Status and Trends of U.S. Conservation Programs, 2002–2025
March 2026. A high-level review of USDA conservation programmes, outlining how they support environmental outcomes and evolve through successive Farm Bills.
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March 2026. A high-level review of USDA conservation programmes, outlining how they support environmental outcomes and evolve through successive Farm Bills.
Read more
Through technical assistance and other U.S. conservation programs, conservationists in every part of the United States help bring environmentally beneficial improvements to farms, ranches and forests. Background: The majority of U.S. […]
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Voluntary conservation programs [in the United States] work largely because of the commitment of farmers, ranchers, and foresters to implementing conservation practices on their operations. These were among the opening comments of […]
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The House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee held a Subcommittee public hearing on June 11 to review the implementation of conservation programs included in the Agricultural Act of 2014.
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What does 2026 hold in store for U.S. Soy, given macro trends, shifting business dynamics, policy changes and long-term investments? Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, highlights the forces he believes will shape U.S. soybean exports this year.
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Healthy soils are the foundation of productivity and climate resilience, as highlighted by USSA’s David Green and Maite Caballero in an article for Open Access Government.
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In mid-October, the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) hosted three European Union (EU) officials for a Climate Smart Agriculture mission to the United States. The mission aimed to enhance understanding of U.S. conservation programs and highlight U.S. leadership in agricultural sustainability.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing a record $1.5 billion in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions in FY 2024 through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation […]
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A new U.S. Sustainability Alliance report provides insight into the laws, policies, and programs that support U.S. sustainable agriculture. While there is a perception in Europe that U.S. agricultural production […]
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In the United States, soy cultivation and biodiversity efforts go hand in hand, writes Abby Rinne, Sustainability Director at the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Discover more about U.S Soy farmers’ […]
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March 2026. A high-level review of USDA conservation programmes, outlining how they support environmental outcomes and evolve through successive Farm Bills.
Read more
Through technical assistance and other U.S. conservation programs, conservationists in every part of the United States help bring environmentally beneficial improvements to farms, ranches and forests. Background: The majority of U.S. […]
Read more
Voluntary conservation programs [in the United States] work largely because of the commitment of farmers, ranchers, and foresters to implementing conservation practices on their operations. These were among the opening comments of […]
Read more
The House of Representatives' Agriculture Committee held a Subcommittee public hearing on June 11 to review the implementation of conservation programs included in the Agricultural Act of 2014.
Read more
What does 2026 hold in store for U.S. Soy, given macro trends, shifting business dynamics, policy changes and long-term investments? Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, highlights the forces he believes will shape U.S. soybean exports this year.
Read more
Healthy soils are the foundation of productivity and climate resilience, as highlighted by USSA’s David Green and Maite Caballero in an article for Open Access Government.
Read more
In mid-October, the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) hosted three European Union (EU) officials for a Climate Smart Agriculture mission to the United States. The mission aimed to enhance understanding of U.S. conservation programs and highlight U.S. leadership in agricultural sustainability.
Read more
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing a record $1.5 billion in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions in FY 2024 through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation […]
Read more
A new U.S. Sustainability Alliance report provides insight into the laws, policies, and programs that support U.S. sustainable agriculture. While there is a perception in Europe that U.S. agricultural production […]
Read more
In the United States, soy cultivation and biodiversity efforts go hand in hand, writes Abby Rinne, Sustainability Director at the U.S. Soybean Export Council. Discover more about U.S Soy farmers’ […]
Read more
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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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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At Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota, innovation and tradition go hand in hand.
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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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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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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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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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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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This month, we examine one of the most urgent yet least understood threats to global agriculture and food security, as highlighted in a new UN report.
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Schuler Red Angus in Bridgeport is the 2026 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award winner.
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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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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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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Discover how softwoods were used in the architecture of PDX Main Terminal, Portland, Oregon, in this new series from the Softwood Export Council.
Watch nowThis 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.
Watch nowThis 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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