Hairy Vetch Breeding Nursery. (Photos by Dr. Heathcliffe Riday, ARS).

ARS Discovery within Popular Cover Crop Spurs Development of New Varieties

ARS researchers have found a way to take the fear out of weed potential for farmers. Hairy Vetch is a cold-hardy plant that provides a good source of nitrogen for the soil. It often serves as a soil cover crop for erosion control and for animal feed. However, hairy vetch’s dormant seed can grow after harvest, creating weed problems for grain crops and their surrounding natural areas. Now, ARS researchers have identified a genomic region in the legume hairy vetch’s DNA that can eliminate the plant’s dormant seeds. Learn more...

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.