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.
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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 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 video)
Follow @USLTAR
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
Happy New Year from all of us at the Agricultural Research Service!🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/dGC1n1Z2gH
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) January 1, 2025
Sowing Success! A team of scientists is refining a sophisticated model that predicts the best crops to plant in optimal locations for successful transitions to no-till systems. See how our research is facilitating this important shift in farming practices. https://t.co/bJyCn6z9pU pic.twitter.com/acAEprEXxN
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 19, 2024
ARS Pacific West scientists shine in NASA-led study revealing that rainfall timing impacts the world's vegetation just as much as the quantity of rain! USDA & university researchers teamed with @NASA and analyzed 20 years of data from diverse landscapes. https://t.co/btpJxGh3Wo
— Agricultural Research Service (@USDA_ARS) December 19, 2024
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
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.