THE MIDWEST LANDSCAPE IS DOMINATED BY ANNUAL CROPS THAT LACK ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND PROVIDE LIMITED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. IN RESPONSE, MANY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO FOCUS ON REGULATING SERVICES, OFTEN RESTRICTING THE PRODUCTION OF HARVESTABLE PRODUCTS, EVEN NATIVE FRUITS OR NUTS. THIS DICHOTOMY CREATES A CHALLENGE FOR FARMERS INTERESTED IN COMBINING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE MAY BE ACHIEVED BY INCORPORATING A DIVERSE POLYCULTURE OF PERENNIAL FOOD PRODUCING PLANTS.OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO STUDY THE IMPACTS OF INTEGRATING PRODUCTIVE FRUIT TREES AND SHRUBS INTO CONSERVATION-STYLE PLANTINGS TO CREATE MULTIFUNCTIONAL WOODY POLYCULTURES (MWPS) THAT DIVERSIFY OUTPUTS AND SUPPORT A VARIETY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE WILL BE GAINED BY COMPARING MWP TREATMENTS TO CRP AREAS AND TO AN ADJACENT CORN-SOYBEAN ROTATION, BASED ON PROVISIONING,REGULATING, AND CULTURAL ECOSYSTEMS SERVICES.THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON FIVE OBJECTIVES TO: 1) COMPARE INSECT DIVERSITY AND POLLINATION;2) ASSESS SOIL PHYSICAL HEALTH BASED ON SOIL STRUCTURE AND INFILTRATION;3) EVALUATE ABOVE-GROUND CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN BIOMASS;4) ESTIMATE YIELDS OF INCREASINGLY DIVERSE MWPS;AND 5) SURVEY FARMERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR PREFERENCES FOR PLANTING DESIGNS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THESE SYSTEMS.THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO CREATE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES THAT ARE ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY RESILIENT. THESE SYSTEMS ARE DIFFICULT TO STUDY BECAUSE OF THEIR PERENNIAL GROWTH HABIT AND MULTI-YEAR ESTABLISHMENT, YET THEY HOLD GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING A TRULY SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE. BROADER IMPACTS INCLUDE ENGAGING STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES, SHARING NEW KNOWLEDGE WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND CONNECTING RESEARCHERS FROM MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES.