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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.
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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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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April 2025. An updated study examining the contributions of U.S. grain exports to the U.S. economy.
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April 2025. A comprehensive resource for understanding American hardwood species and the National Hardwood Lumber Association's (NHLA) lumber grading system.
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April 2025. An update on the U.S. pork industry’s progress towards its 2030 sustainability goals and targets.
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March 2025. A comprehensive study examining the relationship between soil organic carbon levels, reduced tillage and crop yields in the U.S. Midwest
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently visited the UK following the announcement of a trade deal aimed at lowering tariffs and removing trade barriers.
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As part of a commitment to share information about U.S. agriculture, USSA members have released a series of videos to bring their sector’s sustainability stories to life.
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This month, we share the findings from the U.S. wheat industry’s first Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). We also report on U.S. agriculture’s multitrillion-dollar contribution to the American economy and its vital role in export trade.
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On 27 April 2025, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service turned 90. The agency was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the widespread devastation caused by the Dust Bowl.
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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.
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.
Watch nowDiscover more about U.S. peanut farmers’ commitment to growing a delicious, nutritious and sustainable crop in the American Peanut Council's latest video.
Watch nowHear directly from noted seafood chef and author Barton Seaver about the sustainability of the American lobster industry.
Watch nowBefore you leave, please consider taking our survey.
We want to find out how you think the U.S. is performing in terms of sustainability, what you’re interested in finding out more about, and where you think we should focus our resources.
Your views will help shape the future and ensure we deliver key insights on the most important issues to our site visitors.
Take our survey
