**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS ARE NAVIGATING INCREASINGLY COMPLEX DECISIONS AS THEY FACE INCREASING CLIMATE EXTREMES, ECONOMIC PRESSURES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. LOCAL DECISIONS HAVE AGGREGATE EFFECTS ON WATER RESOURCES, CASCADING FAR BEYOND INDIVIDUAL FARMS AND WATERSHEDS. LIKEWISE, LOCAL WATER AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO CLIMATE AND AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES BOTH REGIONALLY AND IN UPSTREAM AND TELECONNECTED AREAS. SINGLE POINT DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS THAT EXCLUDE INTERACTIONS ACROSS SYSTEMS, REGIONS OR SECTORS MAY PROVIDE MISLEADING INFORMATION AND CAUSE INEFFICIENT OUTCOMES. WE WILL THEREFORE DEVELOP A PREDICTIVE DECISION SUPPORT DASHBOARD FOR AGRICULTURAL WATER USE AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT (DAWN) TO SUSTAIN FOOD AND ENERGY CROP PRODUCTION IN THE CORN BELT. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COMBINES ADVANCED SCIENCE AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE CREDIBLE, USABLE INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND WATER MANAGERS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE LAND, WATER, AND FERTILIZER USE SYNERGIES ACROSS MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AND SCALES. WE PLAN TO: [1] ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS TO COPRODUCE A DECISION SUPPORT AND INFORMATION DELIVERY SYSTEM; [2] BUILD A COUPLED SCIENCE MODELING SYSTEM TO REPRESENT AND TRANSFER HOLISTIC SYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE INTO EFFECTIVE TOOLS; [3] PRODUCE RELIABLE FORECASTS TO HELP STAKEHOLDERS OPTIMIZE CROP PRODUCTIVITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; [4] INTEGRATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INTO EXPERIENTIAL, TRANSDISCIPLINARY EDUCATION TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL WATER USE AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT. ADOPTION OF DAWN INFORMATION IN DECISION-MAKING WILL HELP INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND PROFITABILITY BY REDUCING INPUT COSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES, GOALS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH AFRI SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS PRIORITY AREA A9201.
$10,000,000FY2020National Institute of Food and AgricultureUSDA
University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD