Forages in the US are often underestimated because they are commonly grown and used within a farm or ranch, often integrated into other operations, and often are taken for granted like those on hillsides, roadways, ditches and within forests. Many Americans do not understand the environmental benefits provided by forages because each individual is not directly connected to the land. Environmental benefits include: water filtration, wildlife habitat, air cleansing, erosion control, nitrogen supplier, and fire resistance. Forages can provide most of the nutrients for dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, and horses as well as fuels and medicines. Over the years, many have synthetic products have been substituted for forage-related products. Not all add to sustainability of the environment. Since over one-half of the land in the US is grassland, proper management and utilization of grasslands and forages will greatly impact the quality of life here.