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| Central Research Station Profile. |
You can access a PDF version of the Central Research Station Profile below.
Two miles south of the LSU campus on Ben Hur Road midway between Nicholson Dr. (La. Hwy. 30) and River Road. The Central Research Station is located on 2900 acres.
2310 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820
Phone: 225-765-2876
Fax: 225-763-5573
Office Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
Email
Web site: LSUAgCenter.com/CentralStation
Patrick K. Bollich, Research Station Resident Director/Professor
email
Research focus:
Corn
Soybean
Wheat
Oat
Grain Sorghum
Cotton
Smooth Cord grass
Beef
Goat
Horse
Poultry
Sheep
Swine
Facilitators of Research for Plant and Animal Science
Central Research Station is one of the largest research stations in the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES), located within two miles of the LSU campus. Its mission is service-based, providing land, equipment and personnel to support plant and animal studies conducted by numerous departments in the LSU AgCenter, the LSU campus, and United States Department of Agriculture. It is unique in that LAES scientists responsible for conducting research or performing teaching and extension functions are members of the cooperating departments and agencies. Soybean, corn, wheat, oat, grain sorghum, rice, cotton, and smooth cord grass research are conducted by the Departments of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences. Research areas include plant breeding, genetics, pest management, plant nutrition, and cultural management. Beef, Swine, sheep, goat, horse, and poultry research is conducted by the School of Animal Sciences, the Veterinary Science Department, and the School of Veterinary Medicine. Research areas include nutrition, parasite control, meat quality, and breeding and genetics improvements.
Research Highlights
The wheat and oat breeding program at Central Research Station is one of the largest in the United States, resulting in development of varieties widely grown across the Gulf South and Southeastern U.S.
Swine nutrition research emphasizes the efficiency of lean pork production while minimizing nutrient loss to the environment.
The coastal plants breeding program is investigating the efficient and economical commercial production of native plants for coastal restoration.
Phosphorus fertilizer requirements for soybean and corn were validated under conventional and minimum tillage.
Significance of Central Research Station Activities:
- Central Research Station’s proximity to campus enables faculty and students easy access to research, teaching and extension programs. Students experience research beyond the classroom and laboratory to better understand agriculture and its importance.
- Metabolic studies in horses has the potential to provide a better understanding of Type II diabetes in humans.
- Animal nutrition studies are designed to improve product quality for the consumer and production efficiency for the producer
- The swine unit provides animals for forensic entomology and animal research.
- Plant breeding and genetics research is the basis for yield and quality enhancements in all crops. Wheat and oat variety releases contribute to farm and agricultural industry income.
2009 Industry Facts:
- Total value of plant commodities- $5,441,729,997
- Total value of animal commodities-$1,949,985,998
Data from the Louisiana AgSummary Web site: LSUAgCenter.com.agsummary
Future Plans
The Infectious Disease Isolation Facility (IDIF) is expected to be completed by Summer 2010 and will operate as a research center for livestock and wildlife diseases. The IDIF has 15 enclosed individual animal rooms suitable for infectious disease studies. All infected animals will be in solid rooms on sealed concrete slabs that drain into a waste treatment tank. Each room has its own system for controlling temperature, humidity, and negative air pressure. A covered area with animal handling facilities (corral, squeeze chute, and catch pens) is connected to the building by a fenced runway. Necropsy and incineration facilities are onsite. The building is a restricted access area, secured by keyed locks and card entry. The IDIF has a laboratory suite containing two laboratories, each containing a small lab animal room. This institution has an Office of Welfare Assurance statement, verifying compliance with the requirements for the proper care and treatment of all vertebrate animals. This new facility will be operated under all required approvals and regulations to ensure safe, secure, and efficient animal research is conducted which benefits both human and animal health. AgCenter personnel from Facilities Planning, the Department of Veterinary Science and Central Research Station have designed a research unit which will be available to collaborators from within the LSU System as well as infectious disease scientists throughout the country.