History is systematically collected information about the past. When used as the name of a field of study, history refers to the study and interpretation of the record of humans, families, and societies. Knowledge of history is often said to encompass both knowledge of past events and historical thinking skills.

Traditionally, the study of history has been considered a part of the humanities. However, in modern academia, history is increasingly classified as a social science, especially when chronology is the focus.

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USDA Agricultural Research Service

Sizing up Teen Snacking
Fri, 09 May 2008 09:36:00 -0500
Teen snacking increases the chances of meeting some MyPyramid recommendations, but also the chances of eating more added sugars and fats. Get a customized food guide at MyPyramid.gov. Illustration courtesy of Microsoft Office clipart. Eating awareness among youngsters   "E" health for teens   Food labels and teens   Breakfast and teens   Sizing up Teen Snacking By Rosalie Marion Bliss May 9, 2008 The effect of snacking on teenagers' dietary intakes of recommended nutrients and MyPyramid food groups has been examined, and the findings are both positive and negative. After analyzing the eating habits of more than 4,000 teenagers surveyed nationwide, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists found that 90 percent reported eating one or more snacks in a day. The study was led by nutritionist Rhonda Sebastian with the ARS Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center at Beltsville, Md. The study has been published online and also appears in the May print issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. The 12- to 19-year-old teenagers—who were selected to be representative of the U.S. population—reported everything they had eaten during a 24-hour time period while participating in the survey What We Eat in America/NHANES 2001-2004. Overall, snacking was found to enhance the intake of some MyPyramid food groups, but it also contributed to the intake of excess discretionary calories as added sugars and fats. Among the highest snackers—those who consumed four or more snacks in a day—both boys and girls ate more than twice as much fruit as their non-snacking peers. Even so, almost three-quarters of those relatively high fruit eaters failed to meet their MyPyramid recommendation to consume 1½ cups to 2½ cups of fruit daily, depending on age, gender and activity level. On the positive side, boys who snacked more often were significantly more likely than nonsnacking boys to meet the MyPyramid milk recommendation, which is to consume three cups daily for both boys and girls. High-snacking girls, however, were not more likely to meet the milk recommendation compared to nonsnackers. Among all of the teenagers surveyed, snack foods on average accounted for 43 percent of the day's total intake of added sugars, which they consumed mostly as soft drinks, fruit drinks, candies, dairy desserts and cakes. The researchers concluded that replacing those snacks with more nutritious foods and beverages would help teenagers consume diets more in step with national recommendations.
Drought Makes Farmers Mind Their Peas and Corn
Thu, 08 May 2008 09:49:00 -0500
A new version of Crop Sequence Calculator, a computer-based management tool developed by ARS scientists, is helping farmers make better decisions about crop rotation choices in years when rainfall is scant. Click the image for more information about it. Root zone model evaluates crop rotations   Grain-forage rotations boost soil quality   Great Plains farmers diversifying Drought Makes Farmers Mind Their Peas and Corn By Don Comis May 8, 2008 A continuing drought in parts of the Northern Plains is pushing more and more farmers in dry areas to rethink their crop choices. Of the past nine years, only three have been wet years for these areas. Some of these farmers put a new CD into their computers earlier this year to help plan their spring plantings. The CD contains the third--and latest--version of the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Crop Sequence Calculator, which was released in February. Scientists at the ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan, N.D., developed the Crop Sequence Calculator. To date, they have sent more than 12,000 copies of the CD free to farmers, ranchers and educators worldwide. The calculator is a decision tool that deals with 16 crops, including barley, flax, sunflower and crops grown to support grazing cattle. Corn was one of the six new crops added in the latest calculator. The new calculator, which includes data from the relatively dry years of 2002 through 2005, shows that in dry years, the deep-rooting and water-thirsty corn grown after peas--which are shallow-rooting and light users of water--yields better than when grown after thirstier crops. The new calculator includes data from the previous CD, version 2.2.5, collected during the relatively wet years of 1998 through 2000. The earlier version similarly showed that growing the deep-rooting sunflowers after peas promised the highest sunflower yield. Users can plug in the prices they expect to get for their crops each year and see predicted gross and net earnings per acre for various combinations of crops in rotation. Each version of the Crop Sequence Calculator was based on data from growing 100 combinations of 10 crops, with four crops in common to both versions: canola, dry pea, spring wheat and sunflower. Now farmers and ranchers can evaluate those four crops for both wet and dry years. The new CD can be ordered free online at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=13698 ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.
New Healthy Animals Issue Available
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:59:00 -0500
New Issue of Healthy Animals Now Online By Laura McGinnis April 30, 2008 The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today posted a new issue of Healthy Animals at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/ha/han33.htm This quarterly online newsletter compiles ARS news and expert resources on the health and well-being of agricultural livestock, poultry and fish. Each quarter, one article in Healthy Animals focuses on a particular element of ARS animal research. The current issue examines efforts to control the biting midges that spread bluetongue virus. Other research highlighted in this issue includes: Nutritious, year-round forage for cattle Heat stress model helps keep cows cool Improved peanuts for forage and hay Professionals interested in animal health issues may want to bookmark the site as a resource for locating animal health experts. An index lists ARS research locations covering approximately 70 animal health topics. These range from specific diseases, such as Lyme disease, to broad subjects like nutrition or parasites. The site also provides complete contact information for the more than 25 ARS research groups that conduct studies aimed at protecting and improving farm animal health. To receive an e-mail alert about each future issue's posting online, contact Laura McGinnis, ARS Information Staff or sign up online. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.

USDA - Agriculture

Avian Influenza, Bird Flu
The official U.S. government web site for information on pandemic flu and avian influenza
Pest Management
Pest management policy, pesticide screening tool, evaluate pesticide risk, conservation buffers, training modules.
Weather and Climate
U.S. agricultural weather highlights, weekly weather and crop bulletin, major world crop areas and climatic profiles.

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