This irrigation polypipe can be a large contributor to microplastics in agricultural settings.

Helping Farmers Reduce the Flow of Microplastics

ARS researchers in Oxford, MS, along with collaborators from the University of Mississippi, are helping farmers reduce runoff and protect human health. Specifically, ARS researchers are targeting microplastics, tiny fragments of plastic that can infiltrate everything from soil to human tissues. These particles can be found in farm runoff, spreading the particles into surrounding waterways and ecosystems. 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.