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4 members found: softwood

Softwood Export Council

Softwood Export Council (SEC) is a trade organization working to promote strategic export market development for American-made softwood products. SEC represents U.S. softwood grading agencies, industry trade associations, state export promotional agencies, and others with a stake in global trade for softwood lumber. SEC creates an overseas presence, educating potential buyers and updating members on ever-changing economic policies world-wide. SEC conducts research on emerging markets and sustainability and stays up to date on the shifting economic marketplace on behalf of its members.

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Sustainability in the North American Softwood Industry

An in-depth look at the various laws in place to protect the softwood industry and ensure that forests in the U.S. are economically, socially and biologically sustainable.

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Only Natural Celebrates Inaugural Student Design Competition Winners

On 24 September, creative talent and industry experts from the natural materials sector gathered at the U.S. Embassy in London for the inaugural Only Natural Student Design Competition Awards. Organized by the Leather and Hide Council of America with natural fiber trade association partners, including the Softwood Export Council and the American Hardwood Export Council, the competition aims to challenge the future of design by championing the use of natural, sustainable materials.

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Forestry Factsheets

U.S. HARDWOOD: VIEW HERE U.S. SOFTWOOD: VIEW HERE

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4 results found: softwood

Softwood Export Council

Softwood Export Council (SEC) is a trade organization working to promote strategic export market development for American-made softwood products. SEC represents U.S. softwood grading agencies, industry trade associations, state export promotional agencies, and others with a stake in global trade for softwood lumber. SEC creates an overseas presence, educating potential buyers and updating members on ever-changing economic policies world-wide. SEC conducts research on emerging markets and sustainability and stays up to date on the shifting economic marketplace on behalf of its members.

Read more

Sustainability in the North American Softwood Industry

An in-depth look at the various laws in place to protect the softwood industry and ensure that forests in the U.S. are economically, socially and biologically sustainable.

Read more

Only Natural Celebrates Inaugural Student Design Competition Winners

On 24 September, creative talent and industry experts from the natural materials sector gathered at the U.S. Embassy in London for the inaugural Only Natural Student Design Competition Awards. Organized by the Leather and Hide Council of America with natural fiber trade association partners, including the Softwood Export Council and the American Hardwood Export Council, the competition aims to challenge the future of design by championing the use of natural, sustainable materials.

Read more

Forestry Factsheets

U.S. HARDWOOD: VIEW HERE U.S. SOFTWOOD: VIEW HERE

Read more

Insights and Opinion

Better Seed, Better World: Plant Breeding Innovation Can Feed the World and Save the Planet

Farmers are under increasing pressure due to climate change, global conflicts, and trade disruptions. However, advances in plant breeding offer hope, writes Andy LaVigne, the President and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).

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Interview: USSEC’s Tarik Eluri on U.S. Soy Sustainability, From Innovation to Verification

Tarik Eluri, sustainability manager at the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), a founding member of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA), recently discussed U.S. sustainable agriculture with Spain’s Fundación Antama – a non-profit that promotes new technologies for agrifood and the environment. The conversation focused on USSA’s mission and the U.S. soy industry, including the evolution of sustainability and the role of innovation.

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Can the Feed Industry Provide the Solutions Agriculture Needs?

In a landmark move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bovaer® - a feed ingredient that reduces enteric methane emissions from dairy cows - for use in the United States. What are the implications?

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Meet Dairy Farmers the Beck Brothers – Sustainability Champions and TV Stars!

To mark National Dairy Month, we visit a New York dairy farm to look at some of the advances that have led to these improvements. Meet the Beck Brothers, the stars of a new TV documentary!

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Latest Reports

Transparency in Action: The U.S Cotton Trust Protocol Annual Report 2023/24

An update on the Trust Protocol over the past 12 months. The report covers grower participation and progress across key sustainability metrics, from resource efficiency to soil health

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Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities: Delivering Climate Solutions (October 2024)

An update on the success of USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which aims to expand market opportunities for commodities produced using climate-smart practices

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The 2024 GAP Report: Powering Productivity – Scaling High Impact Bundles of Proven and Emerging Tools

An analysis of trends in agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) - a measure of how efficiently agricultural resources and inputs are used to produce output. It includes key obstacles to TFP growth and effective solutions.

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Climate Change Indicators in the United States (Fifth ed., EPA 430-R-24-003)

Climate Change Indicators in the United States, the fifth edition of a report first published by EPA in 2010, examines the ongoing impact of climate change on the United States. It provides insights into the scale and significance of these changes and their potential consequences for people, the environment, and society.

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Latest News Articles

Sievers Family Farms Turns Farm Waste into Fuel and Fertilizer

Sievers Family Farms in Iowa is one of a growing number of farms using manure-based anaerobic digesters. These digesters convert farm waste into valuable byproducts, such as renewable electricity and fertilizer, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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USSA Newsletter: October 2024

In this issue, we share the findings of the 2024 Global Agricultural Productivity Report (The GAP Report) by Virginia Tech. The report warns of sluggish productivity growth, highlighting the urgent need to bridge the gap between technology development and farmer adoption.

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Record $7.7 Billion Allocated for Climate-Smart Agriculture

In response to shifting weather patterns and more severe extreme weather events, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up its efforts to help American producers fight climate change.

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EU Officials Inspired by Climate Smart Agriculture Mission to the U.S.

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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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.

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.

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

American Lobster Harvesting & Sustainability

Hear directly from noted seafood chef and author Barton Seaver about the sustainability of the American lobster industry.

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L&HCA Documentary Series Establishes Leather as a Sustainable Material

The new Rewind documentary series from Real Leather Stay Different. aims to provide some balance in the debate about the use of our land, fast fashion and our future.

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USMEF Sustainability Video

This video highlights the emphasis on sustainability by the U.S. beef industry. Watch this story of beef farmers’ and ranchers’ multi-generational commitment to the environment with buyers and consumers around the world.

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