“Other than my family, there is nothing I treasure more than my farm.” A lot has changed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 325 years, but corn is still a staple crop, and the Councell family still farms in Talbot County.
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By Elizabeth Westendorf A rapidly emerging food marketing trend is the concept of “sustainable production.” Sustainability is not clearly defined and therefore means something different to each participant in the […]
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The stakes are high in this game for industry impact and environmental protection, and this creates challenges for producers. U.S. farmers are committed to continuous improvement, and that is why U.S. wheat industry organizations are actively engaged in relevant sustainability initiatives.
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Just one year after Virginia’s Resource Management Plan (RMP) program was implemented, the plans are rolling in.
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The USDA’s Economic Research Service has published a new analysis of cost-of-production differences between conventional and organic crop production systems using data from targeted surveys of organic corn, wheat, and soybean production.
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The US and the countries of the EU have a long history of exchange of agricultural ideas, but a much less strong direct trade relationship.
However, a free trade agreement between the EU and the US is now rising on the political agenda, and this has implications for agrifood policy and trading.
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Milan: July 3, 2015 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack joined members of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) at the EXPO 2015 in a panel discussion on the benefits […]
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The U.S. poultry industry began to commercialize in the 1940s and has evolved into an efficient and sustainable industry.
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U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) Senior Technical Advisor, David Green, provided an overview of the Alliance and the ongoing efforts on conservation and sustainability of U.S. agriculture, forestry and fisheries to nearly 60 visitors at the USA Pavilion at the Expo Milano 2015.
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The presentation was an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance and long history of U.S. environmental laws, conservation programs and innovative sustainable practices of U.S. producers and fishermen and women.
Read more
“Other than my family, there is nothing I treasure more than my farm.” A lot has changed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 325 years, but corn is still a staple crop, and the Councell family still farms in Talbot County.
Read more
By Elizabeth Westendorf A rapidly emerging food marketing trend is the concept of “sustainable production.” Sustainability is not clearly defined and therefore means something different to each participant in the […]
Read more
The stakes are high in this game for industry impact and environmental protection, and this creates challenges for producers. U.S. farmers are committed to continuous improvement, and that is why U.S. wheat industry organizations are actively engaged in relevant sustainability initiatives.
Read more
Just one year after Virginia’s Resource Management Plan (RMP) program was implemented, the plans are rolling in.
Read more
The USDA's Economic Research Service has published a new analysis of cost-of-production differences between conventional and organic crop production systems using data from targeted surveys of organic corn, wheat, and soybean production.
Read more
The US and the countries of the EU have a long history of exchange of agricultural ideas, but a much less strong direct trade relationship. However, a free trade agreement between the EU and the US is now rising on the political agenda, and this has implications for agrifood policy and trading.
Read more
Milan: July 3, 2015 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack joined members of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) at the EXPO 2015 in a panel discussion on the benefits […]
Read more
The U.S. poultry industry began to commercialize in the 1940s and has evolved into an efficient and sustainable industry.
Read more
U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA) Senior Technical Advisor, David Green, provided an overview of the Alliance and the ongoing efforts on conservation and sustainability of U.S. agriculture, forestry and fisheries to nearly 60 visitors at the USA Pavilion at the Expo Milano 2015.
Read more
The presentation was an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance and long history of U.S. environmental laws, conservation programs and innovative sustainable practices of U.S. producers and fishermen and women.
Read more
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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Environmental protection and sustainability have lost significant importance under the current U.S. administration. However, Nick Gardner, Chair of the U.S. Sustainability Alliance (USSA), believes this will have little impact on the alliance’s long-term goals.
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Read the latest USSA Insight Paper: Water Stewardship in U.S. Agriculture
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May 2026. A national assessment examining how irrigated agriculture is changing across the United States and what this means for future food production, water management, and rural resilience.
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April 2026. A climate-informed study warning that many of California’s most recognizable tree species may be more vulnerable to decline than current conservation assessments suggest.
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April 2026. A joint report examining how rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves are affecting crops, livestock, fisheries, forests and agricultural workers.
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March 2026. A comprehensive farm-to-fork analysis highlighting the scale and economic importance of the U.S. food and agriculture industry.
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This month focuses on technology and innovation. We highlight a new initiative aimed at accelerating U.S. farmers’ adoption of emerging technologies - real-world testing and performance data are key.
Read moreThere’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.
Read moreAt Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota, innovation and tradition go hand in hand.
Read more
Walmart has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a move that is a major boost for sustainable cotton sourcing in the retail industry and highlights Walmart’s focus on regeneration and transparency in its supply chain.
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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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