Research Continues to Be Vital to Soybean Producers

By Don Molino, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

Ike Boudreaux, who farms in St. Landry Parish, served as Chairman of the United Soybean Board in 2008 as well as Chairman of the U.S. Soybean Export Council the following year.

“And at that time we had a little over 200 projects in some 50 countries with seven overseas offices,” said Boudreaux. “That was really an experience and I was fortunate to be part of it.”

So just how big a part does research play in what Boudreaux does every day?

“It’s tremendous.  Things change so fast with technology and new things coming out.  New varieties, new chemicals and just the way of doing business,” says Boudreaux.

“Research, I think, is more important today than it was 20 years ago and 20 years ago it was everything to a farmer because things change so fast.  If we don’t have research to keep us up-to-date on new opportunities there is no way we can stay in business,” Boudreaux says.