** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DELINQUENCY RATES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION LOANS IN THE U.S. STEADILY INCREASED FROM 2014 TO 2020, TO THE HIGHEST RATE SINCE 2011. DURING THIS DECADE, ALMOST 5,000 FARMS FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY UNDER CHAPTER 12 PROTECTION. GEORGIA WAS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE STATES IN FARM BANKRUPTCY FILINGS, WHERE OUR ANALYSIS HAS SHOWN THE MEDIAN DEBT-TO-ASSET RATIO OF UNIQUE BANKRUPTCY CASES IS ALMOST 19 TIMES MORE THAN THE MEDIAN OF ALL GEORGIA FARMS. THIS STATE OF FARM FINANCIALS ESTABLISHES A CRITICAL NEED TO ADDRESS THE ABILITY FOR FARM OPERATIONS IN EXTREME NEGATIVE FINANCIAL POSITIONS TO INCREASE PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAIN FARM LIVELIHOODS. WE SEEK TO ADDRESS THIS NEED THROUGH AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED FARM OPERATIONS. WE WILL EXPAND OUR UNIQUE DATASET OF FARM LEVEL BANKRUPTCY FILINGS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. ACROSS MULTIPLE FARMING SECTORS. WE WILL THEN DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATE OF FARMS IN BANKRUPTCY WITH RESPECT TO (1) BUSINESS STRUCTURE OF FILERS; (2) DEBT COMPOSITION, INCLUDING PERSONAL AND FARM DEBT ACROSS VARIOUS TYPES OF DEBT AND LENDERS; AND (3) ECONOMIC OUTCOMES, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF ASSETS AND RESTRUCTURE FINANCIAL POSITIONS. AN ANALYSIS OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS WILL INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION LAW FOR AGRICULTURE TO INFORM POLICYMAKERS. OUTREACH TO FARMERS, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, AND AGRIBUSINESS SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH AN ONLINE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CURRICULUM FOR FARMS IN EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT CONSIDERS THE BANKRUPTCY PROCESS AND THE UNIQUE FINANCIAL POSITION FARMS LIKE THIS FACE.