,An Environmental Component of a "One Health" approach, the mission of the Agricultural Antibiotic Resistance (AgAR) project is to,ANTIBIOTIC DRUGS: Which drugs are the most relevant for each type of ag production system? At what level do excreted drugs continue to provide selective pressure in the environment?,RESISTANT BACTERIA: What is the relative contribution of specific bacteria to resistance in human clinical settings? Are some bacteria more likely than others to donate or receive resistance genes? What is the relative contribution of clonal spread of pathogens versus horizontal gene transfer?,RESISTANT GENES: How long do specific types of genes persist in agricultural samples? What conditions increase or decrease the likelihood of a successful transfer in manure, soil, water, and air? What is the role of the natural soil "resistome"?,AgAR Network Goals:,The AgAR network is composed of ARS scientists with an interest in understanding the ecology of antibiotic resistance in soil, water, air, insects, wildlife, and food. The network currently represents 4 national programs at 10 ARS locations across the United States, with over 200 peer-reviewed publications on AgAR topics, authored and co-authored by over 70 current and former ARS employees.,Activities:,Importance:,While there is broad agreement the use of antibiotics in food animals has the potential to adversely impact human clinical outcomes, the details of how this happens are unknown, and there is a critical need for information on antibiotic resistance (AR) in agricultural settings (AgAR). U.S. and international health organizations have taken the lead on identifying specific antibiotic drugs and resistant infections that are critical to human health. ARS is uniquely positioned to provide information on the "farm" side of the "farm to fork continuum". ARS scientists are able to address these questions in a practical way, by combining their experience (over 200 peer-reviewed ARS publications on antibiotic resistance) with their applied understanding of agricultural production systems.,ORGANIZATION: Scientists work on their own, individual research projects. The AgAR network provides resources to participants to encourage collaboration across program areas and geographical location.,MANAGEMENT: The AgAR network is operated using a wiki community approach. All participating scientists are encouraged to contribute to and share in the community resources. Currently, the group resources will be curated by the group coordinator, with input and guidance from a five person advisory panel.,RESOURCES: Bibliography of peer-reviewed AgAR papers by ARS authors • AgAR topic reference lists • information on meetings and conferences • "AR_in_environment" listserve • Community webinars,

,ACRE Study for Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network in West Lafayette, Indiana In-field measurements of direct soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provide critical data for quantifying the net energy efficiency and economic feasibility of crop residue based bioenergy production systems. A major challenge to such assessments has been the paucity of field studies addressing the effects of crop residue removal and associated best practices for soil management (i.e., conservation tillage) on soil emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). This regional survey summarizes soil GHG emissions from nine maize production systems evaluating different levels of corn stover removal under conventional or conservation tillage management across the US Corn Belt. Cumulative growing season soil emissions of CO2, N2O, and/ or CH4 were measured for 2–5 years (2008–2012) at these various sites using a standardized static vented chamber technique as part of the USDA-ARS’s Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices (REAP) regional partnership. Cumulative soil GHG emissions during the growing season varied widely across sites, by management, and by year. Overall, corn stover removal decreased soil total CO2 and N2O emissions by -4 and -7 %, respectively, relative to no removal. No management treatments affected soil CH4 fluxes.When aggregated to total GHG emissions (Mg CO2eq ha-1) across all sites and years, corn stover removal decreased growing season soil emissions by -5±1 % (mean±se) and ranged from -36 % to 54 % (n=50). Lower GHG emissions in stover removal treatments were attributed to decreased C and N inputs into soils, as well as possible microclimatic differences associated with changes in soil cover. High levels of spatial and temporal variabilities in direct GHG emissions highlighted the importance of site-specific management and environmental conditions on the dynamics of GHG emissions from agricultural soils.,

,REAP Study for Resilient Economic Agricultural Practices in West Lafayette, Indiana Corn stover is an important livestock feed and will probably be a major source of renewable bioenergy, especially in the U.S. Corn Belt. Overly aggressive removal of stover, however, could lead to greater soil erosion and hurt producer yields in the long-run. Good residue management practices could help prevent erosion of valuable topsoil by wind and water while still providing a revenue source for producers, either as livestock feed or for use in renewable bioenergy. Plant residues also contribute to soil structure, nutrient cycling, and help sustain the soil microbiota. Good residue management could also help control the loss of greenhouse gases from agricultural soils that could add to already increasing levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases contributing to global climate change. Cumulative GHG emissions varied widely across locations, by management, and from year-to-year. Despite this high variability, maximum stover removal averaged across all sites, years, and management resulted in lower total emissions of CO2 (-12 ± 11%) and N2O (-13 ± 28%) compared to no stover removal. Decreases in total CO2 and N2O emissions in stover removal treatments were attributed to decreased availability of stover-derived C and N inputs into soils, as well as possible microclimatic differences. Soils at all sites were CH4 neutral or small CH4 sinks. Exceptions to these trends occurred for all GHGs, highlighting the importance of site-specific management and environmental conditions on GHG fluxes in agricultural soils.,

This project facilitated the implementation of a multiyear project to understand how climate variability and management practices influence soil microbial and nutrient dynamics within a no-till cotton production system with stubble management. Three fields at the R.N. Hooper farm in Petersburgh, TX were used for this project and continue to be monitored with funds from Cotton Inc. The three fields are center-pivot irrigated to compensate for rainfall variability as needed and depending upon water availability. The three fields were planted into the following crops for 2017 : Field 1 – corn following cotton; Field 2 – cotton following corn, and Field 3 – Wheat/mixed summer cover following wheat. The sizes of the three no-till and fields are: Field 1: 78.48 m in diameter, Field 2: 971.29 m in diameter, and Field 3: 781.1 m in diameter. The conventional field was located a few miles from the no-till fields and was also center-pivot irrigated when needed and managed as a tilled cotton production system with a corn -cotton rotations for the past five years. The no-tilled fields have been rotated among, cotton, corn, winter wheat and summer cover (when possible) for the past five years. Within each system we set soil moisture and temperatures sensors at the surface and at 15 cm depth and monitored microbial and nutrient dynamics across the year. Fields were instrumented in March 2017 and were monitored continuously except for harvesting and planting periods. Soil samples were taken initially in May 2017 and then each month from six plots established across each field. The following parameters were evaluated at each location and within each field: % soil moisture, Microbial Biomass Carbon, extractable levels of NO3-N and NH4-N and % Soil Organic Matter.

This project facilitated the implementation of a multiyear project to understand how climate variability and management practices influence soil microbial and nutrient dynamics within a no-till cotton production system with stubble management. Three fields at the R.N. Hooper farm in Petersburgh, TX were used for this project and continue to be monitored with funds from Cotton Inc. The three fields are center-pivot irrigated to compensate for rainfall variability as needed and depending upon water availability. The three fields were planted into the following crops for 2017 : Field 1 – corn following cotton; Field 2 – cotton following corn, and Field 3 – Wheat/mixed summer cover following wheat. The sizes of the three no-till and fields are: Field 1: 78.48 m in diameter, Field 2: 971.29 m in diameter, and Field 3: 781.1 m in diameter. The conventional field was located a few miles from the no-till fields and was also center-pivot irrigated when needed and managed as a tilled cotton production system with a corn -cotton rotations for the past five years. The no-tilled fields have been rotated among, cotton, corn, winter wheat and summer cover (when possible) for the past five years. Within each system we set soil moisture and temperatures sensors at the surface and at 15 cm depth and monitored microbial and nutrient dynamics across the year. Fields were instrumented in March 2017 and were monitored continuously except for harvesting and planting periods. Soil samples were taken initially in May 2017 and then each month from six plots established across each field. The following parameters were evaluated at each location and within each field: % soil moisture, Microbial Biomass Carbon, extractable levels of NO3-N and NH4-N and % Soil Organic Matter.

,To help enhance USA soil health, and ensure a robust living soil component that sustains essential functions for healthy plants, animals, and environment, and ultimately provides food for a healthy society, the GRACEnet Soil Biology group are working together with the larger USDA-ARS GRACEnet community to provide soil biology component measurements across regions and to eliminate data gaps for GRACEnet and REAP efforts. The Soil Biology group is focused on efforts that foster method comparison and meta-analyses to allow researchers to better assess soil biology and soil health indicators that are most responsive to agricultural management and that reflect the ecosystems services associated with a healthy, functioning soil.,The GRACEnet Soil Biology mission is to produce the soil biology data, including methods of identifying and quantifying specific organisms and processes they govern, that are needed to evaluate impacts on agroecosystems and sustainable agricultural practices. This data collection effort is being accomplished in a highly structured manner to support current and future soil health and antimicrobial resistance research initiatives. The outcomes of the efforts of this team will provide a common biological data platform for several ARS databases, including: GRACEnet/REAP, Nutrient Use and Outcome Network (NUOnet), Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network, soil biology (e.g., MyPhyloDB) databases, and others.,

,GPFARM (Great Plains Framework for Agricultural Resource Management) is a simulation model computer application. It incorporates state of the art knowledge in agronomy, animal science, economics, weed science and risk management into a user-friendly, decision support tool. Producers, agricultural consultants, action agencies and scientists can utilize GPFARM to test alternative management strategies that may in turn lead to sustainable agriculture, a reduction in pollution, or maximum economic return. GPFARM Express contains default projects to allow users to quickly set up their operations.,GPFARM Decision Support System (DSS) Objective: Develop a resource management decision support system (DSS) that is capable of simulating and analyzing 10-50 year farm/ranch production plans with respect to water, nutrient, and pest management along with their associated economic and environmental risks.,GPFARM DSS Benefits: GPFARM integrates state of the art agricultural science knowledge with associated economic and environmental analysis into a whole-enterprise evaluation. Results from the DSS provide agricultural consultants, producers, and action agencies with information for making management decisions that promote sustainable agriculture.,GPFARM provides feedback concerning the most effective technology and assists in determining areas requiring further research and development. This is an evolutionary process that ties research and technology transfer closely together.,GPFARM serves to bring scientists from different disciplines together with producers and consultants to solve complex problems in agriculture. Products within GPFARM:,

,See the record in the GeoData catalog for additional materials and methods about this dataset, as well as links to data files: https://geodata.nal.usda.gov/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/7685b3e7-5006-4c9c-a0ff-3562aa837985,