Farming Grows More Than Food

When people think about American agriculture, food is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But the role of American agriculture extends far beyond the dinner table. Farmers grow the crops that help fuel our cars, power rural economies, clothe our families, and supply many of the everyday products Americans rely on.

Corn and soybeans are central to America’s renewable fuel supply, supporting ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and other biofuels. Roughly one-third of the U.S. corn crop is used to produce ethanol, while nearly half of U.S. soybean oil now goes toward biofuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel. 

Cotton is just as important on the fiber side. The U.S. is the world’s third-largest cotton producer and the leading cotton exporter, with the cotton industry supporting more than $21 billion in products and services annually.

That means the crop protection tools farmers use to grow key crops are not only supporting food production, but also America’s renewable fuel and fiber supply.

For these farmers, proven tools like glyphosate are especially important. Glyphosate is used on an average of 87% of U.S. corn, soybean, and cotton acres, helping farmers protect yields, reduce costs, and adopt conservation practices like no-till farming and cover cropping. 

Protecting access to crop protection tools is about ensuring American farmers can continue producing the food, fuel, and fiber our country depends on.