RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS HAVE LOWER PROFIT MARGINS. IN INDIANA, ONLY 16% OF VEGETABLE FARMERS HAD SALES OVER $50,000. OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE PROFITABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED VEGETABLE FARMS BY DEVELOPING A RESEARCH-BASED EXTENSION PROGRAM THAT INCREASES STRATEGIC SOIL TO MARKET DECISION MAKING BY FARMERS TITLED SOIL TO MARKET DECISION MAKING. THE PROJECT HAS THREE OBJECTIVES: 1) IMPROVE FARM PLANNING PRACTICES OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED VEGETABLE FARMERS; 2) INCREASE FARM PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND PRODUCE QUALITY BY ENHANCING FARMERS' ABILITY TO MANAGE SOIL HEALTH WHILE USING APPROPRIATE GENETIC MATERIALS; AND 3) INCREASE FARMER PROFITABILITY BY ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CONSUMER FOOD SAFETY EXPECTATIONS AND USE OF FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES. SOIL TO MARKET DECISION MAKING CONSISTS OF THREE PILLARS WITH CURRICULUM IN ECONOMICS, PRODUCTION, AND FOOD SAFETY. THE CRITICAL OUTPUT OF THIS PROJECT IS A RESEARCH-BASED PROGRAM THAT IS BASED ON THE INTERDEPENDENCE AND UNIFICATION OF APPLIED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION FROM EACH PILLAR. WE PROPOSE THAT FARMERS WITH INCREASED INTEGRATED STRATEGIC SOIL TO MARKET PLANNING WILL HAVE INCREASED PROFITABILITY.THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ADDRESS THE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MODELS TO ASSIST FARMER DECISION MAKING WITH RESPECT TO APPROPRIATE SCALE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE LONG-RUN POTENTIAL AND SUSTAINABILITY OF US AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS BY IMPROVING THE LINKS BETWEEN ECONOMICS, PRODUCTION, AND FOOD SAFETY THAT LEAD TO PROFITABLE SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS.