Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** agricultural production in south…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** agricultural production in south florida is increasingly coming under pressure due to increased flooding, saltwater intrusion, and soil erosion. The agricultural challenges are intensified with the projected sea level rise of one foot in next 30 years in florida. With increasing extreme climate events leading to agriculture losses, well-informed adjustments to crop production are needed to feed a growing population without harming the environment. This proposal is a synergy between student training, extension efforts, research and outreach to agriculture producers interested in applied field research on soil quality and crop monitoring using acquired field instrumentation for monitoring crop health (multispectral drone) and soil health (ftir-MIR spectrometer).these portable instruments will also allow instructors to conduct field-laboratory exercises, and extension training in the area of plant-soil interface with applications in crop management, and soil health. The proposed integratedproject will impact atleast 100 students by improving their technical and leadership skills through improved curriculum, active learning and summer research internship for 6 students in agriculture discipline. The program has the potential to yield significant outcomes in minority student graduation, leadership and employability.