Background and General Information

Agricultural research has made the American food and agricultural system the most productive the world has ever known.  Crop yields in the United States have increased approximately one percent per year over the last 50 years, which over time has had remarkable impact.  In 1890 it took 35 to 40 labor hours to produce 100 bushels of corn, while today that can be accomplished in only 2 hours.  This has contributed to the fact that the United States is the world's leading agricultural exporter, and agriculture is the only sector of our economy that provides a positive trade balance to our nation.

In an increasingly competitive global environment, however, maintaining U.S. competitiveness is a continuing challenge.  Production inputs, including land preparation, planting, fertilizing, and irrigation, as well as pest, pathogen, and weed control, are expensive relative to profits.  Crop acreage must be managed for maximum production for each commodity segment to remain viable.  Prudent management also dictates that agricultural practices do not negatively impact the environment.  Management practices must be economical for the producer, while safeguarding surrounding ecosystems.  These concerns will govern the ongoing development of new technology to provide economically-viable and environmentally-sound sustainable crop production systems, while meeting the increased United States and world demand for food, fiber, flower, feed, and fuel.  New mechanization technology must promote a safe work environment, a more efficient system of production, and the production and processing of a higher quality product.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the intramural research agency for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and is one of four agencies that make up USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics mission area.  The 2006 ARS budget of $1.15 billion is allocated to 22 National Programs, which manage research conducted in 108 ARS laboratories throughout the United States and overseas.  There are around 2,200 full-time scientists in ARS, which has a total workforce of 8,000 employees.  The National Program addressing Crop Production is NP 305.  NP 305 involves research conducted at 23 U.S. locations by 62 full-time scientists and has an annual appropriated budget of approximately $23 million.

The USDA/ARS National Program 305 Crop Production mission is to develop and transfer sound, research-derived knowledge that will result in the economical production of food and fiber crops and products that are safe for consumption and use, while preserving environmental quality.

This National Program’s mission follows from the USDA Strategic Plan (see http://www.ars.usda.gov/aboutus/docs.htm?docid=1766) which is directed towards achieving goals mandated by the USDA Research, Education, and Extension Mission Area Strategic Plan and the USDA Strategic Plan for 2002-2007 (see http://www.usda.gov/ocfo/usdasp/usdasp.htm).  The products of NP 305 research contribute toward broader goals (termed “Actionable Strategies”) associated with two specific Performance Measures from the ARS Strategic Plan for 2003-2007.  Goal 1: Enhance Economic Opportunities for Agricultural Producers.

• Performance Measure 1.2.5: Provide producers with scientific information and technology that increase production, efficiency, safeguard the environment, and reduce production risks and product losses.
• Performance Measure 1.2.6: Improve the understanding of the biological mechanisms that influence plant growth, product quality, and marketability to enhance the competitive advantage of agricultural commodities.

To accomplish its mission, the Crop Production National Program has three major program components, each with more specifically-focused problem areas.

• The Integrated Production Systems Component addresses researchable problems in the areas of Models and Decision Aids, Integrated Pest Management, Sustainable Cropping Systems, and Economic Evaluation.
• The Agroengineering, Agrochemical, and Related Technologies Component addresses researchable problems in the areas of Automation and Mechanization to Improve Labor Productivity, Application Technology, Agrochemical and Bioproducts, Sensors and Sensing Technology, Controlled-Environment Production Systems, and Worker Safety and Ergonomics.
• The Bees and Pollination Component addresses researchable problems in the areas of Pest Management and Bee Management and Pollination.

This report focuses on the research accomplishments associated with NP 305 – Crop Production.

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