ARS is the U.S. scientific research agency responsible for solving agricultural problems of national importance.  ARS research develops solutions to a wide range of problems related to food and agriculture—problems requiring long-term commitment of resources and problems unlikely to have solutions with the quick commercial payoff that would convince private industry to do the research.

The agency’s researchers work at about 100 locations nationwide and a few key sites overseas.

Personnel with the Application Technology Research Unit (ATRU), located in Wooster, OH and Toledo, OH conduct fundamental and developmental research to enhance and protect floricultural, nursery, landscape, turf, horticultural and field crops.  ATRU’s partnership with Toledo Botanical Garden provides a vehicle for the exchange of information and knowledge between ARS scientists and the private sector.