DISPROPORTIONATE ADOPTION OF USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC PRODUCTION HAS LEFT CERTIFIED PRODUCER NUMBERS LOWER IN THE LOWER MIDWEST AND MID-SOUTH THAN IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY SUCH AS THE UPPER MIDWEST, WEST COAST, OR NORTHEASTERN US. THESE CLUSTERS SUGGEST REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS IMPACT ADOPTION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM PROPOSES AN INTEGRATED PROJECT TO EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING: THE BIOPHYSICAL, MARKET AND CULTURAL BARRIERS TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN THE MID-SOUTH; THE REGION-SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES AND FARMER-LED INNOVATIONS PRESENT, AND WHAT SUPPORT IS NEEDED; AND STATE-LEVEL POLICIES TO INCREASE THE REGION'S NUMBER OF ORGANIC FARMERS AND EXPAND PRODUCTION. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO IDENTIFY REGION-SPECIFIC BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF POLICY SUPPORTS FOR ORGANIC FARMING. FINDINGS WILL INFORM OUTREACH THAT BUILDS EDUCATOR SKILLS TO SUPPORT ORGANIC PRODUCERS AND STRENGTHEN EMERGING ORGANIC FARMER NETWORKS. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: 1) IDENTIFYING REGION-SPECIFIC BARRIERS TO ORGANIC ADOPTION; 2) IDENTIFYING REGION-SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES AND FARMER-LED INNOVATIONS TO INCREASE ORGANIC OPERATIONS AND ACREAGE; 3) ANALYSING IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL STATE-LEVEL PUBLIC POLICY; 4) IMPLEMENTING AN OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR FARMERS AND EDUCATORS ADDRESSING SPECIFIC CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES; AND 5) SUPPORTING NETWORKS OF ORGANIC PRODUCERS IN PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING, COLLECTIVELY SECURING INPUTS, AND PURSUING NEW MARKETS. IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS OF 75 CURRENT AND FORMER CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS WILL IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES. RESULTS WILL INFORM EDUCATOR TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM TO SUPPORT ORGANIC FARMERS AND FARMER NETWORKS. POLICY ANALYSIS WILL QUANTIFY THE IMPACTS OF POTENTIAL REGIONAL POLICIES. RESEARCH RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED AT REGIONAL EXTENSION/FARMER MEETINGS AS WELL AS ACADEMIC CONFERENCES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF BARRIERS TO ORGANIC ADOPTION, EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP IN ORGANIC PRODUCER NETWORKS, AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF NEEDED POLICY AND MARKET INTERVENTIONS WILL LEAD TO AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY AND PROFITABILITY IN THE REGION.