**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE PROJECT LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO ENABLE FARMERS TO ADOPT PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE THE PERSISTENCE OF LEGUMES IN PASTURES AND HAYFIELDS AND TO PRODUCE FORAGES WITH HIGH NUTRITIVE VALUE IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE OFF-FARM GRAIN COSTS, PRODUCE MILK WITH ENRICHED FAT AND PROTEIN CONTENT, AND CAPITALIZE ON INDUSTRY PREMIUMS. OUR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WILL SYNERGIZE THE EFFORTS OF TWO PREMIER LAND-GRANT ORGANIC DAIRY RESEARCH FARMS (UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA) AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE TO PROVIDE FARMERS WITH INFORMATION AND ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING MIXED GRASS-LEGUME STANDS TO OPTIMIZE LEGUME PROPORTION, PERSISTENCE, AND QUALITY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL BUILD A BASELINE DATASET ON QUALITY COMPONENTS AND PHYTOESTROGEN CONCENTRATIONS IN FORAGE LEGUMES AND MILK THAT WILL GUIDE FUTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION. OUR OBJECTIVES WERE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH ORGANIC DAIRY STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR RESPECTIVE REGIONS AS PART OF OUR RECENTLY COMPLETED OREI PLANNING GRANT NEEDS ASSESSMENT. TEAM OVERARCHING OBJECTIVES ARE TO (OBJECTIVE 1) IMPROVE PERENNIAL LEGUME ABUNDANCE AND PERSISTENCE IN MIXED FORAGE SWARDS UTILIZED FOR GRAZING AND CONSERVED FEED; (OBJECTIVE 2) IMPROVE FORAGE ENERGY:PROTEIN BALANCE, NUTRITIVE VALUE, AND MILK QUALITY COMPONENTS THROUGH INTERSEEDING PRACTICES AND SELECTED LEGUME-GRASS MIXTURES; (OBJECTIVE 3) QUANTIFY AND MITIGATE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PHYTOESTROGENS FROM LEGUMES ON HERD REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BY EVALUATING HIGH- VS. LOW-PHYTOESTROGENIC SPECIES AND HOW FORAGE CONSERVATION METHODS AFFECT THE PHYTOESTROGEN CONTENTS OF HAY AND SILAGE; AND (OBJECTIVE 4) DEVELOP AND DELIVER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING TO ORGANIC DAIRY FARMERS ON ADVANCED FORAGE LEGUME MANAGEMENT AIMED AT INCREASING MILK PRODUCTION AND QUALITY THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND ON-FARM DEMONSTRATIONS. PROJECT IMPACT WILL BE EVALUATED BY THE ORGANIC CENTER AND OUR RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ADVISORY BOARD.