad.