The mid-March to early April planting dates required for optimal corn production in Louisiana often result in exposure of seedlings to lower than optimal soil temperatures.

On-farm demonstrations are nothing new to the LSU AgCenter, and in 2002, a variety/hybrid-based program specifically focusing on soybean, corn and grain sorghum was initiated.

Most producers recognize the importance of managing weeds in corn and grain sorghum and do an excellent job with the tools available. The main weakness in many weed management programs is the lack of early season weed control, which can be critical to maximizing yield.

The sugarcane beetle is a sporadic pest of several crops including field corn, sugarcane and sweet potatoes across many southern states. Only the adult stage of these beetles is reported to cause crop injury.

LSU AgCenter researchers have found resistance in corn borers to commercial Bt corn. The resistance detected in the sugarcane borer is the first major resistance to Bt corn in any corn borer species.

Aflatoxin is perhaps the major production concern for Louisiana corn growers. LSU AgCenter researchers are taking three approaches to help control aflatoxin.

Historically in Louisiana, producers will double-crop 95 percent of all wheat acreage with soybeans, so proper management of wheat stubble is critical in maximizing soybean yields.

Choosing varieties for production is among the most important decisions farmers make each season. For maximum profit, producers must select adapted varieties that will perform well in their farm environments.

Louisiana grain sorghum fields are threatened by a group on insects that includes the corn earworm, fall armyworm and sorghum webworm.

Wheat is a versatile crop that easily fits into several cropping systems. Additionally, harvest and marketing in the late spring provide producers much needed cash flow to support summer farming activities.