Research Board Looks for Several Answers

by Don Molino

One of the projects funded by the Louisiana Soybean and Grain Research and Promotion Board this year will be looking at both drought and flood tolerance.

"Some of the things we've done in the past, and even at the USB (United Soybean Board) level that are showing some of the same genes that help a bean make it through drought actually help the plant in a flooded situation to do better", says board chairman Raymond Schexnayder.

"We're just finding out a lot more stuff and trying to address some of our bigger yield loss issues," Schexnayder went on to say. "Pretty much now all across the country you're hearing more and more about the Roundup resistant weeds...just flourishing under the conditions that have been and what's the best way to attack them, whether it's changing the chemicals."

"So we're funding a lot of research on yield protection as far as getting weeds out of the field which seems to be a real tough problem."

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