** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** SOIL CONTAMINATION WITH PFAS (PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES) FROM HISTORICAL SLUDGE APPLICATIONS IS AN EMERGING CRISIS IN AGRICULTURAL. MAINE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS CRISIS, AND FORAGE PRODUCERS (DAIRY, BEEF, AND HAY) ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTED GROUPS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EQUIP FARMERS, IN MAINE AND ELSEWHERE, WITH MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO REDUCE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GROWING FORAGES ON PFAS-CONTAMINATED LAND. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE TO 1. INVESTIGATE IF CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (ALTERING SPECIES, HARVEST TIMING, HARVESTED PRODUCTS, AND CUTTING HEIGHT) CAN REDUCE PFAS CONCENTRATIONS IN HARVESTED FORAGES, 2. FACILITATE FARMER-DRIVEN RESEARCH TO FIELD TRUTH THESE PFAS MITIGATION STRATEGIES ON THEIR FARMS, AND 3. SUPPORT ADOPTION OF PFAS MITIGATION STRATEGIES BY FARMERS. WE EXPECT TO SEE THE LARGEST DIFFERENCES IN PFOS UPTAKE RATES AMONG FORAGE SPECIES AND AMONG HARVESTED PRODUCTS, MAKING THESE VIABLE PFAS MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR FARMERS WITH MODERATELY CONTAMINATED SOIL. FOR FARMS WITH LOWER SOIL CONCENTRATIONS (BUT ABOVE SCREENING LEVELS), WE EXPECT THAT HARVESTING AT LATER GROWTH STAGES AND MAINTAINING A LOW CUTTING HEIGHT WILL BE SHOWN TO BE VIABLE PFAS MITIGATION STRATEGIES. THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE ACTIONABLE INFORMATION FOR FARMERS, FARM ADVISORS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO USE IN SHORT-TERM RESPONSES TO PFAS CONTAMINATION AND CONTRIBUTE CRITICALLY NEEDED DATA FOR LONGER-TERM RESPONSES TO THIS WIDESPREAD EMERGING POLLUTANT.