** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** HIGH-INTENSITY SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCTION IN SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES IS FACING INCREASED CHALLENGES DUE TO UNPREDICTABLE CLIMATE, LOW NUTRIENT AND WATER HOLDING CAPACITY, AND HIGH DISEASE AND PEST PRESSURES. PRODUCERS ARE INTERESTED IN PRACTICES THAT IMPROVE THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY OF THEIR SYSTEMS. PRACTICES INCLUDING COMPOST, COVER CROPS, AND FUMIGATION ALTER THE SOIL MICROBIOME IN WAYS THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO THE RESILIENCY OF THE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESSES. HOWEVER, WHILE FUMIGATION IS A STANDARD PRACTICE FOR HIGH-INTENSITY SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCTION IN SUB-TROPICAL CLIMATES, COMPOST AND COVER CROPS ARE LESS COMMON, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF CHALLENGES OF THREE DIFFERENT FALLOW PERIODS PER YEAR.THIS PROJECT WILL DETERMINE HOW COMBINATIONS OF COVER CROPS, COMPOST, AND FUMIGATION ALTER THE SOIL ENVIRONMENT TO IMPROVE CROP PRODUCTION AND THE RESILIENCY OF THE SYSTEM TO BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESSES. SUITABLE COVER CROP SPECIES/VARIETIES FOR THE MULTIPLE FALLOW PERIODS OF SUB-TROPICAL HIGH-INTENSITY SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCTION WILL BE TESTED AT A UNIVERSITY FARM. FIELD TRIALS IN COMMERCIAL FARMS WILL THEN BE CONDUCTED TO EXAMINE THE INTEGRATION AND IMPACTS OF SELECTED COVER CROPS AND/OR COMPOST WITH FUMIGATION ON THE SOIL MICROBIOME, DISEASE AND PEST INCIDENCE, AND CROP GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY. PROVIDING STAKEHOLDERS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESULTS WILL OCCUR THROUGH A VARIETY OF EXTENSION ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE ADOPTION.