Mission:
The mission of the ARS Research Units at Logan, Utah has three areas of emphasis: (1) To investigate poisonous plants, their toxins and tertogens; (2) To broaden the genetic base and enhance the merits and biodiversity of plants for rangelands and pastures; (3) To develop non-Apis bee pollinators of major agricultural crops, understand their management, biology and the control of associated diseases. Poisonous plant research will establish the mechanisms by which toxic plants cause injury to animals. It isolates,determines the structures of toxins and teratogens and prepares their analogs. The effects of environment and plant parts on toxin concentrationare established. Plant genetic improvement research of native and introduced species provides an array of new grasses, legumes and forbs for upgrading semiarid lands throughout the West. New plant materials are developed to meet the specific needs of conservation, restoration and reclamation, recreation, and forage for livestock and wildlife production purposes. The pollinating insect biology research is focused on developingdependable alternative pollinators to reduce the dependence of agricultural production on honey bee pollinators. Pollinator distribution,behavior, systematic, management systems, and diseases are important.