** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IN THIS FIVE-YEAR INTEGRATED PROJECT IS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE SOUTHWEST AND NORTHERN PLAINS CLIMATE HUB STAFF AND REGIONAL EDUCATION AND EXTENSION STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, MODES OF COMMUNICATION AND ISSUE EXPERTISE THAT WILL HELP IN ASSISTING FARMERS AND RANCHERS TO BETTER ASSESS THE SOURCES OF PAST CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION LOSSES DUE TO WEATHER AND CLIMATE DISRUPTION AS WELL AS EXPLORE FUTURE PROJECTIONS FOR THESE CAUSES OF LOSS. THIS PROJECT WILL UTILIZE A DIVERSE TEAM, INCLUDING CLIMATE HUB PERSONNEL, EXTENSION FACULTY, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMISTS, GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND TWO CLIMATE HUB FELLOWSHIPS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT IMPROVED EXTENSION MATERIALS FOR COMMUNICATING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS THAT TARGET A BROAD RANGE OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS, INCLUDING SOCIALLY-DISADVANTAGES AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS, TO SOLICIT INPUT ON IMPROVING EXTENSION MATERIALS. THE SECOND PHASE OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDES TAKING THAT INFORMATION TO DEVELOP NEW AND IMPROVED MODELS AND MATERIALS FOR EXTENSION COMMUNICATION RELATED TO WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS. THE DEVELOPED MATERIALS AND MODELS WILL THEN BE COMMUNICATED TO KEY EXTENSION AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO EXPAND AND GENERALIZE THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT. IN SO DOING WE WILL ASSIST FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND THOSE WHO SERVE THEM TO BETTER ADAPT TO EXTREME WEATHER VARIABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE.