**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WEATHER VARIABILITY CAN LEAD TO HEAT AND COLD STRESS IN DAIRY CATTLE, CREATING MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES FOR US DAIRY FARMERS WHILE THE SECTOR IS SIMULTANEOUSLY SEEKING TO MEET CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXAMINE THE PRODUCTIVITY, ANIMAL WELFARE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF WEATHER VARIABILITY FOR US DAIRY SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO INFORM FUTURE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL, WE WILL FIRST ANALYZE THE IMPACTS OF WEATHER ON DAIRY PRODUCTIVITY AND CHARACTERIZE THE USE OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT MODERATE WEATHER EXPOSURE. SECOND, WE WILL ANALYZE THE IMPACTS OF WEATHER ON ENTERIC METHANE EMISSIONS. THIRD, WE WILL ASSESS CONSUMER AND FARMER PERCEPTIONS OF MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH WEATHER THAT CAN INFLUENCE ANIMAL WELFARE AND ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES. THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, WE WILL DEVELOP NEW EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCREASE AWARENESS OF WEATHER-RELATED RISKS AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS IN DAIRY SYSTEMS. WE EXPECT THAT OUR FINDINGS WILL IMPROVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL-WORLD IMPACTS OF WEATHER ON THE US DAIRY SECTOR, HOW MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES CAN ALTER THESE IMPACTS, AND HOW FARMERS AND CONSUMERS PERCEIVE THESE CHALLENGES AND THE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS. TOGETHER, OUR FINDINGS WILL IMPROVE OUR FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WEATHER INFLUENCES RUMINANT SYSTEMS WHILE ALSO GENERATING PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH WEATHER VARIABILITY AND IMPROVE ANIMAL WELL-BEING, PROFITABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.