ARS is charged with extending the nation's scientific knowledge and solving agricultural problems through its four national program areas: nutrition, food safety and quality; animal production and protection; natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems; and crop production and protection.

[3] ARS has more than 150 librarians and other information specialists who work at two NAL locations—the Abraham Lincoln Building in Beltsville, Maryland; and the DC Reference Center in Washington, D.C. NAL provides reference and information services, document delivery, interlibrary loan and interlibrary borrowing services to a variety of audiences.

That same year, the department issued its first research bulletin on the sugar content of grape varietals and their suitability for wine.

Six years later the USDA would begin its first research on animal diseases, specifically hog cholera, which was causing devastating losses at the time.

ARS scientists at these centers study the role of food and dietary components in human health from conception to advanced age.

[21][22][23] The San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, California conducts research on specialty crops including grapes, citrus, almonds, alfalfa, peaches, pomegranates, and many others.

Several research locations throughout the US also house germplasm collections of plant species important for agricultural and industrial uses as part of the National Genetic Resources Program.

In 1985, technology to produce lactose-free milk, yogurt, and ice cream was developed through the Agricultural Research Service.

[26] The ARS Citrus and Subtropical Products Laboratory in Winter Haven, Florida, actively works to improve the taste of orange juice concentrate.