** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CROP ROTATION IS A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY THAT CAN FOSTER SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, ALTHOUGH RECENT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT INTENSIVE CROP ROTATIONS COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO SOIL HEALTH. THIS ISSUE COULD BE PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN US, WHERE COARSE-TEXTURED SOILS COUPLED WITH A HOT AND HUMID CLIMATE ACCELERATE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER DECOMPOSITION, DIMINISH THE SOIL'S NUTRIENT RETENTION CAPACITY, AND EXACERBATE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF SOIL AND PLANTS TO PESTS AND DISEASES.OUR PROJECT AIMS TO ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FARMING BY INTEGRATING PERENNIAL GRASSES AND COVER CROPS INTO TRADITIONAL CROP ROTATIONS, ALONG WITH OPTIMAL GRAZING PRACTICES. THIS APPROACH WILL BE TESTED AT TWO FIELD SITES IN NORTH FLORIDA TO COMPARE IT AGAINST THE CONVENTIONAL INTENSIVE CROP ROTATIONS. WE PLAN TO STUDY HOW THESE CHANGES AFFECT VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE FARMING ENVIRONMENT. THIS INCLUDES EXAMINING SOIL BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES (SOIL BIODIVERSITY AND MULTI-TROPHIC INTERACTIONS), SOIL FERTILITY AND BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING (GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, NUTRIENT LEACHING), AGROECOSYSTEM MULTIFUNCTIONALITY, AND CROP YIELD AND QUALITY. BY EXPLORING THESE DIVERSE FACTORS, OUR PROJECT SEEKS TO PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON HOW SMARTER FARMING PRACTICES CAN IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH, MAKE FARMING MORE SUSTAINABLE, AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT.