Congress has defined sustainable agriculture as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will over the long-term:

satisfy human food and fiber needs;
enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends;
make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. (U.S. Code Title 7, Section 3103)

Every day, farmers and ranchers around the world develop new, innovative strategies to produce and distribute food, fuel and fiber sustainably. While these strategies vary greatly they all embrace three broad goals, or what SARE calls the 3 Pillars of Sustainability:

• Profit over the long term
• Stewardship of our nation`s land, air and water
• Quality of life for farmers, ranchers and their communities

There are almost as many ways to reach these goals as there are farms and ranches in America.