Substantial gains have been made in school nutrition over the last 2 decades. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the impact of food insecurity on child and adolescent nutrition, underscoring the value of school meal programs. Federal, state, and local regulations have improved the nutritional quality of school meal programs, including updated school meal guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture. Advocacy for universal school nutrition is needed to promote policies that prioritize continuous access to meals and snacks of high nutritional value and variety, experiential (hands on, practical, reflective) learning, and positive eating environments.

In January 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly released the"Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030"(hereinafter referred to as the"new guidelines"). The core focus of these guidelines has shifted from nutrient limits to overall food quality; they advocate"enjoying real food,"take a clear stand against highly processed foods, increase the recommended protein intake, recommend full-fat dairy products, and simplify information dissemination strategies. While these changes have attracted widespread attention, they have also sparked significant controversy, including contradictions between visual presentations and written recommendations, the absence of quantitative limits, and a lack of transparency in the revision process. This article systematically interprets the major changes and scientific rationale behind the new guidelines, analyzes related academic controversies, compares the dietary guidelines of China and the United States, and evaluates their implications for China's nutrition policy from the dual perspectives of their value as a reference and their potential risks, taking into account the dietary structure, metabolic characteristics, and nutritional status of the Chinese population.

Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Nutrient, food, and beverage intake of GLP1-RA users with Type 2 Diabetes, 2007-2020.

The availability of spatial data on agricultural land cover, such as the cropland data layer (CDL) developed by the US Department of Agriculture, has facilitated areawide pest management study. The CDL is derived from a raster-based process that primarily uses data layers of satellite images to produce a georeferenced land cover classification. Here, we considered (i) the extent that adjustments at the pixel level to address land cover misclassifications of the CDL changed simple composition (percent cover) and more complex composition (diversity) and configuration metrics, and (ii) if changes were sensitive to spatial scale (10 km2 and ≤ 3 km2 areas) and land cover (three crops and 3 seminatural lands). Next, we considered (iii) whether the landscape metrics derived from the original CDL as modified by 2 adjustment methods affected outcomes of a stepwise regression to consider selected landscape metrics as indicators of cotton fleahopper (Pseudatomoscelis seriatus) and sorghum aphid (Melanaphis sorghi) abundance. Changes in the metrics resulted from applying 2 adjustments (majority filter and manual) to extracted buffers taken from the CDL, with indication of overcorrection using the manual method. Selected metrics were sensitive to landscape structure (8 of 26 two-way interactions of adjustment, scale, and land cover were significant). In regression exercises, configuration metrics of cotton, sorghum, and grassland were the main metrics selected, and fewer metrics were selected when derived from adjusted buffers. Overall, the majority filter adjustment showed moderate sensitivity to scale and land cover and appeared to clarify landscape structure (particularly configuration of land covers) that influences two cotton and sorghum pests. Attention to data quality and downstream analysis for areawide pest management study is advisable going forward for this CDL and likely other land cover data products now available worldwide.

Food Insecurity, Coping Mechanisms, and Utilization of Food Assistance Resources Among International Students at a South-Central US University.

Pomegranate is an ancient tree fruit crop that has been used for food, beverages, medicines, dyes, and other purposes for thousands of years. The industry standard cultivar in the United States and several other countries is ‘Wonderful’, which is believed to have originated in Florida and was propagated in California for commercial production. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Clonal Germplasm Repository – Tree Fruit and Nut Crops and Grapes conserves a plethora of pomegranate accessions for breeding, research, and conservation. Despite the repository’s long history of conserving mature germplasm, understanding of the phenotypic diversity within the collection remains limited. Moreover, the fruit and juice properties of most accessions are largely undocumented. The present investigation includes an evaluation of 20 pomegranate accessions of diverse international origin for fruit and juice quality. The selected accessions include ‘Afganski’, ‘Ariana’, ‘Azadi’, ‘Blaze’, ‘Chandyr’, ‘Eversweet’, ‘Girkanets’, ‘Kopetdag’, ‘Lou Lou’, ‘Palermo’, ‘Parfianka’, ‘Purple Heart’, ‘Phoenicia’, ‘Rosamia’, ‘Sakerdze’, ‘Salavatski’, ‘Utah Sweet’, ‘Vkusnyi’, ‘Wonderful’, and ‘Zubejda (Denau)’. This study represents 11.1% of the 179 available pomegranate accessions currently maintained by the USDA. The fruit traits evaluated included fruit mass, diameter, length, 100-seed mass, total seed mass, mean number of seeds per fruit, and peel color. The juice traits assessed were titratable acidity, total soluble solids, sugar-to-acid ratio, and color. Significant differences were observed among accessions for all traits evaluated. Several accessions, including ‘Eversweet’, ‘Lou Lou’, ‘Azadi’, ‘Utah Sweet’, and ‘Rosamia’ exhibited notably lower acidity. In contrast, ‘Chandyr’ had the highest titratable acidity, significantly exceeding all other accessions in this study. Further research is required to comprehensively characterize the USDA pomegranate collection, providing essential information on fruit and juice traits that will support breeders in developing improved cultivars, growers in optimizing production, and packers and processors in enhancing product quality.

Assessing Geographic and Temporal Variation in the Cost of the Thrifty Food Plan.

Employee job satisfaction remains a critical issue in public sector organizations, particularly in relation to internal management factors such as work systems, work environment, and employee welfare. This study aims to examine the partial and simultaneous effects of these variables on job satisfaction among employees at the Department of Agriculture of Asahan Regency. A quantitative approach was applied using a saturated sampling technique, involving all 31 employees as respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using multiple linear regression supported by SPSS, including classical assumption tests and hypothesis testing (t-test and F-test). The findings indicate that, partially, work system, work environment, and employee welfare each have a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction. Simultaneously, these variables also show a significant influence on job satisfaction. The coefficient of determination reveals that 93.8% of the variation in job satisfaction can be explained by the three independent variables, while the remaining 6.2% is influenced by other factors not examined in this study. These results highlight the importance of improving organizational systems, creating a supportive work environment, and enhancing employee welfare to increase job satisfaction.

From 2021 to 2025, federal nutrition assistance policy in the United States shifted rapidly from expansion to contraction, with major implications for food insecurity, diet quality, and chronic disease risk. Qualitative policy analysis based on a targeted review of federal legislation, regulations, agency guidance, and white papers related to nutrition assistance programs was used to systematically identify and compare major shifts in program scope, design, and implementation. From 2021 to 2024, Congress and the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) expanded and modernized federal nutrition programs, elevated the concept of nutrition security, and invested in administrative capacity. Key actions included increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, updating Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and school meal standards to align with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, expanding child nutrition programs (e.g., SUN Bucks, community eligibility), and strengthening FNS staffing. In 2025, the second Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress reversed course. HR 1 enacted historic SNAP cuts, expanded work-related time limits, shifted costs to states, eliminated SNAP-Ed, and restricted access for some immigrants, while collateral reductions affected WIC, emergency food programs, and other supports. Additional Trump-era actions weakened the scientific basis of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, introduced new retailer standards and product restrictions, canceled the Household Food Security Report, and reduced the FNS workforce. Recent policy shifts threaten to increase food insecurity and exacerbate inequities. These efforts appear misaligned with Make America Healthy Again's stated focus on improving diet quality and reducing childhood chronic disease. Rigorous, ongoing evaluation of the impacts of these changes on participation, diet quality, food insecurity, and health-particularly among historically underserved populations-is essential to guide future federal nutrition policy.

This study aimed to examine the effects of work–life balance and work environment on employee performance, with work motivation as an intervening variable, at the Department of Agriculture of North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The research employed a quantitative associative design to analyze both direct and indirect relationships among variables. The study population consisted of 244 employees, including civil servants (PNS), government employees with work agreements (PPPK), and non-civil servants. Using the Slovin formula with a 10% error tolerance, a sample of 80 respondents was selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on Partial Least Squares (PLS) with SmartPLS version 3.3.3. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability, with all indicators meeting the criteria for convergent and discriminant validity, Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values exceeding 0.50, and Composite Reliability values above 0.70. Structural model evaluation revealed that work–life balance has a strong positive and significant effect on employee performance (β = 0.958; t = 39.057; p < 0.001), indicating that employees who are able to balance work responsibilities and personal life tend to perform better. In contrast, the work environment does not have a significant direct effect on employee performance (β = −0.072; t = 0.639; p > 0.05). Furthermore, both work–life balance (β = 0.163; t = 7.296; p < 0.001) and work environment (β = 0.897; t = 45.113; p < 0.001) have positive and significant effects on work motivation. . However, work motivation does not significantly affect employee performance (β = 0.119; t = 0.946; p > 0.05) and does not mediate the relationship between work–life balance or work environment and employee performance. These findings suggest that employee performance improvement is driven primarily by direct work–life balance policies rather than through motivational mechanisms. Managerial implications highlight the importance of implementing effective work–life balance strategies supported by objective performance management systems in public sector organizations.

Innovations in economic assessment of drought management: Application to crops and river basins of New Mexico.

Past research and conceptualizations of dietary behavior have included many candidate correlates and causes, including personality traits (Lunn et al., 2014). The present research, informed by cybernetic big five theory, clarifies associations between Five-Factor personality traits and dietary behaviors defined by government guidelines (U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Institutes of Health, 2020; World Health Organization, 2020). Preregistered meta-analyses were conducted across the Big Five traits and seven dietary categories using correlated and hierarchical effects models and robust variance estimation. Metaregression was used to test the moderating effects of age, sex, and obesity of sample nations. Agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness were positively associated with healthy eating and the consumption of fruits and vegetables, whereas neuroticism was negatively associated. Agreeableness and openness were positively associated with the consumption of whole grains and fiber. Agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with the consumption of sodium. Metaregression results showed the association between openness and healthy eating was stronger for samples with mean ages greater than 30 years. The results provide clarity regarding small but reliable associations between Big Five traits and dietary behaviors aligned with formal guidelines. To improve precision for integrative disposition-belief-motivation investigations (cf. Vo & Bogg, 2015), future research should test associations between lower order traits and assessments of diet that are less subject to the biases of retrospective self-reports. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Abstract Background and aims People experiencing homelessness (PEH) have high rates of multimorbidity, frailty and premature mortality. Vascular risk factors and cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) are prevalent in this population but have not previously been quantified relative to housed controls. We aimed to compare vascular risk and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden between PEH and housed controls. Methods PEH were recruited from homeless services alongside age-, sex- and education-matched housed controls. Vascular risk burden was quantified using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). Participants underwent brain MRI, with WMH burden quantified using an automated machine-learning pipeline and visually grading using the Fazekas scale. Comparisons were performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Statistical analyses were conducted in R (v4.5.2). Results 38 PEH and 19 controls were recruited and were well matched for age, sex and education. There was no statistically significant difference in FRS between PEH and controls (p = 0.583). Total WMH burden did not differ significantly between groups using automated or visual quantification methods; however, a trend toward greater periventricular WMH burden was observed in PEH (p = 0.075). Automated and visual WMH measures were correlated (Spearman’s ρ = 0.566, p < 0.0001). Conclusions In this first controlled comparison, PEH did not demonstrate a significantly higher vascular risk or WMH burden compared with housed controls, although a trend toward greater periventricular WMH burden was observed. This may reflect limited statistical power and heterogeneity amongst PEH. Larger controlled studies are needed to further characterise cerebrovascular disease amongst PEH and inform prevention strategies. Conflict of interest Georgia Richard: This researcher was funded by the Health Research Board (ICAT-2022-001) and the ICAT Programme, which is supported by the Health Service Executive, National Doctors Training and Planning, the Health and Social Care, Research and Development Division, the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland. Joseph Harbison: nothing to disclose. Colin Doherty: nothing to disclose. Cliona Ni Cheallaigh: nothing to disclose.

Facilitators and barriers to participation in the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s SUN Meals program among parents of elementary school-aged children post-COVID-19 pandemic: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are known to exert diverse and often dose-dependent effects on the biochemical composition and quality of cucurbit fruits. Ethephon, an ethylene-releasing compound, has been widely investigated for its capacity to modify sex expression, accelerate fruit development and alter the biochemical composition of fruits in cucurbitaceous crops. A field investigation was conducted at the experimental field of the Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar, during the Rabi season of 2018–2019 (more precisely 'late Rabi–Zaid transition season) to study the influence of ethephon and maleic hydrazide on the fruit quality attributes of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. Dark Green. The experiment comprised nine treatments — ethephon at 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm; maleic hydrazide at 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm; and an untreated control — laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Both regulators were applied as foliar sprays at the two- and four-leaf stages. Three quality parameters were assessed: ascorbic acid content (mg per 100 g), total soluble solids (TSS, °Brix), and flesh thickness (mm). Ethephon at 200 ppm (T4) recorded the highest values for all three quality parameters — ascorbic acid of 16.93 mg per 100 g, TSS of 6.33 °Brix, and flesh thickness of 30.66 mm — whilst the untreated control (T9) recorded the minimum values of 11.90 mg per 100 g, 4.73 °Brix and 22.15 mm, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that TSS was significantly influenced by the treatments (CD at 5% = 0.18), whilst ascorbic acid and flesh thickness showed consistent numerical trends though were not statistically significant. The enhancement of TSS under ethephon application was attributed to the influence of ethylene-related physiological processes on nutrient absorption and accumulation in fruit pulp. These findings indicate that foliar application of ethephon at 200 ppm at the two- and four-leaf stages represents an effective strategy for improving the biochemical quality of zucchini fruits under subtropical conditions.

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is one of the most widely utilised ethylene-releasing plant growth regulators in cucurbit production. When applied as a foliar spray at the two- to four-leaf stage, it decomposes within plant tissues to release Ethylene. This process suppresses the development of staminate (male) flowers while promoting the initiation of pistillate (female) flowers at lower nodal positions. A field experiment was conducted at the experimental field of the Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar, India, during the Rabi season of 2018–2019 (more precisely late Rabi–Zaid transition season) to evaluate the effect of foliar application of ethephon and maleic hydrazide at varying concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L⁻¹) on sex expression, floral characteristics of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. Dark Green. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatments and three replications. Parameters assessed included sex ratio (male-to-female flower ratio), days to first flower opening, days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant. Results demonstrated that ethephon at 200 mg L⁻¹ (T4) produced the lowest male-to-female flower ratio (0.67), compared with 3.32 in the untreated control, indicating a pronounced shift in sex expression towards femaleness. T4 also recorded the minimum days to first flower opening (16.11 days) and to 50% flowering (20.15 days). Number of fruits per plant was significantly superior (4.09) under T4. Maleic hydrazide at lower concentrations (50–100 mg L⁻¹) showed moderate feminising effects on sex ratio, whilst higher concentrations (150–200 mg L⁻¹) had limited positive influence on yield. These findings suggest that ethephon at 200 mg L⁻¹ is the most effective treatment for modifying sex expression towards femaleness and improving fruit yield in zucchini under sub-tropical Punjab conditions.

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is a widely used ethylene-releasing compound that exerts significant effects on the vegetative and reproductive development of cucurbit crops. Upon foliar application, ethephon decomposes in plant tissues to release ethylene, which inhibits cell elongation in the shoot meristem, promotes lateral branching, and advances the onset of female flowering. A field experiment was conducted at the experimental field of the Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College, Amritsar, India, during the Rabi season of 2018–2019 to investigate the effect of foliar application of ethephon and maleic hydrazide at varying concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L⁻¹) on the vegetative growth characteristics of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. Dark Green. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatments and three replications. Growth parameters recorded included plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of nodes per plant, and days to first harvest. Results demonstrated that ethephon at 200 mg L⁻¹ significantly reduced plant height (49.25 cm at 60 days after transplanting, DAT) whilst simultaneously producing the maximum number of leaves (61.16) and nodes (47.36) per plant. The same treatment recorded the minimum days to first harvest (38.39). Maleic hydrazide treatments reduced plant height at all concentrations, with moderate effects on leaf and node development. The untreated control consistently recorded the tallest plants, the fewest leaves and node. These findings indicate that ethephon at 200 mg L⁻¹ is the most effective treatment for promoting compact plant architecture in zucchini under sub-tropical Indian conditions.

Grape ( Vitis spp.) is an economically and culturally significant crop grown in a wide array of climates, including cooler areas that regularly experience freezing temperatures. To better adapt grapes for cultivation in cooler climates, wild grape relatives and hybrids have been and continue to be used in breeding efforts. The US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service maintains a collection of cultivated and wild cold-hardy grapes in Geneva, NY, USA. This collection contains more than one dozen species, mostly of North American origin, as well as an extensive set of hybrid breeding lines and cultivars. We demonstrate the genetic variation present in the collection using newly developed rhAmpSeq markers to explore phylogenetic relationships. Our findings match those of previous analyses that showed Eurasian species nested within the North American species, suggesting a North American origin of the Vitis genus. In addition, an analysis of ancestry and genetic distance suggested taxonomic identities of 18 previously unidentified accessions and 36 putatively misidentified accessions. The data presented here advance the understanding of the Vitis clade and provide support for ongoing research, conservation, and breeding efforts.

Trends in a Persistent Strain of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infantis (REPJFX01) in Humans and Chickens - United States, 2010-2023.

Farmers and ranchers are on the front lines of climate change, facing escalating production pressures, economic uncertainty, and profound psychological impacts. Drawing on first-person experience and research in agricultural communities, this Commentary uses narrative to illuminate how climate grief-grief experienced in response to actual or anticipated loss resulting from climate change-affects farmers and ranchers and shapes their capacity for climate adaptation. In addition to this experiential framing, the authors include an illustrative example of a team-developed intervention designed to support farmers' and ranchers' mental health; this example is offered not as original research but as a practice-based case to stimulate the broader policy conversation. Taken together, these perspectives underscore the need to integrate mental health support into agricultural climate resilience efforts. Although programs such as the Department of Agriculture's Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network represent important progress, current initiatives remain fragmented and underresourced. Research on mental health interventions related to climate change in general is sparse. Increasing investment and coherent policy are essential to ensuring that climate adaptation strategies address the full spectrum of challenges that farmers and ranchers face-physical, economic, and psychological.