Who We Are
The LTAR Network is a USDA-led collaboration of 19 research sites focused on developing practices that improve agricultural productivity and economic performance and ensure the health of our natural resources and farming communities. Read more
Our Research Approach
The LTAR network combines strategic research projects with common measurements on multiple agroecosystems (croplands, rangelands, and pasturelands) and develops new technologies to address local and national challenges and opportunities.
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Data Access
LTAR scientists are responsible for managing a rich legacy of data spanning over seventy years for many sites. Collectively, it is estimated LTAR manages [200+ terabytes] of data.
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The 19 LTAR Network Sites
The 19 LTAR Network Sites collaborate in coordinated strategic research that leverages a rich legacy of research and data collection. Read more
(Click dots to open LTAR site video)
Follow @USLTAR
Grow with ARS community and keep following us in 2026 -- learn how we’re helping our nation's farmers, ranchers, and land managers throughout the New Year! 🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/vRXHU848aG
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) January 1, 2026
Congratulations to the USDA-ARS team of scientists who developed the pyfao56 Open-Source Evapotranspiration and Water Balance Tool for receiving the 2025 Vanguard Award from the Irrigation Association (IA).🎉🎉
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 29, 2025
The Vanguard Award honors an innovative project in the irrigation… pic.twitter.com/xGwMa0m4gO
Learn how ARS scientists in Ames, IA, and their research partners are creating a tool allowing users to visualize, explore, and analyze soil temperature data regionally over time. This tool will help Midwest farmers determine optimal planting times and make more informed… pic.twitter.com/0HH10pBf5O
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 24, 2025
Satellite data is changing how ranchers and land managers monitor rangelands. ARS researchers are evaluating satellite-based remote sensing tools to explain how different tools can be used to help ranchers achieve different management goals. https://t.co/3N9WfMyr2F pic.twitter.com/MLUuG2KRl0
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 22, 2025
Celebrating our agricultural community on this first day of Winter. ❄️❄️#FirstDayofWinter pic.twitter.com/CQTgqYjHrf
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 21, 2025
ARS researchers are discovering surface water irrigation may be a winning solution for farmers in the Mississippi River Valley region. See how using surface water irrigation could help farmers maximize profits and also provide groundwater recovery. https://t.co/eY3pSl0tcp pic.twitter.com/98kIiKZJv5
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 8, 2025
Every day is soil day for the staff monitoring the Healthy Cropping Systems (HCS) study in Mandan, ND. At HCS, ARS scientists identify the biological, chemical, and physical connections between soil health, human health, food security, and farmer well-being. They also develop… pic.twitter.com/Q4Gyims4Bn
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 5, 2025
Better soil health starts with better data! Kristen Veum, an ARS researcher in Columbia, MO, along with research collaborators, developed the SHAPE tool to help farmers calculate soil health scores, set management goals, and improve productivity and profitability. #WorldSoilDay pic.twitter.com/VGktiEtbXV
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 5, 2025
ARS researchers have made cutting-edge improvements to the Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP), to provide higher resolution images of landscapes through satellite imagery. RAP monitors rangeland changes from soil and vegetation stress, to emerging pests, and wildfire risks.… pic.twitter.com/GCokZv6CsJ
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) August 25, 2025
Congratulations to Dr. Tara McHugh!! 🎉🎉
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) August 12, 2025
As USDA-ARS Pacific West Area director, McHugh appears in Forbes 50 Over 50 "Meet the Women Who Define Innovation, Drive, and Hope." Thank you for your contributions to Agricultural Research! https://t.co/3zZyz78pAw pic.twitter.com/X0Rbnjcz7O
Harnessing the Power of AI to Accelerate Breeding Programs
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) August 27, 2025
Learn how ARS scientists are employing artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate breeding for new plant varieties that will greatly benefit farmers. https://t.co/UsqQZzIGDM pic.twitter.com/iDVnJFYLda
Exciting developments are happening through the USDA LTAR network! We're testing innovative grazing land practices to manage invasive Kentucky bluegrass in the ARS Northern Plains research location. https://t.co/aqe6fgwPny pic.twitter.com/1Rulg5aqgj
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) June 18, 2025
ARS is developing a new agriculture monitoring system with remote sensing maps to reduce negative impacts on the Chesapeake Bay -- keeping the watershed vibrant as it contributions billions of dollars to local economies and the commercial fishing industry. https://t.co/NuBEur4V26 pic.twitter.com/boiM7YM4ZB
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) June 16, 2025
Five foundational tools for managing metadata from the USDA Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network: https://t.co/r0OtJ8oPff pic.twitter.com/B1xBjCgx5A
— US LTAR (@USLTAR) June 10, 2025
In this video, watch how ARS researchers in Boise, ID, are studying prescribed fires in western juniper type landscapes to better understand how this land management tool affects the hydrology, habitat, and the area's ecosystem. https://t.co/HtWS0YRPBO pic.twitter.com/RX33jCGnET
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) June 2, 2025
ARS is conducting research on a grain called Kernza®! This perennial crop offers potential benefits to farmers and consumers. https://t.co/wZN7WyMV0u pic.twitter.com/qhEqvUZnUJ
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) May 16, 2025
Rangeland Analysis Platform, RAP, is an AI-driven web platform that generates multi-year datasets on vegetation cover and production. 24K active users from the Ag Industry, rely on this free tool to improve rangeland management strategies and reduce economic and natural resource… pic.twitter.com/TPJuc5MSqD
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) April 30, 2025
Moving ideas out of the lab & into the marketplace.💡USDA scientists work w/ companies to create new uses for agricultural products to expand markets for farmers—like developing biodegradable plastic forks from corn or laundry products made from starch. Learn more⬇️#USDAScience pic.twitter.com/4oHhtMwLfH
— USDA Science (@USDAScience) March 21, 2025
Discover how ARS researchers are championing "manuresheds" to support farmers and combat nutrient pollution by harnessing the productive uses of manure. At ARS, we work to promote sustainability in agriculture. https://t.co/AwywxJ8GZX #AgWeek pic.twitter.com/0eIEOmxeqM
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) March 20, 2025
Happy National Agriculture Day! Today we celebrate the hardworking individuals who feed, clothe & fuel our nation. Let's honor the farmers, ranchers & all those in the Ag industry who make it possible for us to enjoy safe, nutritious food, and sustainable products. #AgDay25 pic.twitter.com/rS4IPDSl2k
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) March 18, 2025
Research is showing that switching from conventional tilling to planting cover crops and practicing no-till farming methods can significantly improve soil's carbon balance -- with minimal impact on soil's water balance. https://t.co/hAg5sVjK15 pic.twitter.com/rsssI44ePx
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) March 9, 2025
Check out ARS Ecologist Dr. Steven Mirsky exhibiting his revolutionary modular scalable intelligence platform! This innovative technology is set to transform how we approach agricultural challenges. Stop by our booth & learn more about this development. https://t.co/igpSC3N1R3… pic.twitter.com/TfsAKTtH0g
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) February 27, 2025
In case you missed it -- check out in 'Scientific Discoveries' this exciting approach ARS scientists in St. Paul, MN are taking to discover where water quality problems are originating along agricultural watersheds. https://t.co/O99lHsA2vk pic.twitter.com/qOBY2Nf4yu
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) January 3, 2025
ABOUT LTAR
The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research network consists of 18 Federal and university agricultural research sites with an average of over 50 years of history. The goal of this research network is to ensure sustained crop and livestock production and ecosystem services from agroecosystems, and to forecast and verify the effects of environmental trends, public policies, and emerging technologies.