A FAIR MARKETPLACE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES CAN OCCUR IF MARKET PARTICIPANTS ALTER THEIR PRODUCTION AND MARKETING BEHAVIOR DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT FAIRNESS, ESPECIALLY IF THESE PERCEPTIONS ARE INVALID. WE SEEK TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE A MECHANISM FOR ASSESSING CLAIMS OF UNFAIRNESS AND TO LINK FAIRNESS CONCERNS TO THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: A) IDENTIFYING EXPECTATIONS OF FAIRNESS HELD BY FARMERS; B) DETERMINING HOW AND WHY CLAIMS OF UNFAIRNESS ARISE AND ASSESSING MERIT OR VALIDITY; C) IDENTIFYING WHERE AND HOW RESOURCE MISALLOCATION OCCURS BECAUSE OF PERCEPTIONS OF UNFAIRNESS, AND D) PROPOSING A POLICY FRAMEWORK INCORPORATING FAIRNESS PERCEPTIONS. WE EMPLOY MIXED METHODS INCLUDING CONTENT ANALYSIS OF FARMER DISCUSSION BOARDS, AND 50 INTERVIEWS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF FARMERS, TO LEARN HOW EXPECTATIONS FORM AND HOW THEY ADJUST THEIR MARKET PARTICIPATION DUE TO FAIRNESS CONSIDERATIONS. QUALITATIVE ANALYSES WILL PROVIDE SCENARIOS USED IN SURVEYING 3500 FARMERS CLARIFYING EXPECTATIONS THEY HAVE, FACTORS AFFECTING HOW THEY PERCEIVE VIOLATIONS OF EXPECTATIONS THAT LEAD TO UNFAIRNESS CLAIMS, AND CHANGES THEY MAKE IN MARKET PARTICIPATION. RESULTS WILL LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF A FAIRNESS EXPECTATIONS ASSESSMENT TOOL TO AID IN THE ASSESSMENT OF UNFAIRNESS CLAIMS AND INFORM POLICY FRAMEWORK. OUTCOMES SUPPORT THE PROGRAM PRIORITIES OF AGRICULTURAL MARKET STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND RESOURCE USE, AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY DESIGN AND IMPACTS BY PRODUCING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF UNFAIRNESS CLAIMS BY MARKET PARTICIPANTS AND DOCUMENTATION OF RESOURCE REALLOCATIONS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO IMPROVING SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, MANAGING CONTRACT DISPUTES AND DEVELOPING NEW ANTI-TRUST APPROACHES.