**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** MAINTAINING A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM REQUIRES INCENTIVES TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS BY SUPPORTING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, BUT PROGRAM IMPACT IS LIMITED BY BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND EFFICIENCY. IF WE CAN IMPROVE THE WAY INCENTIVE POLICIES ARE DESIGNED, WE CAN INCREASE BENEFICIAL IMPACTS - REDUCING THE EXPENSE NEEDED TO MEET ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS, AND PROVIDING IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS A BROADER RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO INCENTIVE DESIGN, SUCH AS WHETHER TO BASE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS ON FARM-SCALE FEATURES LIKE SLOPE OR SOIL TYPE, IN ORDER TO ASSESS WHICH ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE IN IMPROVING LANDSCAPE-LEVEL RESULTS. WE WILL DO THIS AN INTEGRATED MODEL, BASED ON SURVEY AND FIELD DATA, THAT CONNECTS A PROPOSED INCENTIVE DESIGN TO FIELD-SCALE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AND THEN TO WATERSHED AND LANDSCAPE-LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES.WE ARE WORKING WITH AN ADVISORY GROUP OF AGENCY AND NGO STAFF AND FARMERS TO ENSURE OUR WORK IS RELEVANT AND ACTIONABLE. THIS GROUP ALSO WILL ALSO HELP TO DISSEMINATE PROJECT FINDINGS AMONG INCENTIVE PROGRAM ADMINSTRATORS, PARTICIPANTS, AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL SO THAT OUR RESEARCH WORK CAN BE APPLIED. OUR RESULTS, WHILE SPECIFIC TO OUR STUDY AREA - THE MINNESOTA RIVER BASIN, WILL HIGHLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE EFFICIENT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS GENERALLY, AND THE MODELING APPROACHES WE DEVELOP WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR LARGER-SCALE ANALYSES.