2020 Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board-funded projects
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AgCenter research keeps pace with onslaught of disease in soybeans, other grains
Diseases continually threaten yield and profitability of soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum crops in Louisiana. That’s why research to minimize damage has continued to be an important part of LSU AgCenter research efforts conducted at multiple research stations and on farms.
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Cercospora battle continues on many fronts
LSU AgCenter researchers exploring new approaches for managing Cercospora leaf blight are learning more about what triggers toxin production, when mitigation efforts are most successful, how the fungus is spread in the field and how to speed screening for resistance in soybeans.
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Cost-effective drones hold potential in identifying crop plant health
Drones have been used for years to help identify the overall plant health of crops, but the cost of that equipment has been a limitation for many farmers. A study funded by the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board has been showing comparable effectiveness from less-expensive drones when coupled with proper data processing and data interpretation.
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Guava root-knot nematode continues under scrutiny
In 2018, the guava root-knot nematode was discovered on a farm in northern Louisiana. It was the first — and so far, the only — sighting of the destructive pest in the state.
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High-tech hardware may one day assist soybean grading
A biomedical engineer accustomed to studying the composition of human bone is turning his eye toward determining the quality of soybeans.
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Insect control research helps crop production
LSU AgCenter entomologist Sebe Brown has several research projects for controlling insect pests on corn, soybeans and grain sorghum.
One project, underway for more than 10 years, is the evaluation of neonicotinoid seed treatments on soybeans against three-cornered alfalfa hopper and wireworms.
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Looking at fungicides, other approaches to disease management
Many fungicides are available to help farmers fight the diseases that attack their crops. Those products can be expensive, however, and they do not always have the desired effect.
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Looking at the economics of crop insurance and dicamba-resistant soybeans
AgCenter economist Lawson Connor is evaluating the rating methods and returns to crop insurance in Louisiana.
While crop insurance has become one of the primary agricultural risk management instruments provided by the federal government, the cost and potential benefits from the program vary widely across the country.
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Mild winter means increase in soybean pests
LSU AgCenter entomologists and graduate students are conducting two research projects to determine ways to improve the economics of soybean farming.
Jeff Davis, AgCenter entomology professor, is looking at insecticides that do a good job of controlling redbanded stink bugs as well as insecticide resistance.
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New nanodelivery system could help soybean seeds combat fungus
A new type of nanoparticle could aid in protecting soybean seeds from fungal pathogens. Cristina Sabliov, LSU AgCenter researcher and professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, is working on a new nanodelivery system using lignin particles for soybean seed treatment.
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Precision agriculture is changing the way farmers select crops
On-farm precision agriculture experimentation allows farmers to better select crop varieties and allocate needed resources to targeted zones in their fields, saving money and increasing profit margins.
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Research on pests aims to improve soybean yields
LSU AgCenter sugarcane pest specialist Al Orgeron has two projects underway that could help soybean yields.
He is working with AgCenter agent Jimmy Flanagan to test several crop additives to determine their effectiveness. The companies selling the products claim they help soybeans in stressful growing environments.
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Scientist looks for ways to improve soybean seed quality
Improving soybean seed quality is the goal of LSU AgCenter research that has been ongoing for the past three years.
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Soil fertility study underway
Rasel Parvej, LSU AgCenter soil fertility specialist, is in the first year of a study on soybean yield response to phosphorus and potassium levels at different soil depths.
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Studies analyze long-term benefits of cover crops at planting, termination
Producers in Louisiana have used cover crops for years to help protect their soil, and now two LSU AgCenter researchers are studying the practice to precisely understand the benefits of the practice.
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Tradition of core block trials improves crop production
Demonstration plots of new soybean and wheat varieties along with new corn hybrids is a tradition that would make Seaman Knapp proud. Knapp, considered the father of the extension service, was a firm believer in showing farmers the potential of new seeds on the land they farmed.
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