**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HEMP PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS FOR FARMERS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HOWEVER, ECONOMIC RISK ASSESSMENT AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES FOR PLANT GROWTH AND DISEASE PREVENTION IS STILL LARGELY UNEXPLORED. FARMERS EXPERIENCING MARKET FAILURE POST TOBACCO ERA ARE WILLING TO TRY NEW CROPS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO KEEP FARMS IN BUSINESS AND REMAIN PROFITABLE. THE PERCEIVED FINANCIAL INCENTIVES HEMP PROMISES HAVE HEIGHTENED INTEREST AMONG EXISTING AND NEW FARMERS ALIKE. FARMERS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE GETTING INTO HEMP PRODUCTION WITHOUT HAVING A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ECONOMIC VIABILITIES AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HEMP PRODUCTION. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY PRECISE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF HEMP PRODUCTION IN NORTH CAROLINA DUE TO THE LACK OF DATA. ALSO, HEMP DISEASES WHICH IS A MAJOR RISK FACTOR, ARE BETTER PREVENTED THAN MANAGED BECAUSE OF FAST SPREAD, WHENEVER IT OCCURS. THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES AND THE LACK OF TESTED PRODUCTION PRACTICES CONSTITUTE A COMPLEX AND CRITICAL SUSTAINABILITY PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION TO FIND HOLISTIC AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO IDENTIFY WHY FARMER GO INTO HEMP PRODUCTION, DETERMINE THE PROFITABILITY OF HEMP FARMS, IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH HEMP PRODUCTION AND TEST UNIQUE NUTRIENT COMBINATIONS THAT WILL ENHANCE PLANT GROWTH AND REDUCE DISEASE INCIDENCE. RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH WILL PRESENT BASELINE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMICS OF HEMP PRODUCTION AND WAYS TO REDUCE RISKS AND MAKE HEMP PRODUCTION PROFITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOR FARMERS IN NORTH CAROLINA.