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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U.S. organic food sales in 2020 were up a record 12.8% to a new high of €46 billion ($56.4 billion), representing almost 6% of U.S. food sales.
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Jay Hardwick traded a life in academia for what has turned out to be a fruitful career in farming. Today he grows mainly cotton, corn and soybeans on his family’s 12,000-acre operation in Tensas Parish, North East Louisiana.
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Fourth-generation soybean and corn farmer Monte Peterson explains why he uses GMOs in order to farm more sustainably and safely.
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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.
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
U.S. organic food sales in 2020 were up a record 12.8% to a new high of €46 billion ($56.4 billion), representing almost 6% of U.S. food sales.
Read more
Jay Hardwick traded a life in academia for what has turned out to be a fruitful career in farming. Today he grows mainly cotton, corn and soybeans on his family’s 12,000-acre operation in Tensas Parish, North East Louisiana.
Read more
Fourth-generation soybean and corn farmer Monte Peterson explains why he uses GMOs in order to farm more sustainably and safely.
Read more
What does the new EU Deforestation Regulation mean for U.S. hardwood exporters?
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Stephanie Wetter, Director of Animal Welfare at the National Pork Board, shares her perspective on why there is no substitute for visiting a farm and seeing firsthand the reality of pork production.
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There’s more to our food than meets the eye, writes Kent Swisher of the North American Renderers Association (NARA) in a guest blog for SustMeme.
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At Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota, innovation and tradition go hand in hand.
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September 2026. An annual review of the U.S. animal food industry highlights its economic contribution and progress in areas including food safety, sustainability, supply chain resilience and international trade.
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September 2026. A global modelling study examines how healthier diets, improved productivity and reduced food waste could reshape agricultural production, land use and emissions by 2050.
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September 2026. An analysis of 2020-2024 grower self-assessment data finds broad adoption of regenerative practices across California almond orchards.
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July 2026. An analysis of how cheese growth, shifting import demand and expanding U.S. production are reshaping global dairy trade.
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When FAO’s Global Exhibition From Seeds to Foods returns for its second edition in October, members of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) will join forces to promote a deeper understanding of U.S. farming, fisheries and forestry under the theme “Fostering Innovation for Food Security and Nutrition.”
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From 28 September to 2 October 2026, the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) will host a group of European media in California, America’s leading agricultural exporting state.
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Interest in cover crops remains high among American producers and is expected to continue, according to the 2026 National Cover Crop Report.
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Amid mounting pressure from climate volatility, water scarcity and rising input costs, U.S. farmers and ranchers are rethinking their water use and transforming how the nation grows its food. In this exclusive article, Carlos Suárez, Director of Global Sustainability at the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council and Chair of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance, shares innovative examples of water stewardship.
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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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