**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** BEEF PRODUCERS REPRESENT 44% OF ALL FARMERS IN ALABAMA AND MORE THAN 50% OF THE FARMS WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN PRINCIPAL OPERATORS. MOST OF THESE PRODUCERS ARE FOUND IN THE BLACK BELT REGION OF ALABAMA, THE AREA THAT THE TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM SERVICES. THESE FARMERS ARE CLASSIFIED AS SMALL AS THEY HAVE LESS THAN 50 HEAD OF CATTLE AND DO NOT COMPLETE THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OR MARKET A LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER OF QUALITY CALVES TO RECEIVE THE PREMIUMS THAT THE LARGER PRODUCERS RECEIVE. THIS PROJECT AIMS TO HOST A GENETIC IMPROVEMENT SYMPOSIUM FOR SMALL BEEF PRODUCERS IN THE SOUTHEAST. THE GOALS OF THIS SYMPOSIUM WILL BE TO PROVIDE PRODUCERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO BEGIN REDUCING THEIR BREEDING SEASON, TO IMPLEMENT THE DIFFERENT ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO INCREASE THE RATE OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENT, AND OTHER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES NECESSARY TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE SUCCESS WHILE THEY ARE MAKING THESE CHANGES. IT IS EXPECTED THAT 25 TO 30 PRODUCERS WILL ATTEND THIS PRECONFERENCE AND THAT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED WILL BE TAKEN BACK AND IMPLEMENTED IN THEIR OPERATIONS, WHICH WILL SERVE AS A MODEL TO OTHER SMALL PRODUCERS IN THE AREA. THE PROPOSED COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WILL AID IN ACHIEVING USDA-NIFA STRATEGIC GOALS TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE/RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR 21ST CENTURY (EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND SMALL FARMS) AND THE SPECIFIC PRIORITY AREA OF IMPROVING REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.