Three Strikes and You're Out – Saving Ash Trees From a Voracious Pest

It's that magic time of year when the first signs of spring begin to appear everywhere—the weather starts getting warmer, robins return to build their nests, and cherry trees begin to blossom. But to some, the true harbinger of spring is the opening day of baseball season.

White ash has been a go-to wood for making Major League Baseball bats for many years because of its light weight and resistance to splintering. But alas this sturdy wood has come under attack by a little half-inch, metallic green beetle known as the “Emerald Ash borer”.

The adult beetles lay eggs in the crevices of ash tree bark in late May to mid-June and the hatching larvae bore under the bark, where their feeding cuts off the transportation of water and nutrients which the tree needs to survive.

This invasive pest was first detected near Detroit, MI, in 2002 and is found today in 33 states and two Canadian provinces. Learn how ARS scientists are working hard to fight this pest and protect our beloved ash trees.

Do you know what food groups are part of a healthy plate? Vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy foods are all important. They provide vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that keep the body healthy. MyPlate can help you remember to include these foods. It can be used for kids and adults of all ages!

Practice using MyPlate in your daily routine, and soon it will become a habit as simple as brushing your teeth or washing your hands. Get out crayons or coloring pencils and a piece of paper and follow the steps below to draw a colorful MyPlate-inspired meal!

Step 1: Ask an adult to print the MyPlate Coloring Sheet or get a blank piece of paper for you to create your plate. If making your own plate, draw a circle by hand, or ask an adult to bring you a plate to trace.
Step 2: Choose one type of protein food, such as grilled chicken or black beans. Draw it on the bottom right section of your plate.
Step 3: Pick one type of vegetable, such as roasted carrots or stir-fried broccoli. Draw it on the bottom left section of your plate.
Step 4: Think about one type of fruit that you like, such as blueberries or sliced apples. Draw it on the top left section of your plate.
Step 5: Pick one type of grain, such as sliced bread, brown rice, or noodles. Draw it on the top right section of your plate.
Step 6: What is the last food group to add? If you guessed dairy, you are correct! Make a small circle next to your plate, and draw a dairy food or dairy alternative, such as yogurt, milk, or fortified soy milk, to include in your meal.
Step 7: Congratulations on building your MyPlate meal! Ask an adult to display it on your fridge as a reminder to choose healthy foods whenever you are in the kitchen.

Parents, caregivers, and teachers: explore more resources to help kids eat well! Use the MyPlate Plan to find what amount to get from each food group based on age, sex, and activity level. In general, MyPlate recommends these daily amounts for kids ages 5 to 8:

• 5 to 2.5 cups of vegetables
• 1 to 2 cups of fruits
• 4 to 6-ounce equivalents of grains, including 2 to-3-ounce equivalents from whole grains
• 3 to 5.5-ounce equivalents of protein foods
• 5 cups of dairy

Photos courtesy of MyPlate.gov, Adobe Stock and USDA Flickr

Want more cool photos? 

The Tiny World of Microscopic Imaging

The ARS Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit assists a diverse group of scientists needing microscopic imaging for their research projects. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art microscopes and microscopy technologies capable of producing high-resolution, digital images of many of the most important pests and pathogens affecting agriculture.

Researchers here can flash freeze mites in liquid nitrogen to create striking “snapshots” as they feed, use a laser-scanning confocal microscope to make accurate 3D images, and use a 3D printer to create models from the images.

Their images have won scientific photography awards, graced the covers of prestigious scientific journals, and enhanced our scientific understanding of many microbes, pests, and pathogens that attack crops, infect livestock, and make people sick.

See some stunning images in "Opening a Window to an Unseen World."

Composting: Nature's Way of Recycling Organic Materials

Composting is becoming ever increasingly popular, both on the farms and in the homes. Composting is an excellent way to reduce waste that’s sent to landfills while providing soil in your gardens or fields with precious nutrients (that’s why they call it “black gold”!)

But did you know that composting enhances rainfall penetration, which reduces water runoff and soil erosion?  This in turn reduces sediment, nutrients, and pesticide losses to streams. By improving the soil, compost also enhances beneficial microbes that help reduce plant diseases and pests – meaning less use of pesticides. Did you know that ARS has a 2-acre composting facility just outside our Nation’s Capital? That’s almost an entire football field, and another half of a football field, of organic recycling!

To learn how to get started with composting, other benefits of this natural recycling method, or how ARS researchers are discovering new ways to prepare composts from a variety of mixed sources of organic materials, check out our Compost Page.

Cracking the Mystery of How to Store Eggs

Some people like nice a plate of scrambled eggs for breakfast while others enjoy an egg salad sandwich for lunch. Eggs are a popular food that most of us purchase in our weekly groceries.

But have you ever wondered if you're storing your fresh eggs correctly? Harmful bacteria can penetrate the shell of an egg, so it's important to know how to handle them properly. Should you store them in the refrigerator or let them sit out in the kitchen at room temperature? Well, it turns out that the way eggs are stored depends on where they’re produced.  Want to know more? Read "How We Store Our Eggs—and Why"

Let the Sun Shine In

Powdery mildew fungus is a serious disease that affects strawberry plants and other crops. On strawberry plants, powdery mildew appears as white powdery spots or fuzzy growth on both sides of leaves and on stems. It can kill flowers, harden immature fruit, and reduce fruit quality and marketable yields. In Japan and western Europe, powdery mildew is the primary cause of fruit quality loss. ARS researchers turned to the sun to help fight this disease. Specifically, researchers are using shortwave ultraviolent light (UV-C) to kill powdery mildew fungus. Read more in "Researchers Harness the Sun’s Rays to Fight Strawberry Disease."