**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** U.S. DAIRY FARMS PRODUCE NUTRITIOUS DAIRY PRODUCTS THAT HELP MEET AMERICAN REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTEIN, VITAMINS, AND MINERALS BUT THIS PRODUCTION COMES WITH SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. A SIMULATION TOOL THAT ALLOWS SCIENTISTS AND DAIRY PRODUCERS TO COMPARE THE IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AND CLIMATE CHANGE ON BOTH PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES WILL SUPPORT INDUSTRY PERSONNEL AND POLICY MAKERS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. THUS, OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO BUILD AND TEST A COMPUTER SIMULATION MODEL - THE RUMINANT FARM SYSTEMS MODEL - THAT PREDICTS MILK AND MEAT PRODUCTION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, AND PRODUCTION COSTS OF A DAIRY FARM UNDER COMMON U.S. ENVIRONMENT AND MANAGEMENT SCENARIOS. OUR FINAL OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND APPLICATION OF OUR MODEL BY MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND DAIRY COMMUNITIES BY INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY DURING THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING PHASES. WE EXPECT USE OF OUR MODEL BY SCIENTISTS, PRODUCERS, AND POLICY MAKERS TO IMPROVE DECISION MAKING SURROUNDING SUSTAINABLE DAIRY PRODUCTION RESULTING IN CONTINUED SUPPLY OF NUTRITIOUS DAIRY PRODUCTS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IMPROVED ECONOMIC VIABILITY FOR MEMBERS OF THIS INDUSTRY, AND REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM DAIRY FARMS.