Research Guides: Agriculture Research Guide: Online Sources

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Online Sources

Recommended sites about agricultural business.

AgResearch (U.S. Department of Agriculture"
"AgResearch is a monthly product designed to highlight short features on the scientific research discoveries occurring at the 90-plus ARS research laboratories across the Nation and abroad."
Agricultural Research Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. ... ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to: ensure high-quality, safe food, and other agricultural products; assess the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the environment; provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole; and provide the infrastructure necessary to create and maintain a diversified workplace."
ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Program
"ATTRA is a program developed and managed by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). ... We are committed to providing high value information and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, Extension agents, educators, and others involved in sustainable agriculture in the United States."
Census of Agriculture (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year."
FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
"FAOSTAT provides free access to food and agriculture data for over 245 countries and territories and covers all FAO regional groupings
from 1961 to the most recent year available."
Farmland Information Center
"The Farmland Information Center (FIC) is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship. It is a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and American Farmland Trust (AFT), authorized by the federal Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA)."
Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension
"Using a variety of program delivery strategies, we offer practical and useful research-based programs, resources, and publications in agriculture and natural resources, family & consumer sciences, 4-H youth development and community resource and economic development."
UT AgResearch Centers
"UT AgResearch has 10 research and education centers located across the state. The centers support most of the research conducted by UT AgResearch for the benefit of Tennessee's diversified agriculture and natural resource industries. At the centers, scientists and students are able to test their ideas and hypotheses under real-life conditions."
UT Extension
"UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the Institute of Agriculture. It is a statewide educational organization, funded by federal, state and local governments, that brings research-based information about agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and resource development to the people of Tennessee where they live and work."

Recommended sites about animal science.

Animal Manure Management (eXtension)
A collection of resources about animal manure management, from eXtension, which uses "an online constellation of people, resources and tools, [to] support the Cooperative Extension System nationwide."
Animal Science Image Gallery (American Society of Animal Science)
"This site is designed to provide images, animations, and video for classroom and outreach learning."
Animal Welfare Information Center (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, and teaching."
Beef Cattle (eXtension)
A collection of resources about beef cattle, from eXtension, which uses "an online constellation of people, resources and tools, [to] support the Cooperative Extension System nationwide."
Breeds of Livestock (Oklahoma State University)
"This site is intended as an educational and informational resource on breeds of livestock throughout the world."
Dairy (eXtension)
A collection of resources about dairy cattle, from eXtension, which uses "an online constellation of people, resources and tools, [to] support the Cooperative Extension System nationwide."
Farm Animal Welfare (Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
"A single access point for a wide range of information related to the welfare of farm animals."
Feedipedia
"Feedipedia is an open access information system on animal feed resources that provides information on nature, occurrence, chemical composition, nutritional value and safe use of nearly 1400 worldwide livestock feeds."
Feed Library (Noble Research Institute)
"This feed library was created to assist livestock producers in finding and researching feed ingredient options for use in their operations."
Horses (eXtension)
A collection of resources about horses, from eXtension, which uses "an online constellation of people, resources and tools, [to] support the Cooperative Extension System nationwide."
Merck Veterinary Manual
Online version of The Merck Veterinary Manual. Written in language for veterinarians and veterinary students.
Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension
"Using a variety of program delivery strategies, we offer practical and useful research-based programs, resources, and publications in agriculture and natural resources, family & consumer sciences, 4-H youth development and community resource and economic development."
UT Extension
"UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the Institute of Agriculture. It is a statewide educational organization, funded by federal, state and local governments, that brings research-based information about agriculture, family and consumer sciences, and resource development to the people of Tennessee where they live and work."

Recommended sites about plant and soil science.

Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America
"This guide provides photographs and descriptions of biological control (or biocontrol) agents of insect, disease, and weed pests in North America. It is also a tutorial on the concept and practice of biological control and integrated pest management (IPM)."
National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC)
"Gateway to invasive species information; covering Federal, State, local, and international sources."
NewCROP (New Crops Resource Online Program)
"Online since 1995, NewCROP (New Crops Resource Online Program) is an information-rich site related to crop plants. It is a project of the Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plant Products and is associated with the New Crop Diversification project and the Jefferson Institute."
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Pesticide Database
"The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Pesticide Database is your one-stop location for toxicity and regulatory information for pesticides."
PlantFacts
"PlantFacts has merged several digital collections developed at Ohio State University to become an international knowledge bank and multimedia learning center."
Plant Hardiness Zone Map (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones."
Plant Information Online
"Use Plant Information Online to discover sources in 1,008 North American nurseries for 80,145 plants, find 396,895 citations to 143,013 plants in science and garden literature, and access information on 2,711 North American seed and nursery firms. Plant Information Online is a free service of the University of Minnesota Libraries."
PLANTS Database (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It includes names, plant symbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts, characteristics, images, crop information, automated tools, onward Web links, and references."
The Twelve Soil Orders (University of Idaho)
"At the highest level, Soil Taxonomy places soils in one of 12 categories known as orders. We have put together a collection of information and images to illustrate the distribution, properties, ecological significance, and use of these 12 soil orders."
Web Soil Survey (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. "

Recommended government sites.

AgResearch (U.S. Department of Agriculture"
"AgResearch is a monthly product designed to highlight short features on the scientific research discoveries occurring at the 90-plus ARS research laboratories across the Nation and abroad."
Agricultural Research Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. ... ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems of high national priority and provide information access and dissemination to: ensure high-quality, safe food, and other agricultural products; assess the nutritional needs of Americans; sustain a competitive agricultural economy; enhance the natural resource base and the environment; provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole; and provide the infrastructure necessary to create and maintain a diversified workplace."
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) specializes in identifying resources about sustainable food systems and practices in support of USDA's effort to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers worldwide."
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is a multi-faceted Agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities."
Animal Welfare Information Center (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, and teaching."
Census of Agriculture (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land - whether rural or urban - growing fruit, vegetables or some food animals count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the Census year."
Current Research Information System (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The Current Research Information System (CRIS) provides documentation and reporting for ongoing agricultural, food science, human nutrition, and forestry research, education and extension activities for the United States Department of Agriculture; with a focus on the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant programs."
FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
"FAOSTAT provides free access to food and agriculture data for over 245 countries and territories and covers all FAO regional groupings
from 1961 to the most recent year available."
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
"Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives."
National Agricultural Library (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The National Agricultural Library is one of four national libraries of the United States and houses one of the world's largest collections devoted to agriculture and its related sciences."
National Agricultural Statistics Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture. Production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use, and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers are only a few examples."
National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC)
"Gateway to invasive species information; covering Federal, State, local, and international sources."
Plant Hardiness Zone Map (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones."
PLANTS Database (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It includes names, plant symbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts, characteristics, images, crop information, automated tools, onward Web links, and references."
Tennessee Department of Agriculture
"To serve the citizens of Tennessee by promoting wise uses of our agricultural and forest resources, developing economic opportunities, and ensuring safe and dependable food and fiber."
U.S. Department of Agriculture
"Our vision is to provide economic opportunity through innovation, helping rural America to thrive; to promote agriculture production that better nourishes Americans while also helping feed others throughout the world; and to preserve our Nation's natural resources through conservation, restored forests, improved watersheds, and healthy private working lands."
United States Environmental Protection Agency: Agriculture
"EPA is committed to a strong partnership with the agriculture community to assist in fulfilling our mission of protecting human health and the environment."
United States Trade Representative Office of Agricultural Affairs
"USTR's Office of Agricultural Affairs has overall responsibility for U.S. government trade negotiations and policy development and coordination regarding agriculture. Staff works with the Chief Agricultural Negotiator and other USTR officials, and U.S. government agencies, particularly USDA, as appropriate."
Web Soil Survey (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
"Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. "

Agriculture-related associations and organizations.

Agriculture Associations & Organizations

Agriculture Network Information Collaborative (AgNIC)
"The Agriculture Network Information Collaborative (AgNIC) is a voluntary alliance of members based on the concept of “centers of excellence”. The member institutions are dedicated to enhancing collective information and services among the members and their partners for all those seeking agricultural information over the Internet."
CAST: Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
"CAST, through its network of experts, assembles, interprets, and communicates credible, balanced, science-based information to policymakers, the media, the private sector, and the public."
Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy
"IATP is committed to advancing policy solutions—locally and globally—to some of the world’s most complex problems in order to promote resilient food, farm and trade systems."
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
"NASDA grows and enhances agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to achieve sound policy outcomes between state departments of agriculture, the federal government, and stakeholders."
Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)
"SARE's mission is to advance—to the whole of American agriculture—innovations that improve profitability, stewardship and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education."
United State Agricultural Information Network (USAIN)
"The United States Agricultural Information Network is an organization for information professionals that provides a forum for discussion of agricultural issues, takes a leadership role in the formation of a national information policy as related to agriculture, makes recommendations to the National Agricultural Library on agricultural information matters, and promotes cooperation and communication among its members."

Agricultural Business Associations & Organizations

Agricultural & Applied Economics Association
"The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is a not-for-profit association serving the professional interests of members working in agricultural and broadly related fields of applied economics."
American Farm Bureau Federation
"Farm Bureau is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization governed by and representing farm and ranch families united for the purpose of analyzing their problems and formulating action to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement and, thereby, to promote the national well-being."
International Food & Agribusiness Management Association
"IFAMA is an international management organization that brings together current and future business, academic, and government leaders along with other industry stakeholders to improve the strategic focus, transparency, sustainability, and responsiveness of the global food and agribusiness system."
National Agri-Marketing Association
"The nation's largest professional association for professionals in marketing and agribusiness."
North American Agricultural Marketing Officials
"The North American Agricultural Marketing Officials (NAAMO) is an international organization of the State and Provincial government agricultural marketing officials who provide both domestic and international marketing services to the agricultural and food industries in their states and provinces."

Animal Science Associations & Organizations

American Dairy Science Association
"The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world's population."
American Society of Animal Science
"The American Society of Animal Science is a membership society that supports the careers of scientists and animal producers in the United States and internationally. The American Society of Animal Science fosters the discovery, sharing and application of scientific knowledge concerning the responsible use of animals to enhance human life and well-being."
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
"Initiated in 1898, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the marketing organization and trade association for America's one million cattle farmers and ranchers."
Society for Range Management
"The Society for Range Management is the professional scientific society and conservation organization whose members are concerned with studying, conserving, managing and sustaining the varied resources of the rangelands which comprise nearly half the land in the world."

Plant & Soil Science Associations & Organizations

American Farmland Trust
"Protect farmland, promote sound farming practices, and keep farmers on the land."
American Public Gardens Association
"American Public Gardens Association serves public gardens and advances them as leaders, advocates, and innovators."
American Society of Agronomy
"The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) is a progressive international scientific and professional society that empowers scientists, educators, and practitioners in developing, disseminating, and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world."
Association of Zoological Horticulture
"AZH is dedicated to the advancement of horticulture in zoos, zoological parks, botanic gardens, and aquariums. We're an organization of professional horticulturists working in the specialized field of zoo horticulture."
Crop Trust
"The Crop Trust is an established independent organization under international law. ... [It] was founded in 2004 in Rome, Italy by the Food and Agriculture Organization and Bioversity International on behalf of the CGIAR international agricultural research consortium."
Farmland Information Center
"The Farmland Information Center (FIC) is a clearinghouse for information about farmland protection and stewardship. It is a partnership between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and American Farmland Trust (AFT), authorized by the federal Farmland Protection Policy Act (FPPA)."
Pesticide Action Network
"At Pesticide Action Network (PAN) North America, we work to create a just, thriving food system. For too long, pesticide and biotech corporations have dictated how we grow food, placing the health and economic burdens of pesticide use on farmers, farmworkers and rural communities. PAN works with those on the frontlines to tackle the pesticide problem — and reclaim the future of food and farming."
Soil Science Society of America
"The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to sustain global soils."

Alternative search engines. Useful for locating specific types of sources.

AgEcon Search
"AgEcon Search: Research in Agricultural and Applied Economics collects, indexes, and electronically distributes full text copies of scholarly research in the broadly defined field of agricultural and applied economics including sub disciplines such as agribusiness, food security and supply, energy and natural resource economics, environmental economics, policy issues, international trade, and economic development."
CiteSeer^x
"CiteSeer^x is an evolving scientific literature digital library and search engine that has focused primarily on the literature in computer and information science."
Congress.gov
"Presented by the Library of Congress, Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information."
FDsys (Federal Digital System)
"GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys) provides free online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government."
Google Images
Image search from Google - either text-based or reverse image.
Google News
A news aggregator
Science.gov
"Science.gov searches over 60 databases and over 2,200 scientific websites to provide users with access to more than 200 million pages of authoritative federal science information including research and development results."
TinEye Reverse Image Search
Reverse image search - upload an image or provide a URL to an image's online location.
USA.gov
"USA.gov is an interagency product administered by USAGov (formerly the Federal Citizen Information Center), a division of the U.S. General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Service. Our mission is to create and organize timely, needed government information and services and make them accessible anytime, anywhere, via your channel of choice."
WolframAlpha
"Wolfram|Alpha introduces a fundamentally new way to get knowledge and answers—not by searching the web, but by doing dynamic computations based on a vast collection of built-in data, algorithms, and methods."
Want to have fun? Look what the response is to the question "What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"