A RECENT OUTBREAK OF AN AGGRESSIVE SOFT ROT AND BLACKLEG BACTERIUM (DICKEYA DIANTHICOLA) IN U.S. POTATOES AFFECTS AN INDUSTRY THAT ALREADY STRUGGLES TO CONTROL ENDEMIC BACTERIAL PATHOGENS. IN 2015, D. DIANTHOLA WAS REPORTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. POTATOES AND IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN AT LEAST 10 POTATO-PRODUCING STATES. BY SPRING 2016, IT APPEARED TO HAVE SPREAD TO ALL MAJOR POTATO PRODUCING STATES AND HAD BEEN FOUND ON SEED POTATO FARMS IN MULTIPLE STATES. LOSSES OF UP TO 100% HAVE OCCURRED IN SOME FIELDS AND SOME FARMS ARE FACING BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE OF D. DIANTHICOLA BLACKLEG. THIS OUTBREAK HAS CREATED AN URGENT NEED FOR RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT WITH AFFECTED PRODUCERS AND THE POTATO INDUSTRY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS SINCE THIS OUTBREAK WAS RECOGNIZED AND STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATED IN ALL ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND GOALS FOR THIS PROJECT. OUR PROJECT GOALS ARE TO: (1) IMPROVE PATHOGEN DETECTION TOOLS FOR DICKEYA IN POTATO, (2) IMPROVE MANAGEMENT METHODS FOR DICKEYA IN POTATO TO REDUCE PATHOGEN SPREAD DURING PLANTING, AND (3) PROVIDE EXTENSION INFORMATION TO EDUCATE INDUSTRY MEMBERS ON D. DIANTHICOLA. TOGETHER, THESE OBJECTIVES WILL AID GROWERS IN REDUCING DICKEYA INCIDENCE IN THE US SEED POTATO SUPPLY. OUR PROJECT ADDRESSES THE CARE PROGRAM PRIORITY AND FARM BILL PRIORITY OF PLANT HEALTH AND PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRODUCTS. IT ALSO MEETS THE PROGRAM PURPOSES OF SATISFYING HUMAN FOOD AND FIBER NEEDS, OF MAKING THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES AND ON-FARM RESOURCES, AND OF SUSTAINING THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF FARM OPERATIONS.