** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO DEVELOP MORE SUSTAINABLE HIGH-QUALITY FORAGE CROPS FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. DIMINISHING RESOURCES, INCLUDING LAND AND WATER, REQUIRE FORAGE TO BE PRODUCED WITH IMPROVED EFFICIENCY, I.E. HIGHER FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY WITH FEWER INPUTS. THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS HAS A THRIVING LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY. DURING SUMMER MONTHS, CATTLE ARE FED ON RANGE OR PASTURELAND, BUT SUPPLEMENTAL FORAGES ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN HERDS DURING THE WINTER AND EARLY SPRING. MOST RANCHERS PRODUCE THEIR OWN WINTER FEED AS GRAIN, HAY AND/OR SILAGE. IN FACT, A 2017 CENSUS OF MONTANA FARMERS REPORTS THE COST OF LIVESTOCK FEED WAS THE SINGLE LARGEST PRODUCTION EXPENSE REPRESENTING NEARLY 12% OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL COST OF OPERATION (USDA NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE, 2020). BARLEY, HORDEUM VULGARE L., IS AN IMPORTANT CROP GROWN WORLDWIDE. FORAGE BARLEY ADDS VALUE TO GROWERS WHEN FED DIRECTLY TO LIVESTOCK, CUTTING FEEDING COSTS OF A HIGHER VALUE PRODUCT - MEAT. FORAGE BARLEY, ESPECIALLY WINTER BARLEY, HAS SEVERAL PRODUCTION ADVANTAGES MAKING IT A MORE SUSTAINABLE OPTION, FOR EXAMPLE REDUCED WATER USE, INCREASED SALT TOLERANCE, ADDED ROTATIONAL TOOL, AVOIDANCE OF NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HIGH TEMPERATURE ON QUALITY AND REDUCED RUN-OFF. BREEDING GOALS FOR FORAGE BARLEY INCLUDE IMPROVED FORAGE YIELD AND QUALITY AS WELL AS GRAIN YIELD. PRELIMINARY RESULTS INDICATE ALL THREE GOALS CAN BE MET WITH NEW GERMPLASM. NEW MATERIAL ALSO MAKES A WINTER BARLEY RELEASE POSSIBLE. THIS EFFORT WILL IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES OF THE PLANT AND ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS SYSTEM BY PROVIDING IMPROVED FORAGE VARIETIES THROUGH CLASSICAL BREEDING AND VARIETAL TESTING. HIGHER YIELDING, HIGHER DIGESTIBILITY BARLEY FORAGE CULTIVARS WILL IMPROVE FARM AND RANCH PROFITABILITY BY REDUCING OPERATIONAL COST FOR LIVESTOCK GROWERS, INCLUDING FEED, IRRIGATION AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THE RELEASE OF A FORAGE WINTER BARLEY WOULD PROVIDE GROWERS IN MONTANA WITH A NEW ROTATIONAL TOOL THAT INCREASES FLEXIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. WINTER BARLEY IS A LOW INPUT CROP THAT COULD HAVE APPLICATIONS IN ORGANIC MARKETS AND AS ORGANIC FEED, WHERE ITS LOWER INPUTS COULD ALLOW FOR HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS. ULTIMATELY, RELEASE OF NEW SPRING OR WINTER FORAGE BARLEY WILL SUPPORT MUCH OF THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IN THE GREAT PLAINS, INCLUDING LIVESTOCK, FORAGE AND SEED PRODUCTION. THE MILESTONE FOR SUCCESS IS PUBLICLY RELEASED VARIETIES THAT ARE WIDELY GROWN. THIS GRANT WILL JUMP START THE MSU FORAGE BREEDING WITH SUPPORT FOR VARIETAL TESTING. THE RELEASE OF LINES UNDER PVP WOULD PROVIDE RESEARCH FUNDS THAT COULD THEN SUPPORT THE RELEASE OF FUTURE LINES. STRENGTHENING THE MSU BREEDING PROGRAM WILL ENSURE THE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT OF BARLEY FORAGE FOR THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY.