Farming News Archives

Feeding the World, Protecting the Land in Colton, Washington

Art Schultheis, a fifth-generation wheat farmer from Colton, Washington, firmly believes in taking care of the land. With an ever-growing population and shrinking land base, Art says that growing crops sustainably is more important than ever.

U.S. Soy Industry Updates National Sustainability Goals

The U.S. Soy industry has updated its national sustainability continuous improvement goals to meet the growing demand for sustainably produced soy. Using 2020 as the benchmark, the new goals build on a history of sustainability improvements.

USSA Finds Common Ground on Climate-Smart Agriculture in the EU

In December (2024), a delegation from the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) visited the UK, Belgium and The Netherlands to discuss climate-smart agriculture with government and industry stakeholders.

Ninety-six Percent of America’s Farms are Family Farms

Family farms are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, accounting for 96% of operations and 83% of production in 2023.

Feeding Seaweed to Grazing Cattle Reduces Methane Emissions by 40%

New research from The University of California, Davis suggests that seaweed could make cattle farming more sustainable. The study, the first to test seaweed on grazing beef cattle, found that feeding them seaweed in pellet form reduced their methane emissions by around 40% without negatively impacting their health or weight.

Climate-Smart Project Revitalizes Puerto Rican Coffee Industry

Even your morning coffee can be sustainable thanks to USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which aims to expand markets for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. One of the 135+ projects benefitting from this innovative program can be found in the mountains of Puerto Rico.

Congratulations to Field to Market’s Farmer of the Year!

Tennessee cotton grower Bob Walker was named Farmer of the Year at Field to Market’s 2024 Sustainable Leadership Awards for his outstanding conservation efforts and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture

Secretary Vilsack Highlights Historic Investments and Climate Progress at COP29

At the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the advances made under the Biden-Harris Administration to position U.S. agriculture and forestry as climate leaders, develop climate solutions, and build climate-smart markets that help rural communities thrive.

U.S. / UAE Initiative Secures $29.2 Billion Investment for Agricultural Innovation

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a joint initiative by the United States and the United Arab Emirates to address climate change and global hunger, celebrated $29.2 billion of investment at COP29.

U.S. Investment in Clean Energy Projects Tops $2.7 Billion

In a major boost for America’s rural economies, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced funding of more than $250 million for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in nearly every state.

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 products, such as renewable natural gas and fertilizer, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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.