Project Grant 20245130043091

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE OF PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP-BASED ORGANIC GRAIN AND FORAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND THE VALUE-ADDED SECTORS IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. THE PROJECT TEAM AIM TO ENHANCE THE ADAPTATION OF ORGANIC PERENNIAL CROP PRODUCTION BY POSTING AND ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: HOW CAN SCIENTISTS/PRODUCERS DESIGN AND MANAGE ORGANIC PERENNIAL GRAIN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS THAT COULD PROVIDE SUCCESSFUL ESTABLISHMENT AND WEED CONTROL CAPACITY WITH ADEQUATE PRODUCTIVITY, QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS? HOW CAN PERENNIAL GRAIN CROP-BASED SYSTEMS CONTRIBUTE TO ENHANCED AGROECOLOGICAL FUNCTION, CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF SOIL SYSTEMS? HOW WILL NEW KNOWLEDGE BE DELIVERED TO PRODUCERS, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS? THE SOUTHERN U.S. IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE AND CRITICAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH GRAIN/FORAGE PRODUCTION AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN LOCAL ECONOMY IN THIS DRAMATICALLY CHANGING CLIMATE AND LAND USE PATTERNS. THE PROJECT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGES OF EXISTING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATIONAL/EXTENSION COLLABORATION TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TASKS: ASSESS THE GRAIN YIELD, FORAGE PRODUCTIVITY, NUTRITIVE VALUE, AND WEED SUPPRESSION CAPACITY OF THREE PERENNIAL GRAIN SPECIES VS. CORRESPONDING ANNUAL SPECIES GROWN ORGANICALLY UNDER FOUR ESTABLISHMENT METHODS INCORPORATING SMOTHER CROPPING AND INTERCROPPING PRACTICES; ASSESS THE IMPACTS ON SOIL HEALTH AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION; EVALUATE THE BREWING AND MALTING POTENTIAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF ORGANICALLY PRODUCED PERENNIAL GRAINS COMPARED TO THEIR ANNUAL AND CONVENTIONAL COUNTERPARTS; CONDUCT COMPREHENSIVE COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT ESTABLISHMENT METHODS; SYNERGISTICALLY INTEGRATE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION GAINS FROM ALL FOUR PREVIOUS OBJECTIVES INTO EXTENSION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.