ARS is confronting the biggest challenges to staple crops like grains. Craig Carlson is a Research Geneticist in the Cereal Crops Improvement Research Unit in Fargo, ND. His work focuses on oat quantitative genetics, with an emphasis on developing high-yielding varieties that have superior grain quality and stable disease resistance. Learn more.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals", can persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in animals, humans, and plants. ARS is continuing to expand its PFAS research to address its impact on U.S. agriculture. Learn more.

Just like the weeds they target, herbicides are also sensitive to the weather—before, during, and after application. Now, with the aid of computer modeling and one of the largest databases yet, a team of scientists is working to refine the outlook for herbicide use in corn and soybean crops amid extreme weather events. Learn more about this important research. 

Food for Thought

Cognitive disease is a growing public health concern, and more research is needed to determine underlying factors that improve or degrade cognitive function. New research supports potentially key relationships between certain diet patterns, psychological stress, and the complex cognitive process of decision making. Watch this video 

It’s Pollinator Week!

Follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn all week for the latest information and updates on our bee research. And check out our Bee Health website.