**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT AIMS TO IMPROVE THE KNOWLEDGE, LONG-TERM PROFITABILITY, AND RISK MANAGEMENT DECISIONS OF U.S. FARMERS AND RANCHERS THROUGH THE USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL FARM FINANCIAL BENCHMARKING DATABASE (NATIONAL DATABASE). THE PROJECT WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THREE FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATIONS IN THREE STATES (THE SOUTH DAKOTA CENTER FOR FARM/RANCH MANAGEMENT AT THE MITCHELL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE [SDCFRM], THE NORTH DAKOTA FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT [NDFBM] EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND NEBRASKA FARM BUSINESS, INC. [NFBI]), AND TWO LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITIES (OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY [OSU] AND THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN [UNL]).OUR PROJECT WILL ADDRESS BOTH FBMB PROGRAM OBJECTIVES TO 1) MAINTAIN AND EXPAND THE NATIONAL DATABASE AND 2) EXPAND COLLABORATIVE FARM MANAGEMENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ASSOCIATION PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE DATA TO THE NATIONAL DATABASE. WE WILL ALSO HELP TO ADDRESS ALL FIVE FBMB MEASURES IDENTIFIED IN THE FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT. WHILE OUR ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY SUPPORT OVER 1,730 PRODUCER FARM FINANCIAL ANALYSES AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL DATABASE, WE ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS (PARTICULARLY BEGINNING AND SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMS), INCREASING THE QUALITY OF FINANCIAL RECORDS, AND CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT TO BE USED IN THE NATIONAL DATABASE. OUR PROJECT WILL ALSO SUPPORT RESEARCH TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AVOIDANCE IN FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING. RESEARCH OUTCOMES WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY INFORMATION-FRAMING STRATEGIES THAT MAY APPEAL TO INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF FINANCIAL STANDING AND FARM PROFITABILITY MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVENESS.