** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE EXTENSIVE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN LIVESTOCK FARMING POSES A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH RISK WITH WIDESPREAD CONSEQUENCES. ANIMAL AGRICULTURE GENERATES CONSIDERABLE WASTE, FOSTERING THE RAPID GROWTH AND SPREAD OF DISEASE-CAUSING PATHOGENS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. TO COMBAT THIS, FARMERS OFTEN RESORT TO USING MEDICALLY IMPORTANT ANTIBIOTICS TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF DISEASES AMONG THEIR LIVESTOCK. HOWEVER, THIS PRACTICE EXPOSES BOTH HARMLESS AND HARMFUL BACTERIA TO ANTIBIOTICS, LEADING TO THE EMERGENCE AND DISSEMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR). CONSEQUENTLY, THE FARMING ENVIRONMENT BECOMES A BREEDING GROUND FOR ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA, WHICH CAN THEN INFECT HUMANS EITHER THROUGH DIRECT CONTACT OR THE FOOD CHAIN. RECOGNIZING THAT FOOD ANIMALS NOT ONLY TRANSMIT BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROLIFERATION OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA, MANY COUNTRIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED STRICTER REGULATIONS ON ANTIBIOTIC USE IN LIVESTOCK FARMING. THESE REGULATIONS TYPICALLY RESTRICT ANTIBIOTIC USAGE AND MANDATE VETERINARY SUPERVISION. THE US GOVERNMENT, FOR INSTANCE, HAS IMPOSED LIMITATIONS ON ANTIBIOTIC USAGE IN ANIMAL FARMING TO COMBAT THE OVERUSE AND MISUSE OF THESE DRUGS, WHICH CAN SPAWN ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT STRAINS. HOWEVER, IT'S CRUCIAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHALLENGES FACED BY HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS IN COMPLYING WITH THESE REGULATIONS. SUCH FARMERS OFTEN ENCOUNTER UNIQUE OBSTACLES SUCH AS DISEASE MANAGEMENT, WATER CONTAMINATION, LIMITED ACCESS TO VETERINARY SERVICES, AND INADEQUATE RESOURCES AND EDUCATION ON BEST PRACTICES, ALL OF WHICH CAN IMPACT THE PREVALENCE OF POULTRY DISEASES AND THE SPREAD OF AMR.THE OVERARCHING GOALOF THIS PROJECTIS TO ESTABLISH AN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAM ON ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP, SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POULTRY PRODUCERS. BY IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE AND FOSTERING PRACTICES SUCH AS GOOD FARMING TECHNIQUES, BIOSECURITY MEASURES, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STRONG VETERINARIAN-CLIENT-PATIENT RELATIONSHIPS, THIS WILLREDUCE THE INCIDENCE AND SPREAD OF POULTRY DISEASES WHILE MINIMIZING ANTIMICROBIAL USAGE ON POULTRY FARMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT SEEKS TO INTRODUCE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS UV LIGHT COMBINED WITH PERACETIC ACID TO COMBAT MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION AND BIOFILM FORMATION IN KEY AREAS SUCH AS WATER SYSTEMS. UV-C IRRADIATION WILL ALSO BE UTILIZED TO CONTROL MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION ON EGG SURFACES. THE PROJECT ALSO AIMS TO ENHANCE THE CAPABILITIES OF EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND PRODUCERS IN POULTRY DISEASES AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE THROUGH WORKSHOPS.WELL-TRAINED EXTENSION PERSONNEL WILL SERVE AS CONDUITS FOR TRANSFERRING KNOWLEDGE TO PRODUCERS AND EFFECTIVELY ENGAGING WITH THEIR CLIENTELE. BY SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX TOPICS RELATED TO POULTRY DISEASES AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, THEY WILL EMPOWER HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED POULTRY PRODUCERS WITH VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND INFORMATION.