150 Years of Research at the United States Department of Agriculture: Plant Introduction and Breeding
by Robert J. Griesbach
The U.S. Department of Agriculture celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012. One of the primary functions of the USDA when it was established in 1862 was “to procure, propagate, and distribute among the people new and valuable seeds and plants.” The U.S. Government first became involved in new plant introductions in 1825, when President John Quincy Adams directed U.S. Consuls to forward rare plants and seeds to the State Department for propagation and distribution. This publication describes highlights from 150 years of the USDA’s program on introducing and breeding new plants. Many of the “new” plants have now become standard crops, such as soybeans and blueberries. Color, 32 pages.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
To obtain a copy of the print edition while supplies last, contact Robert Griesbach, USDA-ARS, Office of Technology Transfer, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 4-1159, Beltsville, MD; firstname.lastname@example.org.