The Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board funded these projects in various LSU AgCenter departments, research stations and regions during the past year. Projects list the researcher leaders, total funding and the portions allocated from soybean, corn/wheat or grain sorghum checkoff funds.

Dr. Blair Buckley, associate professor for the LSU AgCenter, focuses on breeding soybeans to develop varieties with resistance to Cercospora leaf blight. Disease-resistant varieties reduce the need for fungicide applications.

Dr. Daniel Stephenson is conducting research trials with feed grains and soybeans at the LSU AgCenter’s Dean Lee Research and Extension Center in Alexandria and its Red River Research Station in Bossier City.

A new research program in the LSU AgCenter is using optical sensors to help corn growers improve nitrogen efficiency by matching fertilizer rates to the yield potential of the crop and available nitrogen in the soil.

The 2009 season is the second year of a research project attempting to provide a better understanding of the complex symptoms associated with soybean plants that appear to mature abnormally.Known as “green bean syndrome” by some and “green stem” by others, the phenomenon has become relatively common across Louisiana

LSU AgCenter faculty members had five projects funded by the new United Sorghum Checkoff Program during its first year of operation.The new program was established in 2008 under the authority of the Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act of 1996 and began collecting checkoff dollars in July 2008. It is designed to use producers’ checkoff dollars to boost profits for sorghum growers with new market development, research and education.

Field corn and small grains represent substantial acreage and contribute significant crop value to agriculture in Louisiana – with more than 1 million acres and $553 million in value for 2008.

The latest challenge on the horizon for wheat breeding is developing resistance to fusarium head blight or scab, according to Dr. Steve Harrison, the LSU AgCenter’s small grains breeder.

Glyphosate – the active ingredient in Roundup – is convenient, easy-to-use and cost-effective. Repeated use likely has led to glyphosate-resistant weeds, however, according to Jim Griffin, a weed scientist with the LSU AgCenter.

LSU AgCenter researchers are looking at disease resistance in corn and wheat varieties and working to determine how fungicide timing and use may affect disease development.