News Release Distributed 01/17/13

BATON ROUGE, La. – Several LSU AgCenter experts will discuss their research projects for rice, corn, soybean and cotton farming at the 16th Annual National Conservation Systems Conference on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The event, a production of MidAmerica Farm Publications, will be at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge at 4728 Constitution Ave.

“Farmers will be able to get a huge amount of information from LSU AgCenter scientists as well as scientists from universities across the Midsouth,” said John Russin, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for research.

AgCenter presenters will include:

· Don Groth, plant pathologist, will talk about fungicide-resistant sheath blight in rice.

· Dustin Harrell, agronomist, will summarize his work on rattoon rice crop and fertility.

· Steve Linscombe, rice breeder, will discuss the traits of different rice varieties, including disease resistance.

· Johnny Saichuk, rice specialist, will talk about the evolution of Louisiana rice production.

· Eric Webster, weed scientist, will present his work on managing outcrosses and dormant hybrid rice.

· Ralph Frazier, Madison Parish county agent, will talk about using variable rate applications of nitrogen on cotton and corn using Greenseeker technology.

· Rogers Leonard, assistant vice chancellor for research, will talk about managing arthropod pests in cotton, corn, milo and soybeans.

· Donnie Miller, weed scientist, will talk about fall burndown strategies to manage winter weeds.

· Gerald Myers, cotton breeder, will discuss useful information from the Journal of Cotton Science.

· Charles Overstreet, pathologist, will talk about the latest nematode control methods.

· Clayton Hollier, pathologist, will cover foliar pathogens of corn and the potential yield effects.

· Daniel Stephenson, weed scientist, to talk about weed management in corn, including herbicide-resistant weeds.

· Jim Board, agronomist, will provide details of row spacing and plant populations to optimize soybean yields.

· Jeff Davis, entomologist, will talk about controlling stink bugs in soybeans.

· Ron Levy, soybean specialist, will make a presentation on how reduced tillage affects soybean planting dates.

· Donna Morgan, area county agent, will talk about fall and spring fertilizer applications for soybeans.

· Dennis Burns, Tensas Parish county agent, will tell farmers about using yield maps to customize fertilizer applications for different soil types.

· Brenda Tubaña, agronomist, will discuss use of an optical sensing system for variable nitrogen rate technology in cotton production.

Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for extension, said farmers will be able to discuss with their colleagues their practices to grow corn, soybeans, cotton and rice.

“This is an excellent opportunity for farmers to compare their operations,” Coreil said.

Louisiana producers making presentations will include Cecil Parker, Vendall Fairchild, Luke Sayes, Wendall Walker, Travis Walker, Tommy Frey, Ross Hebert, Christian Richard, Ross Thibodeaux, Erie West Barham and George LaCour Jr.

More information on the conference can be obtained at the website www.nctd.net.
 
Bruce Schultz