Scientists at the USDA Southwest Climate Hub and California Climate Hub have developed a browsable map-based tool that addresses water scarcity in the U.S. Southwest. The Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas (WATA) consolidates over 200 case studies on research and practices that water managers and producers can use to find location-specific and topical information to make […]

USDA and Reinvestment Fund are launching the Food Access and Retail Expansion Fund (FARE Fund), a new program under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative to increase access to healthy foods in communities underserved by grocery stores. The FARE Fund will make $60 million available in loans, grants and technical assistance for food retail and food […]

The American Society for Horticultural Science published a study by USDA Agricultural Research Service on its development of new breeding lines of lettuce. Dr. Beiquan Mou, a Research Geneticist with the USDA-ARS in Salinas, California, developed lines of green leaf, red leaf, and romaine lettuce with remarkable resistance to leafminer, corky root, and downy mildew. […]

A study by USDA Agricultural Research Service and University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers found that pearl millet pollen can provide a food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Although wind-pollinated grasses are not usually considered a pollinator food source, scientists observed honey bees, lined earwigs, and maize calligrapher hover […]

USDA Food and Nutrition Service published a memo on the recent expansion of the geographic preference option in the final rule “Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans” that was published on April 25, 2024. Changes to the rule help ease challenges for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) related to […]