Who We Are
The LTAR Network is a growing group of researchers focused on finding solutions that maintain or increase agricultural productivity, environmental quality, and people well-being in spite of pressures such as climate change. 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.
Read more
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.
Read more
The 18 LTAR Network Sites
The 18 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 page)
Follow @USLTAR
The work of ARS scientists is pivotal in enhancing soil health and supporting environmental sustainability. In this video, learn how their contributions are increasing soil health and benefiting our environment. https://t.co/57HgjeFKcR #WorldSoilDay pic.twitter.com/yQGyWuBgxe
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 5, 2024
How healthy is your soil? An ARS scientist from Raleigh, NC, developed a solution to speed up the process of determining soil health, saving time and manpower, providing crucial data that growers need to make determinations about the needs of their crops. https://t.co/aQcvSqKtn3 pic.twitter.com/LMJ0nQD8gn
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 5, 2024
In 2022, 300,954 farms used no-till practices on 105,208,515 acres, up from 279,370 farms and 104,452,339 acres in 2017. Farmers planted cover crops to 17,985,831 acres, up from 15,390,674 in 2017. https://t.co/MjxCqvXagL #WorldSoilDay #AgCensus pic.twitter.com/6eksCngd1N
— National Agricultural Statistics Service (@usda_nass) December 5, 2024
Mark your calendar for Dec. 16 at 1 PM ET! Join ARS Research Ecologist Dr. Alan Franzluebbers as he presents “Depth distribution of soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions in a tallgrass prairie in Oklahoma.” For details & free registration, visit https://t.co/4mBWd6M74J #LTAR pic.twitter.com/FNhqQsliA1
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 4, 2024
It's no-till November! Research Ecologist Steven Mirsky highlights the benefits of no-till farming, which helps improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance water retention. By leaving the soil undisturbed, we not only protect vital ecosystems but also promote biodiversity… pic.twitter.com/2tBiOeATjx
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) November 24, 2024
No-till farming offers numerous advantages that contribute to healthier ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. These benefits include improved soil health, reduced soil erosion, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. https://t.co/AYO6kYV2zZ #NoTillNovember pic.twitter.com/mZtSNt3hRZ
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) November 18, 2024
Research shows that switching from conventional tilling to planting cover crops and practicing no-till significantly improves soil carbon balance with minimal impact on water balance. https://t.co/hAg5sVjK15 #NoTillNovember #SustainableFarming pic.twitter.com/VisePcsI22
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) November 16, 2024
See in today's Tellus, how ARS researchers are working to measure amounts of CO2 being generated by inland waters like streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes, to combat the environmental impact of CO2 emissions within soil and the atmosphere. https://t.co/Xjn8XH6sWV pic.twitter.com/B15GdmiBc9
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) November 4, 2024From October 17th to 19th, KBS LTAR hosted the Annual Leadership Meeting alongside the Network Data Managers meeting, uniting site leads to enhance the Network's strategic plan focused on building capacity.https://t.co/z21xJqqwej#LTAR #KBS
— US LTAR (@USLTAR) November 7, 2024
Mark your calendar for Nov. 4 at 1 PM ET! Join ARS Rangeland Scientist Dr. Justin Derner as he presents “Grazing land management and soil carbon: Results and Insights from the Western Great Plains.” Details and free registration https://t.co/4mBWd6M74J pic.twitter.com/fWCn5zKpFi
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) October 29, 2024
Balancing water use in agriculture is key! That's why researchers in Texas & Colorado developed an improved irrigation management tool: the open-source model pyfao56! This customizable model supports efficient water management for precise crop irrigation. https://t.co/KeAXp4M7rl pic.twitter.com/AwcxkI37zb
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) October 26, 2024
🎉ARS's Sheri Spiegal and partners launch collaboration to advance manure management research! "We are delighted to collaborate with industry & science leaders to explore viable pathways for nutrient conservation & recycling across the dairy supply chain.” https://t.co/Ms76r0WiZz pic.twitter.com/lyzVkGunZz
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) October 24, 2024
See In Scientific Discoveries, how ARS researchers partnered with the Southwest Climate Hub in Las Cruces, NM, to develop the Water Adaptation Techniques Atlas (WATA), in an effort to adapt to water scarcity across particular locations and landscapes. https://t.co/9O316naOCA pic.twitter.com/V77FZA1Tno
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) October 18, 2024
Congrats! ARS & partners help steward & improve the Rangeland Analysis Platform https://t.co/WklhCBWlsx. The data in the online tool is a key resource for experts in the sagebrush biome & contributed to 20 papers featured in Rangeland Ecology & Management https://t.co/BYZgDHexiE pic.twitter.com/NtGUeFPKm2
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) October 17, 2024
As PFAS, (forever chemicals), are increasingly found in the environment, posing challenges for producers and farming communities -- ARS announces its collaborative research roadmap with @UMaine to meet emerging challenges posed by PFAS in agriculture. https://t.co/luSroqiJkQ pic.twitter.com/V5I2SRci2N
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) October 16, 2024
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.