US Department of Agriculture Selected Sustainability and Stewardship Programs and Activities

Green Purchasing Affirmative Procurement Program

• http://www.usda.gov/energyandenvironment/greenPurchasing/gpappjuly3final.htm
• http://www.usda.gov/procurement/programs/biobased.htm

Alternative fuels, and alternative fuel vehicles, and USDA fleet efficiency

• http://www.usda.gov/energyandenvironment/altFuel/index.htm

Energy efficiency and water conservation for USDA Facilities

• http://www.usda.gov/energyandenvironment/facilitiesEnergy/index.htm

Recycling and waste prevention

• http://www.usda.gov/energyandenvironment/recyclingAndWaste/index.htm

Biobased products policy to increase utilization of biobased renewable products by USDA and throughout the Federal Government by designation of eligible products

• http://www.usda.gov/procurement/biobased/index.htm
• http://www.usda.gov/procurement/programs/biobased/biobased_finalrule.pdf
• http://www.usda.gov/procurement/programs/biobased/awarenessbrochure_may2006.pdf

Sustainable operations team to evaluate and improve sustainability of day-to-day operations

• http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sustainable_operations

Environmental Management Systems as platform for adaptive management

• http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/ems/index.htm
• http://www.usda.gov/da/hmmd/hmmgguidance.pdf

Science for Sustainability – Research, Education & Extension

Research for Agricultural Systems and Sustainability

• http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?NP_CODE=207
• http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?NP_CODE=305
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1134
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1200
• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri/ceap/
• http://www.ars.usda.gov/pandp/locations/locations.htm?modecode=02-02-00-00

The Science for Sustainability Working Group expands research and development for sustainability and connects science to policy

• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/in_focus/susdev_if_working.html

Sustainable agriculture information resources

• http://afsic.nal.usda.gov
• http://attra.ncat.org/
• http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AIB752/
• http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=12-65-04-00
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/ProgView.cfm?prnum=6203

Sustainable agriculture research and education grants program

• www.sare.org

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

• http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?NP_CODE=305
• http://www.nappc.org/

National multi-stakeholder Roundtables on forests, rangelands, minerals, and water

• http://www.sustainableforests.net
• http://sustainablerangelands.warnercnr.colostate.edu
• http://www.unr.edu/mines/smr/
• http://acwi.gov/swrr/
  

Farm and Forestland Conservation Practices

Conservation programs reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, protect farm and forest lands from conversion, and respond to forest health threats

• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/
• http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=crp
• http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) reduces use of agricultural pesticides

http://www.ipmcenters.org/

• http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?NP_CODE=304
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1114
• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nutrient.html

Sustainable Communities

Linking local farms and food to communities, through direct marketing, value added producer grants, farmers markets, and farm-to-school programs.

• http://www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing/
• http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm
• http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/
• http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/Farm-to-School-Guidance_12-19-2005.pdf
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1200

Resource Conservation and Development Program assists local groups plan and implement coordinated approaches to conservation and development.

• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/rcd/

Sustainable Living Education National Network for Natural Resources and Extension

• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/nea/nre/in_focus/susdev_if_living.html

Community Food Projects meet the food needs of low-income people, increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs, and promote local food, farm, and nutrition solutions

• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1080

Regional Rural Development Centers

• http://srdc.msstate.edu/about/rdcenters.htm

Energy

Grants and guaranteed loans provide financial incentives for farmers to adopt energy efficient practices on the farm

• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp
• http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/farmbill/9006resources

Web-based tools allow farmers to estimate energy and cost savings that result from switching to alternative practices for tilling, nitrogen application, and irrigation pumping.

• http://ecat.sc.egov.usda.gov
• http://nfat.sc.egov.usda.gov

Research to develop alternative fuels and bioproducts to replace petroleum use.

• http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/themes/biopande.htm
• http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documents/fpl/fs--fpl-research-emphasis-biorefinery.pdf
• http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1073

Loans and grants to help farmers, communities, and cooperatives produce or utilize renewable energy from wind, solar, methane, and biomass (i.e. wood and crops)

• http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/renewables
• http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric/success/energy-success.htm
• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/2004/040602/camanuredigester.html
• http://fuelsforschools.org
• http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu/grant-2007/biomass-grant.html
• http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techline/biomass_for_small-scale_heat_and_power.pdf

Cooperative Conservation – Partnerships for working landscapes

Valuing Ecosystem Services

• http://www.fs.fed.us/ecosystemservices/
• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ccpi/index.html

My Community, Our Earth – Geographic Learning for Sustainable Development

• http://www.aag.org/sustainable/

Sustainable Forest Partnership promotes innovation in sustainable forests and communities

• http://sfp.cas.psu.edu/index.htm#home

Green Infrastructure Network and Training

• www.greeninfrastructure.net