ALTHOUGH SUBSTANTIAL GAINS IN COVER CROP ACREAGE HAVE BEEN SEEN ACROSS THE NORTHEAST, PROPER ESTABLISHMENT OF COVER CROPS CONTINUES TO BE CHALLENGING FOR DAIRY OPERATIONS WHICH RELY HEAVILY ON CORN SILAGE. TO OVERCOME BARRIERS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORT GROWING SEASON, FARMERS HAVE FOCUSED ON INTERSEEDING TO ESTABLISH COVER CROPS, HOWEVER, LIMITED SUCCESS HAS BEEN OBSERVED PRIMARILY DUE TO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN LIGHT INFILTRATION THROUGH THE DENSELY PLANT CORN SILAGE.THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE ACRES OF EFFECTIVE COVER CROPS IN NORTHERN CLIMATES TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND CROP HEALTH AND REDUCE NONPOINT SOURCE NUTRIENT POLLUTION TO WATERSHEDS. THIS PROPOSAL DEMONSTRATES THE USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND CROPPING SYSTEM APPROACHES THAT WILL HELP EXPAND THE ACREAGE OF EFFECTIVE COVER CROPS. THIS ADDRESSES THE AFRI PRIORITY AREA: RENEWABLE ENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ENVIRONMENTTHIS PROJECT SEEKS TO FURTHER IDENTIFY CORN SILAGE PRACTICES THAT RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERSEEDED COVER CROPS AND MAXIMIZE BENEFITS TO THE FARM. ON-FARM AND SMALL PLOT RESEARCH WILL HELP FARMERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO MODIFY CORN SILAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE COVER CROP PRODUCTION WITHOUT SACRIFICING VALUABLE YIELD. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES INCLUDE EVALUATING MODIFICATIONS OF CORN ROW SPACING, POPULATION, AND VARIETY AND THE SUBSEQUENT IMPACT ON CROP AND COVER CROP PRODUCTIVITY. EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON A SUITE OF PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP TO MAXIMIZE COVER CROP OUTCOMES AND OVERALL FARM SUSTAINABILITY. THE EDUCATION PLAN WILL DELIVER INFORMATION TO OVER 500 DAIRY AND CORN GROWERS IN THE NORTHEAST THROUGH FARM DEMONSTRATIONS, FIELD DAYS, CONFERENCES, WEBINARS, AND VIDEOS.