** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DAIRY GOATS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN THE US. CURRENT DATA DEMONSTRATE THE UNIQUE NATURE OF DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION, WHERE AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION MAY BE BALANCED WITH DIVERSIFICATION AND SUSTAINABILITY. THE IMPRESSIVE ABILITY OF GOATS TO REMAIN PRODUCTIVE IN ARID REGIONS OF THE WORLD DEMONSTRATES THEIR POTENTIAL RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CHANGING CLIMATES. THESE ATTRIBUTES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITY AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS THROUGH VALUE-ADDED CIRCULAR ECONOMIES. THE GOAL OF OUR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION EFFORTS IN THIS PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE AND ASSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN THE US. REACHING THIS GOAL WOULD ALLOW FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION OF DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION WHILE ASSURING CONTINUED ACCESS TO VALUE-ADDED MARKETS THAT SUPPORT A DIVERSE POPULATION OF FARMERS AND SMALL RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES. THE SYSTEM UNDER STUDY FOR THIS PROJECT TAKES A STRATEGICALLY BROAD VIEW OF US COMMERCIAL DAIRY GOAT PRODUCTION. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE (1) A COMPUTERIZED ANAYLSIS TOOL THAT ALLOWS DAIRY GOAT PRODUCERS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES TO DECREASE THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND WATER USAGE, (2) IMPROVED HEALTH TOOLS FOR DAIRY GOATS, (3) STRONGER RURAL ECONOMY INFRASTRUCTURE WITH DIVERSIFIED GOAT PRODUCERS, AND (4) INTEGRATED EDUCATION AND EXTENSION EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THESE OUTCOMES AND SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS.