GROWING CHRISTMAS TREES TAKES TIME--UP TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO SELL. DURING THAT TIME, THE TREES CAN BE DAMAGED BY BUGS, DISEASES, AND BAD WEATHER. IN THE SOUTHEASTERN US, FARMERS FACE EXTRA CHALLENGES BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH LOCAL RESEARCH TO GUIDE THEM. THEY OFTEN HAVE TO RELY ON ADVICE MEANT FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK WELL IN THE SOUTHEAST'S UNIQUE CLIMATE AND SOIL. THIS CAN LEAD TO WASTED MONEY, EXTRA WORK, AND HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE WORKING TO GIVE CHRISTMAS TREE FARMERS BETTER TOOLS AND INFORMATION. WE INTEND TO MAKE CHRISTMAS TREE FARMING MORE EFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE BY FOCUSING ON TWO MAIN PROBLEMS. (1) WATER STRESS. MANY FARMERS LOSE TREES BECAUSE THEY PLANT TYPES THAT DON'T MATCH THEIR LAND'S WATER CONDITIONS. WE WILL CONDUCT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ON DIFFERENT TREE TYPES AND CREATE GUIDES AND DIGITAL TOOLS TO HELP FARMERS CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONES FOR THEIR FARMS. (2) OVERUSE OF FUNGICIDES. SOME FARMERS USE CHEMICALS TO FIGHT DISEASE EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT NEEDED, WHICH REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT COST IN THE OVERALL BUDGET. WE WILL DEVELOP DIGITAL TOOLS AND INFORMATIONAL GUIDES TO HELP FARMERS KNOW WHEN TREATMENT IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY. THIS PROJECT IS SPECIAL BECAUSE UNLIKE OUR CROP COMMODITIES, THERE AREN'T MANY DIGITAL TOOLS MADE JUST FOR CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS. WHEN WE SUPPORT CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS, WE SUPPORT AGRITOURISM IN LOCAL ECONOMIES, LIMIT LOSS OF FARMLANDS, AND KEEP REAL CHRISTMAS TREES AFFORDABLE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.