** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DESPITE THE OVERALL RAPID INCREASE IN ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION (OCP) IN THE U.S., THE MID-SOUTH REGION HAS SEEN MINIMAL GROWTH IN ORGANIC ACREAGE AND PRODUCTION. THE PRIMARY REASON IS THE LACK OF GEOGRAPHICALLY SPECIFIC PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR FARMERS TO USE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION INCLUDE PERCEIVED COMPLEXITY CONCERNING CROP MANAGEMENT, ORGANIC CERTIFICATION, AND PEST CONTROL ISSUES. OF THESE, WEED CONTROL HAS PROVEN THE MOST DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE EXTENDED SEASONS, WARMER TEMPERATURES, HIGH HUMIDITY, AND DIVERSITY OF PESTS.DESPITE THESE BARRIERS, RELEVANT ORGANIC PRODUCTION RESEARCH AND SUBSEQUENT INFORMATION REMAIN VERY LIMITED. FARMERS HAVE JUSTIFIABLE CONCERNS ABOUT ORGANIC SYSTEMS WHEN THEY HAVE FEW CONTROL OPTIONS. GEOGRAPHICALLY RELEVANT RESEARCH AND OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE OCP MORE FEASIBLE FOR PRODUCERS IN THIS REGION. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THESE ISSUES BY 1) CONDUCTING A REPLICATED, CONTROLLED FIELD TRIALS ON ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS; 2) CONDUCTING ECONOMIC RESEARCH AND ANALYSES ON ORGANIC PRODUCTION SYSTEMS; AND 3) ENHANCING UNDERSTANDING OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES SPECIFIC BARRIERS IDENTIFIED IN CURRENT WORK AND WILL ADDRESS THE OREI GOALS OF DEVELOPING ORGANIC PRODUCTION METHODS, EVALUATING BENEFITS TO PRODUCERS AND COMMUNITIES, CONDUCTING ADVANCED ON-FARM RESEARCH, AND EXAMINING OPTIMAL OUTCOMES OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION.THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING CONCERNS RELATED TO ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT IN THE MID-SOUTH. THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT FARMERS WHO ARE CONSIDERING OR TRANSITIONING TO ORGANICS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE CERTIFIED, BY ANSWERING WEED CONTROL AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY QUESTIONS. OUTCOMES WILL BE PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE TO ADDRESS WEED CONTROL, COVER CROP USE, AND TILLAGE SYSTEMS SHARED AMONG FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS.THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THIS PROJECT EFFORT ARE FARMERS IN THE MID-SOUTH REGION OF THE U.S.A., AND PEOPLE IN THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION. THEY LACK CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE RESEARCH DATA TO ADDRESS GEOGRAPHICALLY PROMINENT ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION ISSUES (E.G., PEST MANAGEMENT, SOIL FERTILITY, CROP ROTATIONS) THAT PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO GROWTH IN REGIONAL ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION. LACK OF INFORMATION HINDERS FARMERS' TRANSITION TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION AS EVIDENCED BY THE COMPARATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF ORGANIC FARMS AND ACRES IN THE MID-SOUTH.THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO MAKE ORGANIC FARMING A MORE ECONOMIC AND VIABLE OPTION FOR MID-SOUTH FARMERS BY GENERATING AND DISSEMINATING REGIONALLY RELEVANT RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES THESE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS.