Nestled in the hills of California’s San Joaquin Valley, a tranquil pond invites flocks of ruddy ducks, pintails, and shovelers to feed at its shores. The water is crawling with the larvae of brine flies and midges that these waterfowl love. But this pond doesn’t constitute the ideal refuge. White, encrusted salts can be seen […] Read more
Stories by United States Department of Agriculture
Anti-stress formula gives calves a boost
An American government scientist has developed an infant formula for calves that may help them fight infection from salmonella and other microbes, especially during stressful times. The dietary supplement alters calves’ immunity enough to help them cope with transport stress, which appears to be among the worst sources of stress early in an animal’s life. […] Read more
System uses waste more efficiently
A new way to treat waste water from hog production may benefit hog producers and the environment. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and companies in the United States, Spain and Japan were satisfied with the system’s performance during a recent year-long evaluation, in which brown waste water from a lagoon was converted into […] Read more
Optical sensors give the skinny on wheat quality
Grain buyers want specific levels of protein, depending on how the wheat will be used. Bakers need high-protein for bread but low-protein for cakes, cookies and crackers. Because buyers will pay a premium for high-quality wheat, farmers need to not only grow it, but also know which exact locations in their fields have the wheat […] Read more
Quench plant thirst from below
Imagine having a refreshing drink of water brought to you every time you wanted it. That happens to thirsty plants irrigated with a subsurface drip irrigation system. This environmentally friendly technology employs an underground network of sturdy, flexible black tubes to carry water to plant roots, exactly where they need it the most. About a […] Read more
Pheromone lure spells doom for caterpillars
Enticing new lures developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service could make fields a place of no return for pesky caterpillars. The lures, derived from molasses and floral odours, tantalize male and female moths, which is the caterpillars’ adult stage, with the promise of nectar. Instead, the insects fly into the opening […] Read more
Decomposing mustard puts the heat on pests
Got nematode troubles? Fungi? Too many weeds in a field? Spread some mustard on them. The Agricultural Research Service at the United States Department of Agriculture has teamed up with university scientists to study mustards as an alternative to chemical pest control. But scientists aren’t smearing pests with mustard that comes in a jar. Rather, […] Read more
Fungus prevents mites sucking life from honey bees
Scientists with United States Department of Agriculture’s Beneficial Insects Research Unit at Weslaco, Texas, have found that a strain of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is deadly to varroa mites. Varroa mites infest honey bee colonies, sucking blood from the bees and causing weight loss, deformities, diseases and reduced lifespan. These mites, which can destroy a […] Read more
Alternative measures control E. coli in swine
An American government scientist has devised an alternative to antibiotics to control E. coli, the leading cause of sickness and death in young pigs. Roger Harvey, a veterinary medical officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, leads an effort to develop a mixed culture of beneficial bacteria called recombined porcine continuous-flow, or RPCF. Scientists think […] Read more
Phosphorus works for long time
While expensive, phosphorus fertilizer is often necessary for wheat, barley, corn and other crops to produce profitable yields. Now, U.S. Department of Agriculture research has shown that phosphorus does not have to be applied annually to get good yields. Soil scientist Ardell D. Halvorson conducted several long-term experiments on fields in Montana, Colorado and Nebraska. […] Read more
