** 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 PRODUCTION AND LIVESTOCK ARE TWO CORE SECTORS OF MONTANA'S ECONOMY. LIVESTOCK FARMERS AND RANCHERS DEPEND ON THE GRASSLANDS FOR SUMMER GRAZING, HOWEVER IN WINTER, ALTERNATE FEED SOURCES ARE REQUIRED, WHICH ADDS A CONSIDERABLE COST TO THE LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS. WINTER CEREAL FORAGES, ESPECIALLY FORAGE WINTER WHEAT IS A PREFERRED SOURCE OF FEED FOR PRODUCERS IN MONTANA, DUE TO ITS WINTER HARDINESS AND ABILITY TO SURVIVE BETTER UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS DURING WINTER AND EARLY SPRING. WINTER WHEAT FORAGE VARIETIES HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY THE WINTER WHEAT PROGRAM AT MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND ARE POPULAR AMONG GROWERS. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE 12 YEARS TIMEFRAME BETWEEN THE TWO VARIETAL RELEASES. ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS BEING LACK OF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT LARGE SCALE TESTING OF FORAGE BREEDING LINES ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AND THE LABOR INTENSIVE FORAGE SAMPLING PROCESS. THUS, THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO INITIATE EARLY GENERATION EVALUATIONS OF AN INCREASED NUMBER OF BREEDING LINES TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL VARIETIES AND COORDINATED MULTI-LOCATION VARIETAL TRIALS TO ENABLE ACCELERATED RELEASE OF WINTER WHEAT FORAGE VARIETIES. DUAL PURPOSE FORAGE LINES WITH HIGH FORAGE AND SEED YIELD WILL BE SELECTED FOR VARIETAL RELEASE AND EXPECTED TO INCREASED ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR PRODUCERS. FORAGE QUALITY IS IMPORTANT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE VARIETY AND THE PROGRAM WILL STRIVE TO IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF FORAGE WINTER WHEAT THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE EARLY GENERATION EVALUATIONS. WINTER WHEAT FORAGE VARIETIES WILL BE RELEASED WITH PVP TO HELP GENERATE INCOME THAT CAN SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN THE FORAGE BREEDING PROGRAM IN FUTURE.