** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** A NUMBER OF US FOOD CHAINS AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE ANNOUNCED TRANSITION FOR SOURCING CAGE-FREE (CF) EGGS BY 2025 OR EARLIER DUE TO CONCERNS OF ANIMAL WELFARE. ACCORDING TO THE PLEDGES TO DATE, IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN 70% OF THE CURRENT US LAYER STOCK TO MEET THE DEMAND BY 2025. WHILE CF HOUSING ALLOWS HENS TO BETTER PERFORM THEIR NATURAL BEHAVIORS WHEN COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL CAGE HOUSING SYSTEMS, AN INHERENT CHALLENGE WITH CF HOUSING IS THE POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND THE INCIDENCE OF FLOOR EGGS. THE HIGH LEVEL OF AIR POLLUTANTS MAY CAUSE INFECTION OR TRIGGER RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN ANIMALS AND THEIR CARETAKERS AND CAN ALSO CONTAMINATE EGGS. FLOOR EGGS ARE COLLECTED MANUALLY BY FARM WORKERS MANY TIMES A DAY, WHICH INCREASES LABOR COSTS AND FARM WORKERS' HEALTH RISK DUE TO LONGER EXPOSURE IN A POOR AIR QUALITY ENVIRONMENT. THE GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH/EXTENSION PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE CF HOUSE AIR QUALITY, THEREBY IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ANIMALS AND THEIR CARETAKERS, AND FOOD SAFETY. OUR SPECIFIC AIMS ARE TO: 1)INTEGRATE ADVANCED METHODS FOR ENHANCING AIR AND LITTER QUALITY IN CF LAYER HOUSES; 2)EXPLORE PRECISION FARMING STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING EGG QUALITY AND SAFETY IN CF HOUSES; AND 3) DEVELOP EXTENSION PROGRAMS FOR TRAINING EGG PRODUCERS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND EGG SAFETY ON COMMERCIAL CF FARMS. THIS PROPOSED STUDY REFLECTS FOUR PRIORITY AREAS: (1) ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION; (2) FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH; (3) BIOENERGY, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ENVIRONMENT; AND (4) AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY.