U.S. Grains Council Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol
February 13, 2023: An overview of the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol, an initiative that gives insights into the sustainability of U.S. corn practices and regulations.
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February 13, 2023: An overview of the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol, an initiative that gives insights into the sustainability of U.S. corn practices and regulations.
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The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s productivity. Founded in 1960, the Council is a private, non-profit corporation with 10 international offices and programs in more than 50 countries.
Its membership includes producer organizations and agribusinesses with a common interest in developing export markets. The Council tailors its programs to meet individual countries’ cultures and needs. Our technical programs teach livestock and poultry producers how to use feed grains effectively and manage their operations efficiently.
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U.S. soy farmers are the “ultimate stewards of the land” U.S. soybean customers across the world demand a product that is sustainably grown, and U.S. farmers are continually adopting innovations […]
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April 2025. An updated study examining the contributions of U.S. grain exports to the U.S. economy.
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Grain exports play an important role in the American economy, providing economic benefits that extend beyond direct sales
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U.S. food and agriculture are the backbone of the American economy. They account for more than $9.5 trillion in domestic economic activity, directly support more than 24 million jobs and play a vital role in international trade, with exports estimated at $183 billion.
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In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed nearly 284 million tons of feed. Beef cattle consumed the largest share, and aquaculture led the way in using “circular” ingredients – byproducts from other industries.
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Family farms are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, accounting for 96% of operations and 83% of production in 2023.
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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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Jennie Schmidt, a third-generation farmer and registered dietitian, strongly believes in the power of storytelling. In her experience, personal narratives can help consumers better understand how our food is grown, especially when fewer people have first-hand knowledge of the agriculture industry than ever before.
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February 13, 2023: An overview of the Corn Sustainability Assurance Protocol, an initiative that gives insights into the sustainability of U.S. corn practices and regulations.
Read moreThe U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s productivity. Founded in 1960, the Council is a private, non-profit corporation with 10 international offices and programs in more than 50 countries. Its membership includes producer organizations and agribusinesses with a common interest in developing export markets. The Council tailors its programs to meet individual countries’ cultures and needs. Our technical programs teach livestock and poultry producers how to use feed grains effectively and manage their operations efficiently.
Read more
U.S. soy farmers are the “ultimate stewards of the land” U.S. soybean customers across the world demand a product that is sustainably grown, and U.S. farmers are continually adopting innovations […]
Read more
April 2025. An updated study examining the contributions of U.S. grain exports to the U.S. economy.
Read more
Grain exports play an important role in the American economy, providing economic benefits that extend beyond direct sales
Read more
U.S. food and agriculture are the backbone of the American economy. They account for more than $9.5 trillion in domestic economic activity, directly support more than 24 million jobs and play a vital role in international trade, with exports estimated at $183 billion.
Read more
In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed nearly 284 million tons of feed. Beef cattle consumed the largest share, and aquaculture led the way in using “circular” ingredients - byproducts from other industries.
Read more
Family farms are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, accounting for 96% of operations and 83% of production in 2023.
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
Jennie Schmidt, a third-generation farmer and registered dietitian, strongly believes in the power of storytelling. In her experience, personal narratives can help consumers better understand how our food is grown, especially when fewer people have first-hand knowledge of the agriculture industry than ever before.
Read more
After more than three decades of tree farming, Jay and Kathryn Libby have won the 2025 Maine Outstanding Tree Farm Award.
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The Ellis family - Benjamin, Shannon and their son Tripp - farm in the environmentally sensitive and highly regulated Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
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As the public and private sectors increasingly choose building materials based on factors such as carbon footprint and renewability rather than solely on cost, sustainably sourced wood products offer a promising solution.
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The old Hawaiian proverb “The land is chief, and man is its servant” guides Parker Ranch and its cow-calf operation. The ranch raises cattle in a way that respects natural resources while ensuring cattle health, beef quality and food safety.
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May 2025. A detailed overview of U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, highlighting key export markets and top-performing commodities.
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May 2025. A comprehensive farmgate life cycle assessment (LCA) that enhances understanding of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. dairy industry.
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May 2025. The latest annual report from The Peanut Research Foundation, the American Peanut Council's research arm, highlights the latest research innovation and investments aimed at keeping the U.S. peanut industry competitive.
Download nowApril 2025. An updated study examining the contributions of U.S. grain exports to the U.S. economy.
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USSA News: latest agricultural trade export data, new dairy LCA, Maine's forest stewards.
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The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has achieved its sixth consecutive year of growth. The voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton now represents 18% more acres and 14% more growers than in 2024.
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins led a trade delegation to Rome, Italy, in early June as part of a program to expand market access for U.S. agricultural products in Europe.
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In 2024, the value of U.S. agricultural exports reached $176 billion, the third-highest total on record. The European Union (EU) emerged as the fourth-largest market for these exports, with tree nuts ranking as the top export commodity in the region.
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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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