USDA proposes an office of science

The Department of Agriculture has proposed a plan to streamline its research activities. The Bush administration’s proposed 2007 farm bill, unveiled by USDA Secretary Mike Johanns on Jan. 21, would merge two existing USDA research agencies into a single office of science.

Currently, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) employs some 2,100 scientists and another 6,000 support staff at 107 laboratories around the country.