National Research Council developed interim dietary guidelines to help consumers make healthful food choices
In 1982, National Research Council, after a study of the relationship of diet and nutrition to cancer, developed…
The U.S. General Accounting Office released a scathing report on the National Plant Germplasm System
On Dec. 4, 1981, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report on the National Plant Germplasm…
Diagnostics | Disease | Pharmaceutical | Therapeutics | USDA | Veterinary
Schering-Plough Animal Health introduced Intra-Trac vaccines for kennel cough in dogs
In 1980, Schering-Plough Animal Health introduced Intra-Trac vaccines for kennel cough in dogs. For years, Iowa State University…
Biotechnology | CDC | Infectious Disease | Neurology | USDA | Veterinary
chronic wasting disease first observed in a captive deer in Colorado
In 1967, chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first observed in a captive deer in Colorado where it was…
Only eight institutions worldwide held the cold-storage capability necessary for long-term seed storage
In 1975, only eight institutions worldwide, mostly in developed countries, have the cold-storage capability necessary for long-term seed…
The National Plant Germplasm System was established
In 1974, n an attempt to bring order to the loosely structured state/federal new-crops research program, the National…
Agriculture | Disease | Environmental | USDA
The Southern Corn Leaf Blight swept across the South
In 1970, the Southern Corn Leaf Blight (SCLB) sweeps across the South, destroying 15% of the U.S. corn…
The FAO sponsored the first attempt to develop a computerized data bank for the world’s genetic resources
In 1969, The FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit sponsored the first attempt to develop a standardized, computerized data bank…
The Animal Welfare Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, the first law that protected research animals
On Aug. 24, 1966, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that became known as the Animal Welfare Act (P.L….
USDA eradicated New World screwworm from the United States
In 1966, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) eradicated New World screwworm (NWS) from the United States using sterile…
The AAALAC filed its articles of incorporation
On Apr. 8, 1965, the Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) filed its articles of incorporation…
CDC | Diagnostics | FDA | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Therapeutics | USDA
The CDC, FDA, and USDA and all state health departments joined together to establish the Salmonella Surveillance Program
In 1963, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the…
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushcev visited the Iowa corn farm to verify impressive corn hybrid stories
On Sept. 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushcev visited the Iowa corn farm of seedman Roswell Garst to…
Arnel Hallauer became director of ISU’s maize breeding program
In 1959, Arnel Hallauer became director of Iowa State University’s (ISU) maize breeding program. Hallauer was part of…
The National Seed Storage Laboratory opens in Fort Collins, Colorado
In 1958, the National Seed Storage Laboratory (NSSL), the first long-term seed storage facility in the world, opened…
Agriculture | Biology | Environmental | EPA | Forestry | Life Science History | USDA
USDA Forest Service Spayed DDT to Control spruce budworm in Oregon Forest
In Jul. 1955, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) sprayed DDT as…
Geneticist Barbara McClintock issued report on transposable elements
In 1947, Little-known geneticist Barbara McClintock issued her first report on transposable elements – known today as jumping…
Maurice C. Hall developed a technique, known as the “NIH swab,” to diagnose enterobiasis
In 1937, Maurice C. Hall developed a technique, known as the “NIH swab,” to diagnose enterobiasis; it is…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | USDA | Veterinary
New World screwworm migrated to Southeast U.S.
In 1933, the New World Screwworm (NWS) was first documented as a significant problem in the Southeast following…
Congress voted to cut off the Seed Distribution Program
In 1925, the U.S. Congress voted to cut off its expensive Seed Distribution Program, which had consumed more…
FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | USDA
The Supreme Court ruled that the Food and Drugs Act condemned every statement on a product’s label that may mislead or deceive
On Jun. 2, 1924, in U.S. v. 95 Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar, the Supreme Court ruled that…
The USDA reported more than 50,000 foreign plants have been introduced into the US since 1862
In 1923, more than 50,000 foreign plants had been introduced into the United States since 1862 by the…
Edward Francis extended the earlier observations on tularemia
In 1919, Edward Francis extended the earlier observations on tularemia. His other studies, continued into the 1920s, clarified…
Drs., McCoy, Chapin, Wherry, and Lamb elucidated a new disease, tularemia
In 1911, Drs. George W. McCoy, Charles W. Chapin, William B. Wherry, and B. H. Lamb elucidated a…
Charles Nicolle and Louis Manceaux at the Pasteur Institute first described Toxoplasma gondii
In 1908, Charles Nicolle and Louis Manceaux at the Pasteur Institute were the first to describe Toxoplasma gondii…
First Certified Color Regulations, requested by manufacturers and users, list seven colors found suitable for use in foods
In 1907, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued Food Inspection Decision (F.I.D.) 76, which contained a…
The USDA created the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction
In 1899, the USDA created the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction, which assigns its first Plant Introduction…
The vedalia beetle (aka lady bug) introduced from Australia to California to control cottonycushion scale
In 1889, the vedalia beetle (aka lady bug) was introduced from Australia to California to control cottonycushion scale,…
The Hatch Act established the national system of agricultural research experiment stations
In 1887, the Hatch Act, written by Seaman Knapp and Charles Bessey on the faculty at Iowa Agricultural…
The Oleomargarine Act defined the essence of butter and imposed a two-cent per pound tax on oleomargarine
On Jul. 23, 1886, the 49th Congress (1885–1887) set in motion an era of commercial regulation by passing…