** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THERE ARE MANY TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN ECONOMICAL AND EFFECTIVE TO IMPROVE BEEF PRODUCTION BUT THEIR ADOPTION IN SMALL BEEF CATTLE FARMS HAS NOT BEEN READILY ACCEPTED. FARMS WITH LESS THAN 50 COWS REPRESENT MORE THAN 75% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FARMS AND A THIRD OF THE BEEF COWS IN THE COUNTRY. OUR TARGET AUDIENCE INCLUDES SMALL BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS WHOSE WEANED CALVES ARE THEIR MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME FROM BEEF PRODUCTION, AND SMALL BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS WITH A FEW PUREBRED CATTLE DEDICATED TO 4-H SHOWMANSHIP AND COMMERCIAL CATTLE. THE INCLUSION OF THE LATTER GROUP (NOT NORMALLY IDENTIFIED BY THE USDA OR SURVEYS), WOULD BE A NOVEL ADDITION IN THIS PROJECT. WE PROPOSE TO INCREASE THE WEANING WEIGHT OF CALVES AND HENCE INCOME RECEIVED BY AT LEAST 25% AT THE END OF THE PROJECT LIFETIME. THIS INCREASE WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH INCORPORATION OF NUTRITION/GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION/GENETICS STRATEGIES AND ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL EVALUATION OF PRACTICES AND WHOLE-FARM PROFITABILITY. WEALSO PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A STRONG MULTIDISCIPLINARY OUTREACH PROGRAM WITH AI AND GRAZING SCHOOLS WITH PARTICIPATION OF THE NRCS AND SMALL BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS. PRODUCERS' VOICES AND KNOWLEDGE, PRESENTING THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCES, WILL BE A MAJOR ADDITION IN THESE SCHOOLS. WE WILL FACILITATE THE CREATION OF GROUP OF PRODUCERS THAT WILL KEEP IMPLEMENTING AI IN THEIR HERDS AS WELL AS DEVELOPING MARKETING STRATEGIES (COOPERATIVE, GROUP MARKETING), THIS PROJECT ASSURES THAT ITS IMPACT WILL HAVE A MULTIPLICATION EFFECT AND WILL THRIVE EVEN AFTER ITS CONCLUSION.