Information Center

Insight, news and views

From Opinion and Insights to the latest in technologies and news straight from the fields, here you will find information about the produce and work of our members and their innovation in U.S. farming, fishing and forestry.

Insights and Opinion

Why Farm Tours Still Matter

Stephanie Wetter, Director of Animal Welfare at the National Pork Board, shares her perspective on why there is no substitute for visiting a farm and seeing firsthand the reality of pork production.

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Rethinking Agricultural Waste for a Circular Food Economy

There’s more to our food than meets the eye, writes Kent Swisher of the North American Renderers Association (NARA) in a guest blog for SustMeme.

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Raising the Bar in Wheat and Livestock Farming in South Dakota

At Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota, innovation and tradition go hand in hand.

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USSA Interview: Independent of Political Shifts

Environmental protection and sustainability have lost significant importance under the current U.S. administration. However, Nick Gardner, Chair of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA), believes this will have little impact on the alliance’s long-term goals.

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Latest Reports

Irrigated agriculture in the United States: Current status and future frontiers

May 2026. A national assessment examining how irrigated agriculture is changing across the United States and what this means for future food production, water management, and rural resilience.

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Adapting Species Risk Assessments to a Changing Climate: The Underestimated Vulnerability of Foundational Trees

April 2026. A climate-informed study warning that many of California’s most recognizable tree species may be more vulnerable to decline than current conservation assessments suggest.

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Extreme Heat and Agriculture

April 2026. A joint report examining how rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are affecting crops, livestock, fisheries, forests and agricultural workers.

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Feeding the Economy 2026

March 2026. A comprehensive farm-to-fork analysis highlighting the scale and economic importance of the U.S. food and agriculture industry.

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Latest News Articles

Schuler Red Angus Recognized for Cattle and Conservation Excellence

Schuler Red Angus in Bridgeport is the 2026 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award winner.

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Animal and Human Waste Could Slash U.S. Synthetic Fertilizer Use

Nutrients recovered from livestock and human waste could dramatically reduce synthetic fertilizer use in the U.S., according to a new Cornell University study.

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RESEARCH: Cover Crops Play Crucial Role in Soil Health

Soybean farmers looking for the best way to improve soil health now have a clear way forward, thanks to a study funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and co-led by the University of Kentucky.

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USSA Newsletter: April 2026

This month focuses on technology and innovation. We highlight a new initiative aimed at accelerating U.S. farmers’ adoption of emerging technologies - real-world testing and performance data are key.

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Policies and Regulations

U.S. LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Whilst the USSA members work to exceed regulatory requirement, U.S. laws and regulations provide a robust framework, developed over many years, to ensure and promote the sustainability of its crop, livestock, seafood and forestry sectors. The policies look to immediate impacts on the environment and beyond to cover topics from employment to biodiversity to endangered species. The following pages provide context and an introduction to key federal legislation.

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U.S. CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Focused on conservation and environmental stewardship, the USDA, working with The Natural Resources Conservation Service on technical assessment and the Farm Service Agency for enforcements, uses grant management to deliver best practice. A particular focus is on erodible lands and wetlands, with ‘sodbuster’ and ‘swampbuster’ rules, requires presentation of conservation strategies prior to conversion of lands to agricultural use. One result, that soil loss has been halved since 1982.

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U.S. SUSTAINABILITY LAWS

The U.S. recognizes that sustainability has many facets and action is required in explicit areas. This has resulted in the enactment of a wide range of laws from the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act to the Endangered Species Act, to research and regulatory action on Insecticides and Fungicides and Rodenticide Act; and, with the Lacey Act a focus on illegal trafficking of plants, fish and animals.

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Latest Podcasts

EP8- FARMING HERITAGE: RESPECTING TRADITION, EMBRACING CHANGE

In the latest episode of This is U.S. Sustainability, we hear from two multi-generational farmers – an eleventh-generation grains farmer from Maryland and the owner of a centennial cattle farm in Louisiana – about how they have moved with the times while staying true to their roots. We cover rotational grazing, no-till cultivation, water conservation, biotech seeds, and more. And we discuss why going back to the natural cycle is sometimes the best approach.

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EP7- FORESTS AND THEIR ROLE AS A NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTION

Tune in to the latest episode of This is U.S. Sustainability to hear how Paul Catanzaro and Professor Tony D’Amato work together to reach family forest owners and ensure they have the information and resources to make the right decisions about their land. And learn about the vital role Tim Stout, a Vermont landowner, plays in amplifying their message.

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EP6- FROM JET FUEL TO BEER: NEW USSA PODCAST UNCOVERS INNOVATIVE USES FOR FOOD WASTE

Tune in for the lowdown on the innovative, often surprising ways the almond industry and the wider food sector are reducing waste. Jet fuel, beer, water filters and peat moss to grow mushrooms – these are just some of the many applications in use and under development.

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Recent Videos

Wood in Architecture: Building with U.S. Softwoods [2/2]

Discover how softwoods were used in the architecture of PDX Main Terminal, Portland, Oregon, in this new series from the Softwood Export Council.

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Wood in Architecture: Building with U.S. Softwoods [1/2]

This new series from the Softwood Export Council spotlights the global reach and versatility of American softwoods in architecture, offering a behind-the-scenes look at sustainable forestry practices.

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Industry Excellence Video Series

This new series from the American Feed Industry Association explores the $267 billion U.S. animal food industry, offering insights into its scale and impact. 

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