The Impact of Farm Policy and The War in Ukraine on America’s Food Supply
By Peter Bachmann, Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs, USA Rice.
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By Peter Bachmann, Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs, USA Rice.
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A certified Sustainability Specialist, Jeff uses a variety of conservation practices to boost his already-fertile land, the result of a glacial outwash event.
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U.S. farmers are producing 130% more soy today on roughly the same amount of land they have been using for decades, with further improvements targeted by 2025.
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Women play a vital role in American agriculture. More than half (51%) of all farming operations in the United States have at least one female operator, according to the 2019 Agricultural Resource Management Survey.
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The U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) is comprised of leaders in the bean industry with the common goal of promoting the U.S. edible bean trade, both in the United States and abroad, and educating U.S. consumers about the benefits of beans. The USDBC gives a voice to the bean industry and provides information to consumers, health professionals, buyers, suppliers and the media about the good taste, nutritional value and versatility of beans. As part of USDBC’s mission, the organization also collaborates with public health organizations, research centers, universities, and the entire supply chain on projects related to nutrition, food aid, sustainability and trade.
Bean farmers proudly foster the sustainability of agriculture through the production of beans. The nitrogen-fixing properties of beans improve soil fertility, which improves and extends the productivity of farmland. Intercropping with pulses increases farm biodiversity and creates a more diverse landscape for animals and insects. Beans are also highly water efficient and require less water compared to other protein sources. An unexpected ally against climate change, dry bean species have broad genetic diversity from which climate resilient varieties can be selected. By producing a smaller carbon footprint, beans indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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USSA spoke to him about water conservation and some of the innovative irrigation practices he implements on his farm.
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Doug Winter is a fifth-generation soybean grower from Mill Shoals, Illinois and the vice chairman of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
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He spoke to us about the precise cost, productivity and sustainability benefits of using the right amount of fertilizer where it’s needed and reducing tillage passes on his fields.
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Thanks to new processes and technologies, the leather production industry has cut its water footprint by 37% in the past 25 years and it’s improving all the time.
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Greg Baltz operates Running Lake Farms in Randolph County, Arkansas. He explains why corn and peanuts are the perfect crop rotation policy that allows him to farm sustainably whilst minimizing his use of fertilizer.
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By Peter Bachmann, Vice President, Policy & Government Affairs, USA Rice.
Read more
A certified Sustainability Specialist, Jeff uses a variety of conservation practices to boost his already-fertile land, the result of a glacial outwash event.
Read more
U.S. farmers are producing 130% more soy today on roughly the same amount of land they have been using for decades, with further improvements targeted by 2025.
Read more
Women play a vital role in American agriculture. More than half (51%) of all farming operations in the United States have at least one female operator, according to the 2019 Agricultural Resource Management Survey.
Read moreThe U.S. Dry Bean Council (USDBC) is comprised of leaders in the bean industry with the common goal of promoting the U.S. edible bean trade, both in the United States and abroad, and educating U.S. consumers about the benefits of beans. The USDBC gives a voice to the bean industry and provides information to consumers, health professionals, buyers, suppliers and the media about the good taste, nutritional value and versatility of beans. As part of USDBC’s mission, the organization also collaborates with public health organizations, research centers, universities, and the entire supply chain on projects related to nutrition, food aid, sustainability and trade. Bean farmers proudly foster the sustainability of agriculture through the production of beans. The nitrogen-fixing properties of beans improve soil fertility, which improves and extends the productivity of farmland. Intercropping with pulses increases farm biodiversity and creates a more diverse landscape for animals and insects. Beans are also highly water efficient and require less water compared to other protein sources. An unexpected ally against climate change, dry bean species have broad genetic diversity from which climate resilient varieties can be selected. By producing a smaller carbon footprint, beans indirectly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more
USSA spoke to him about water conservation and some of the innovative irrigation practices he implements on his farm.
Read more
Doug Winter is a fifth-generation soybean grower from Mill Shoals, Illinois and the vice chairman of the U.S. Soybean Export Council.
Read more
He spoke to us about the precise cost, productivity and sustainability benefits of using the right amount of fertilizer where it’s needed and reducing tillage passes on his fields.
Read more
Thanks to new processes and technologies, the leather production industry has cut its water footprint by 37% in the past 25 years and it’s improving all the time.
Read more
Greg Baltz operates Running Lake Farms in Randolph County, Arkansas. He explains why corn and peanuts are the perfect crop rotation policy that allows him to farm sustainably whilst minimizing his use of fertilizer.
Read more
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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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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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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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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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, 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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In 2020, 15% of animal hides produced in the United States were either burned or ended up in landfills, according to data from the Leather and Hide Council of America. A new report from AURI and USDA outlines research into new potential uses for these waste hides aimed at reducing the cost of removing them for small processors while delivering revenue and increasing market resilience.
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Our Industry, Our Promise reports on the state of the U.S. animal food industry, focusing on AFIA’s past fiscal year. It provides an overview of the business environment, updates on operational challenges, and highlights AFIA’s efforts to address and champion these issues for its members.
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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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The U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) welcomes the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) as its newest member. ASTA represents nearly 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding, and related industries. It brings USSA’s membership to 28 associations across farming, fisheries, forestry, and related sectors, collectively responsible for approximately $10.6 billion in food and agricultural exports to the UK and EU in 2023.
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California is a leader not only in agricultural production and exports but also in conservation, as evidenced by a report released by Governor Gavin Newsom. The 2024 Pathways to 30x30 Annual Progress Report shows that California is on track to meet its ambitious goal of conserving 30% of state lands and coastal waters by 2030.
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The volume of U.S. animal food exports increased by 120% between 2022 and 2023, while the value rose by 79%. That’s according to the American Feed Industry Association’s (AFIA’s) latest annual report. Our Industry, Our Promise outlines the state of the industry and how AFIA is addressing challenges and opportunities for its members, including legislative and supply chain issues, feed and food safety, and sustainability.
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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.
Hear directly from noted seafood chef and author Barton Seaver about the sustainability of the American lobster industry.
Watch nowThe 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.
Watch nowThis 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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