Promotion Board Vital to Grain Research in Louisiana

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

LSU AgCenter Soybean Specialist Dr. Ronnie Levy says he doesn't know how agriculture in this state could exist without the funds made available by promotion boards.

"Producers get all kinds of research and knowledge that's available to them due to the promotion board," said Levy. "Without these funds it would be very limited as to what producers could get done, and it would really impact their ability to stay in business."

Levy points out a lot of the recommendations from soybean projects have been based on research that has been funded by the promotion board. 

"For example, the date of planting studies," he said. "We do date of planting studies throughout the state looking at when the optimal time to plant soybeans will be. Ten years ago the earliest we were planting soybeans was May 5th. Now we're planting them in late March or early April"

Levy also points out there has been a tremendous increase in soybean yields for state averages in the last several years, primarily due to research funded by the promotion board.

(This report is a service of the Louisiana Soybean Research and Promotion Board.)