​National Pear Month​

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Protecting Fresh Fruit Shelf Life & Quality (NE-1336)

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After adopting a recommended storage strategy, a major local pear packer in the Pacific Northwest documented a nearly $2,000,000 annual increase in market value and almost $800,000 reduction in repacking costs for a single pear variety. Learn more: http://bit.ly/fresh-fruit-quality

 

Based on research from a multistate project on fresh fruit quality, the California #pear industry is now combining various methods to effectively reduce scald, a disorder that affects pears during post-harvest storage. Learn more: http://bit.ly/fresh-fruit-quality

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: Auburn University, University of California-Davis, Cornell University, University of Florida, University of Hawaii, University of Maine, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, , Rutgers University, Washington State University, as well as Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the USDA ARS. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants.​Project and participant details: nimss.org/projects/15116

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​​December 5: World Soil Day

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See/share a slideshow featuring projects on soil health

See/share our YouTube video featuring projects on soil health

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Healthy soils are essential for sustainable agriculture as well as healthy ecosystems and resilient urban areas. This #WorldSoilDay, see how @USDA_NIFA-supported multistate projects are providing data and tools that facilitate #SoilHealth. https://bit.ly/MRF-Soils @FAO 

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Soil-based Use of Residuals (W-5170)

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Researchers at land-grant universities are working together to show how wastes can be reused as soil substitutes, additives, or fertilizers to help improve soil structure, add nutrients, alleviate soil acidity, and reduce contaminants like arsenic and lead. In addition to improving #SoilHealth, reusing wastes can cut disposal costs and keep waste from filling up landfills. Learn more: https://bit.ly/reusing-ag-wastes #WorldSoilDay​

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Brownfields are vacant lands contaminated with hazardous substances. A multistate research project showed applying biosolids and other wastes to brownfields can amend the soils, making them less hazardous to surrounding communities and, in some cases, allowing them to be turned into community gardens. https://bit.ly/reusing-ag-wastes

#SoilHealth #WorldSoilDay

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As part of a multistate project, researchers showed that inexpensive, widely available agricultural soil tests can be used to screen lead-contaminated urban soil. Rapid and affordable lead assessment will allow city planners, communities, and other groups to convert vacant land into urban farms, gardens, parks, playgrounds, and other common areas. https://bit.ly/reusing-ag-wastes #SoilHealth #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities and partners participating in this project: University of California, Riverside Colorado State University Cornell University University of Delaware Delaware State University University of Florida University of Hawaii Kansas State University, University of Massachusetts Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, New Mexico State University, Ohio State University, Oklahoma State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Virginia Tech, University of Washington, Washington State University, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Texas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is an ongoing project and may include additional partners. Project and participant details: https://nimss.org/projects/19129

 

Understanding and Mitigating the Impacts of Agrochemicals (W-4045)

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Despite important uses, agrochemicals can leach into soil and impact human, animal, and environmental health. As part of a multistate project, @UNL_CASNR shed light on how heavy metals move from soil into edible plants and animals and patented a cost-effective soil amendment to control concentrations of contaminants in food crops. http://bit.ly/MRF-Agrochemicals #SoilHealth #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: ​University of California-Davis, University of California-Riverside, University of Connecticut, Cornell University, University of Florida, University of Hawaii, University of Illinois, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, Montana State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nevada, Reno, North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, South Dakota State University, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Virginia Tech, Washington State University, University of Wisconsin, USDA-ARS. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. Project and participant details: https://nimss.org/projects/18731

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Particulate Matter Affecting Air, Water & Soil (NC-1187)

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​As part of a multistate project on how particulates moves through and affect soils, @CANRatMSU identified factors that influence the levels of pharmaceutical residues in soil and @UDcanr demonstrated that sea level rise could speed up arsenic release from coastal soils. Findings have helped guide soil management practices that protect human health. 

https://bit.ly/MRF-Particulates #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: Auburn University, University of California-Berkeley, University of Delaware, University of Idaho, University of Illinois, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, Rutgers University, Texas A&M University, Virginia Tech University, University of Wisconsin. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. Project and participant details: nimss.org/projects/16996​​

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​Soil, Water & Environmental Physics (W-4188)
 

​​​​Soil physics data and tools produced by a multistate project have been used to reduce agricultural runoff, predict drought, design infrastructure that reduces flood risks, identify ways to safely store nuclear waste, and develop techniques that minimize dust and contaminated water drainage from mine tailings. https://bit.ly/soil-physics #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities and partners participating in this project: University of Arizona, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Davis, University of California-Riverside, Colorado State University, University of Delaware, University of Idaho, Iowa State University, University of Kentucky, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, Montana State University, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Desert Research Institute, New Mexico State University, North Carolina State University, North Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Tennessee, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, Utah State University, Virginia Tech, Washington State University, University of Wisconsin, University of Wyoming, USDA-ARS/ California and USDA-ARS/Texas. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. Project and participant details: nimss.org/projects/18606

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Soil Surveys (NCERA-3)

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Soil scientists at land-grant universities in the North Central U.S. are working together to refine systems for collecting and assessing soil data and improve our understanding of soil-landscape processes. Robust, reliable information about soil type, properties, and functions is essential for agriculture and natural resource management, land appraisals, urban planning, and more: https://www.mrfimpacts.org/single-post/soil-surveys

@USDA_NIFA @AgIsAmerica #SoilHealth #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: University of Illinois, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University, Ohio State University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, South Dakota State University. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. Project and participant details: https://nimss.org/projects/18578

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Cover Crops for Southern Farmers & Ranchers (S-1085)

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Cover crops can benefit soil health and reduce erosion. A multistate project is facilitating research, outreach, and education that will empower southern farmers and ranchers to expand successful use of cover crops to improve soils and increase farm profitability. https://bit.ly/southern-cover-crops @USDA_NIFA @AgIsAmerica #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: Auburn University, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Clemson University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Lincoln University, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of Missouri, University of Puerto Rico, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Virginia Tech, Virginia State University. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. Project and participant details:  https://nimss.org/projects/19120

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​​​Managing Soil Microbes (W-3147)

 

​Plants depend on microbes in the soil for growth, but some microbes damage plants. Each year in the U.S. losses due to soilborne microbes are estimated at over $10 billion. As part of a multistate research project on managing soil microbes, researchers have developed biopesticides, soil additives, and other methods. With biological alternatives available, farmers can reduce use of chemical pesticides, lowering human and environmental health risks. Some biopesticides and soil additives even improve #SoilHealth: https://bit.ly/MRF-SoilMicrobes #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: University of California-Davis, University of California-Riverside, Cornell University, University of Delaware, University of Illinois, Kansas State University, University of Maine, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, Montana State University, University of Nebraska, University of New Hampshire, New Mexico State University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Rutgers University, Texas AgriLife Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Wisconsin, and the USDA-ARS. This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. ​Project and participant details: nimss.org/projects/18474

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Hydromorphic Soils (NE-1038)​​​

 

As part of a multistate project, soil scientists have improved data, mapping & modeling of wetland soils, which used to be difficult to sample & under-represented in the national soils database. The project's info & tools have been critical to assessing the impacts these soils have on ecosystem services & have been used by agencies such as @USDA @EPA & @USACEHQ. Learn more: https://bit.ly/MRF-wetlandsoils #WorldSoilDay

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Land-grant universities participating in this project: Alabama A&M University, California Cooperative Extension, University of Delaware, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania State University, University of Rhode Island, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University.  This is an ongoing project and may include additional participants. ​Project and participant details: nimss.org/projects/18634

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December 21: First Day of Winter

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Winter is here, and much of the country is experiencing snow. Snow is pretty, but it can be dirty. Pollutants in the atmosphere fall back to the ground in snow and can accumulate in soil, water & plants. Run by land-grant university researchers, the @NADProgram provides national deposition monitoring: http://bit.ly/2FdLEbv #WinterSolstice @USDA_NIFA @AgIsAmerica

 

​​December 25: Christmas Day

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#MerryChristmas! See how @USDA_NIFA-supported Hatch Multistate research projects affect the production, quality, and safety of our holiday feasts: https://bit.ly/MRF-Christmas #HappyHolidays @AgIsAmerica

 

​​December 31: New Year's Eve

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Let's toast to the New Year and the research that’s making it easier for American farmers to grow high-quality wine grapes! Read about their impacts: https://bit.ly/Winegrapes #NYE2025 #Cheers ​

 

Cheers to the New Year and the research behind your glass of beer. For example, @WSUCAHNRS designed a robotic hop twining machine, which will cut labor costs. Other researchers found ways to prevent mycotoxin infections in barley malt. @CSUAgSci research on the effects of market structure and regulations on beer sales is helping states consider new policies. Learn more: https://bit.ly/MRF-wine-beer