THE TRANSITION TO ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR PRODUCERS TO EVALUATE. PRODUCERS WHO WOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO ORGANIC CROPS HAVE NEITHER THE NECESSARY TOOLS NOR THE RELEVANT INFORMATION NEEDED TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL PROFITABILITY OF THESE CROPS. COMPLICATING THE ANALYSIS IS THE TRANSITION WINDOW WHERE ORGANIC PRACTICES MUST BE FOLLOWED BUT THE CROP PRODUCED MUST BE SOLD AS NON-ORGANIC. THIS PRESENTS PROBLEMS FOR PRODUCERS AS THEY MUST DECIDE HOW FAST TO TRANSITION AND HOW BEST TO MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR INPUTS AND MACHINERY REQUIREMENTS. THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE, EASY TO USE, WHOLE FARM TRANSITION TOOL THAT CAN HELP EXTENSION PERSONNEL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHICH ORGANIC CROPS TO GROW, HOW QUICKLY TO TRANSITION TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND WHAT IS THE EXPECTED PROFITABILITY BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE TRANSITION.OUROBJECTIVEIN THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DETERMINE THE PRODUCTION PRACTICES OF ORGANIC PRODUCERS, ESTIMATE TRANSITION COSTS, ESTIMATE THE INPUTS NEEDED DURING THETRANSITION, DEVELOP A WHOLE FARM TRANSITION PROFITABILITY TOOL, AND PRODUCE ESTIMATES OF THE PROFITABILITY BOTH DURING AND AFTER THE ORGANIC TRANSITION.THIS PROJECT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS FOR EXTENSION PERSONNEL AND FARMERS TO ESTIMATE THE PROFITABILITY OF TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION AND HOW QUICKLY THE TRANSITION SHOULD TAKE PLACE. THE PROJECT ALSO PROVIDES A WAY FOR PRODUCERS TO COMPARE THEIR EXPECTED WHOLE FARM PROFITABILITY DURING THE ORGANIC TRANSITION TO THE FARM PROFITABILITY FROM REMAINING WITH CONVENTIONAL CROPS. WITH THIS PROJECT, WE ARE ADDRESSING PRIORITY 4; OVERCOME BARRIERS TO ORGANIC TRANSITION.