In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed nearly 284 million tons of feed. Beef cattle consumed the largest share, and aquaculture led the way in using “circular” ingredients – byproducts from other industries.
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Family farms are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, accounting for 96% of operations and 83% of production in 2023.
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Tennessee cotton grower Bob Walker was named Farmer of the Year at Field to Market’s 2024 Sustainable Leadership Awards for his outstanding conservation efforts and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture
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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.
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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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This month, we welcome the American seed Trade Association (ASTA) to the USSA. With ASTA on board, USSA now has 28 members who accounted for approximately $10.6 billion in food and agricultural exports to the UK and EU in 2023, based on U.S. Census Bureau data via Trade Data Monitor.
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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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July 2024. A look into the future of agricultural supply and demand in the context of climate change and a growing population, focusing on corn, rice, soybeans, and wheat.
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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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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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In 2023, U.S. livestock, poultry and farmed aquaculture consumed nearly 284 million tons of feed. Beef cattle consumed the largest share, and aquaculture led the way in using “circular” ingredients - byproducts from other industries.
Read more
Family farms are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, accounting for 96% of operations and 83% of production in 2023.
Read more
Tennessee cotton grower Bob Walker was named Farmer of the Year at Field to Market’s 2024 Sustainable Leadership Awards for his outstanding conservation efforts and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture
Read more
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
This month, we welcome the American seed Trade Association (ASTA) to the USSA. With ASTA on board, USSA now has 28 members who accounted for approximately $10.6 billion in food and agricultural exports to the UK and EU in 2023, based on U.S. Census Bureau data via Trade Data Monitor.
Read more
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.
Read more
July 2024. A look into the future of agricultural supply and demand in the context of climate change and a growing population, focusing on corn, rice, soybeans, and wheat.
Read more
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.
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
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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