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.
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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. Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol), a voluntary program for responsibly grown cotton, reached new heights in 2023-2024, with record grower participation and significant strides in environmental stewardship.
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Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents nearly 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding and related industries in North America. ASTA is the leading voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world.
The association’s broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.
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Join us on a virtual trip to southwest Louisiana to meet two rice farms that are models in conservation. Durand Farms in St. Martinville and Simon Farms in Morse are collaborating with organizations such as USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, USA Rice, and their local Soil and Water Conservation District to protect their soil and improve their water use and quality.
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Every year, one-third of all available food in the United States goes uneaten through loss or waste, and EPA research shows that this waste produces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 60 coal-fired power plants.
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In our May edition, we’re excited to share highlights from USSA’s recent press trip to Alaska, a collaboration with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).
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Carlos Suárez, Manager Sustainability, Policy, and Innovation at the U.S. Grains Council and a USSA Management Council member, recently spoke to the Spanish non-profit La Fundación Antama (Foundation for the Application […]
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David Green, Executive Director, and Maite Caballero, Senior Researcher from The U.S. Sustainability Alliance, argue that AI technologies pave the way for healthier soils in agriculture. The clock is ticking. More […]
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U.S. Wheat Associates, a USSA member, has launched Stories of Stewardship – a video series in which U.S. wheat farmers share their long-standing commitment to sustainability. The first episode showcases the conservation […]
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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.
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. Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol), a voluntary program for responsibly grown cotton, reached new heights in 2023-2024, with record grower participation and significant strides in environmental stewardship.
Read moreFounded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents nearly 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding and related industries in North America. ASTA is the leading voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world. The association's broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.
Read more
Join us on a virtual trip to southwest Louisiana to meet two rice farms that are models in conservation. Durand Farms in St. Martinville and Simon Farms in Morse are collaborating with organizations such as USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited, USA Rice, and their local Soil and Water Conservation District to protect their soil and improve their water use and quality.
Read more
Every year, one-third of all available food in the United States goes uneaten through loss or waste, and EPA research shows that this waste produces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 60 coal-fired power plants.
Read more
In our May edition, we’re excited to share highlights from USSA’s recent press trip to Alaska, a collaboration with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).
Read more
Carlos Suárez, Manager Sustainability, Policy, and Innovation at the U.S. Grains Council and a USSA Management Council member, recently spoke to the Spanish non-profit La Fundación Antama (Foundation for the Application […]
Read more
David Green, Executive Director, and Maite Caballero, Senior Researcher from The U.S. Sustainability Alliance, argue that AI technologies pave the way for healthier soils in agriculture. The clock is ticking. More […]
Read more
U.S. Wheat Associates, a USSA member, has launched Stories of Stewardship – a video series in which U.S. wheat farmers share their long-standing commitment to sustainability. The first episode showcases the conservation […]
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.
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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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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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This month, our lead story is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s recent visit to the UK, following a historic trade deal. We also celebrate the 90th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service by exploring the agency’s history and evolution.
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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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