Coming to a town near you: USDA relocation takes ag research, employees out of D.C.

Kristen Sindelar
May 15, 2026
May 15, 2026

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Ag-focused research is coming to the heartland of agriculture with the organizational restructuring of certain parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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USDA REE 3.jpg — As part of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) Project redistribution, BARC research projects and other ARS research facilities will be moving out of Maryland to sites across the nation.
Image from https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ars-reorg-factsheet.pdf

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USDA REE 2.jpg — Structural changes within the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) agency is moving from a matrix framework to a mission-focused model.
Image from https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ars-reorg-factsheet.pdf

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USDA REE 4.JPG — U.S. Meat and Animal Research Center near Clay Center, Neb., will gain an Agricultural Research Service project and several federal employees as part of the USDA restructuring.
Submitted photo

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Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.