For several years, biologist Nathan Donley has worried about the future of a pesticide database run by the U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency devoted to environmental science. The Pesticide National Synthesis Project provides information about the use of agricultural chemicals in each U.S. county, with year-by-year records dating back to 1992. At its most comprehensive, the project tracked hundreds of pesticides. In 2019, the USGS reduced the number of tracked pesticides to just 72. Then, last March, a USGS employee casually mentioned to Donley that the agency intended to stop updating its database every year, and instead update it every five years. The Harrington Seed Destructor attached to the rear of a combine, in preparation for soybean harvest. Donley was floored. “Totally blew my mind,” he recalled in a recent email. The database, Donley knew, had developed a loyal following among academic researchers, environmental nonprofits, educators, and even other federal agencies
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Contact: Autumn Canaday
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2021 – Dr. Steven Mirsky, a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has received the 2020 Arthur S. Flemming award for his outstanding achievements in applied science and engineering.
Dr. Mirsky is a research ecologist with ARS’ Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland. He is one among 12 award recipients from across the federal government. The Flemming Award was established in 1948 to reflect Dr. Arthur S. Flemming’s desire to recognize early to mid-career public servants who go beyond what is expected and whose federal government achievements have a broad, positive impact on society. Together with the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission, George Washington University s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration presents the awards annually in recognition of the outstanding achievements of Federal employees with three to 15 years of
Cover Crops, Sensors, and Food Security
Forward-Thinking Ideas for the USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda
Research ecologist Steven Mirsky evaluates a cereal rye cover crop. Credit: Matthew Ryan (USDA-ARS)
By DJ McCauley
“Oh well, guess we’ll have to wait a year until it’s finished,” Marty says.
“Marty, you’re just not thinking fourth dimensionally!” Doc Brown says.
“Right, right, I have a real problem with that,” Marty replies.
Of course, in the future, the DeLorean
won’t jet off the end of the bridge the bridge will be finished!
It was “fourth-dimensional” ideas that Elizabeth Stulberg sought when leading a task force of 12 agricultural stakeholders to think about the biggest problems confronting farmers in the United States.