University of Florida

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. Climate-smart (CS) Agriculture Produces Food Fiber and Fuel Using Less Resources Optimizing Land-use Efficiency and Mitigating Pollution of Air Water and Soils. Row Crops Are a Major Agricultural System in Southeast U.s. Covering 4 Million Acres in FL Ga and Al. Most of This Area (95%) Is Fallow in the Winter After Harvesting the Summer Row Crops. There Is an Opportunity to Integrate Value-added CS Winter Cropping Systems to Generate Income and Economic Development While Providing Ecosystem Services Including Soil Protection From Erosion Habitat for Pollinators Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration and Reduction of Nitrate Leaching. Project Cheers Addresses USDA'S Priority Areas of Climate Smart Agriculture and Strengthening Bioeconomy. This Project Will Form a Hub of Diverse Stakeholder Groups Including Farmers and Various Enabling Agencies and Communities Such as Extension Professionals CS Commodity Industry Federal Agencies and Academia to Address These Objectives: 1. Identify Long-term Behavioral Patterns Related to CS Winter Cropping Systems Among Producers; 2. Analyze Farm Level Economic and Environmental Trade-offs Between Current and CS Winter Cropping Systems; 3. Equip Multiple Stakeholders With Decision Support Platforms to Assess Farm and Regional Scale Economic and Environmental Trade-offs Between Current and CS Winter Cropping Systems; 4. Co-design Co-develop Share and Implement Actionable Science; 5. Inspire and Instruct the Next Generation. This Project Will Enhance Economic Outcomes of Rural Stakeholders Reduce Entry Barriers for Beginning Farmers Sustainably Intensify Agricultural Production and Create Equitable Pathways for the Next Generation of Agricultural Professionals to Play a Vital Role in the Climatesmart Bioeconomy.