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  Can Soybean Seeding Rates Be Reduced Without Affecting Yields in Louisiana? (Bulletin #892)

  Jim Board, Charanjit Kahlon, Dustin Harrell, Theophilus Udeigwe, John Stapp, and Tim Talbot

  A major agronomic objective for commercial soybean production is to reduce the minimum plant population required for optimal yield (i.e., minimal optimal plant population). This has occurred because seed cost, once a minor production expense, has become a major cost, accounting for about 42 percent of direct operating costs for an average U.S. soybean grower (U.S. Soy Crop Statistics, 2011).

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  Evaluation of 54 Years of Centralized Performance Bull Testing at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center (Bulletin #893)

  Tabitha Howard, Matthew Garcia, Kenneth Bondioli, and Sidney Derouen

  The first objective of this study was to evaluate 54 years of performance data to analyze performance trends from a centralized performance bull testing program conducted in central Louisiana. The second objective was to discuss how changes in performance trends observed in the Dean Lee Performance Bull Tests compare to other multidecade bull performance tests.

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  Estimating GDP at the Parish (County) Level: An Evaluation of Alternative Approaches (Bulletin #890)

  John D. Barreca, J. Matthew Fannin, and Joshua D. Detre

  Gross Domestic Product or GDP is estimated for each parish from earnings and employment data from more than 60 industries in Louisiana.

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  Soil Compaction Thresholds for the M1A1 Abrams Tank: Field Study at Camp Minden, La. (Bulletin #891)

  Michael R. Lindsey, H. Magdi Selim, Tamer A. Elbana, Jerry Daigle, Charles Guillory, Marc Bordelon, and Mitchell Mouton

  The purpose of this study was to establish critical soil compaction thresholds for M1A1 Abrams battle tank traffic in an effort to minimize soil physical properties that adversely affect vegetation regeneration.

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  Evaluating the Switch from Cotton to Corn: Impacts on the Louisiana Economy (Bulletin #888)

  J. Mathew Fannin, Kenneth W. Paxton, and John D. Barreca

  This research measures the net economic impact to the Louisiana economy from a major switch in acreage from cotton to corn in 2007.

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  An Update of the Field Guide to Louisiana Soil Classification (Bulletin #889)

  David C. Weindorf

  This field guide represents an update of work by Amacher et al. (1989), the original idea of which started with Dr. Bob Miller. The guide provides researchers and others interested in soils with a concise key to the classification of soils throughout Louisiana along with information on geology, climate, vegetation, etc.

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  Applying a Hybrid Methodology for Measuring the Economic Contribution of the Food and Fiber System to the Louisiana Economy (Bulletin #886)

  J. Matthew Fannin and James E. Henderson

  This publication provides a new approach to identifying the economic contribution of agriculture to Louisiana. Both state- and parish-level contributions from food and fiber are included.

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  School Accountability in Louisiana (Bulletin #887)

  Mark J. Schafer

  A detailed picture of school accountability across Louisiana's regions and school districts.

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  A Conjoint Analysis of Site Selection for the U.S. Broiler Industry: Impications for Louisiana (Bulletin #882)

  Pramod R. Sambidi, R. Wes Harrison, and A. James Farr

  The purpose of this study is to analyze broiler industry executives’ decisions on where to locate a broiler complex in the United States. The specific objectives are to identify factors affecting site locations of broiler complexes in the United States and to measure the effects and relative importance of these factors on the broiler complex location decision.

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  Herbicide Retention and Runoff Losses as Affected by Sugarcane Mulch Residue (Bulletin #883)

  H. Magdi Selim, Brian J. Naquin, Richard L. Bengtson, Hongxia Zhu, James L. Griffin, and Liuzong Zhou

  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sugarcane residue (mulch cover) in reducing non-point source contamination of applied chemicals from sugarcane fields.

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  Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Process Description and Estimated Cost of Production (Bulletin #881)

  Chilton Ng, Wayne E. Marshall, Ramu M. Rao, Rishipal R. Bansode, Jack N. Losso, and Ralph J. Portier

  This bulletin is a follow-up, in part, of Bulletin #869, “Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Preparation, Properties and Application in Cane Sugar Refining.” An estimation of production costs for these by product-based carbons was considered prudent because of the potential interest from both bagasse and shell producers and activated carbon manufacturers based on the use of these carbons in various applications compared to commercial carbons.

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  Late-season Insect Pests of Soybean in Louisiana: Preventive Management and Yield Enhancement (Bulletin #880)

  Melissa W. Willrich, David J. Boethel, B. Rogers Leonard, and David C. Blouin

  The velvetbean caterpillar and the soybean looper are important pests of soybeans in Louisiana. These late-season soybean insect pests create the need for the continuous development of insecticide programs that are cost effective, maintain profitable yields and conserve natural enemies.

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  Develping Consensus Indicators of Sustainability for Southeastern United States Aquaculture (Bulletin #879)

  Rex H. Caffey, Richard F. Kazmierczak, and James W. Avault

  This study investigates whether diverse aquaculture interest groups can collectively agree on ways to coordinate this resource use by developing goals and indicators of aquaculture sustainability. Specifically, this study used aquaculture experts from the production, research, regulatory and public interest sectors to identify and weight a broad range of indicators of aquaculture sustainability in the southeastern United States.

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  Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Preparation, Properties, and Application in Cane Sugar Refining (Bulletin #869)

  Mohamed Ahmedna, Wayne E. Marshall, and Ramu M. Rao

  The objectives of this investigation were to convert select Louisiana agricultural by-products to GAC and to characterize these carbons in terms of those physical (surface area, pore structure) and chemical (surface charge, functional groups) properties directly related to adsorption of raw sugar colorants.

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  A Comparative Analysis of the Evolution of the Three Major U.S. Meat Industries: With Implications for the Future Direction of the U.S Beef Industry (Bulletin #877)

  Jeffrey Gillespie, Christopher Davis, Aydin Basarir, and Alvin Schupp

  The objectives of this study are to: (1) use an appropriate model of structural change in agricultural industries to critically examine the evolutionary paths of the three major U.S. meat industries to date, and to (2) provide insight as to the future challenges faced by the beef industry in progressing toward a more efficient consumer-oriented industry.

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  Economic Implications of Forest Products Sector Industry Development in Northwest Louisiana (Bulletin #874)

  David W. Hughes and Richard P. Vlosky

  In this study, industry development opportunities specific to northwestern Louisiana were examined. This publication focuses on the economic impacts of forest products industry development in this region.

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  The Impact of Price and Yield Variability on Southeastern U.S. Catfish Producer Operations (Bulletin #876)

  Richard F. Kazmierczak Jr. and Patricia Soto

  This study empirically assessed the impact of stochastic price and yield variables on catfish producer profits within a risk-evaluation framework.

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  Lipase and Lipoxygenase Activity, Functionality, and Nutrient Losses in Rice Bran During Storage (Bulletin #870)

  Fatemeh Malekian, Ramu M. Rao, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, Wayne E. Marshall, Marlene Windhauser, and Mohammed Ahmedna

  This bulletin includes information on the feasibility of using microwave heat to inactivate lipase and LOX, determine the optimum storage and packaging conditions with the fewest adverse effects on functionality, and to determine changes in functionality of rice bran as a result of heat treatment.

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  Evaluating the Social and Economic Factors Related to Successful Labor Force Development for the Value-added Forest Products Industry in Northwestern Louisiana (Bulletin #871)

  Pamela A. Monroe, Lydia B. Blalock, and Richard P. Vlosky

  This bulletin explains the goal to develop the secondary forest products industry while adding value to existing resources, creating employment opportunities with transferable skills and maintaining the stewardship of renewable resources in rural communities.

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  Consumer and Handler Reactions to Potential Country-of-Origin Labeling of Fresh or Frozen Beef (Bulletin #878)

  Alvin Schupp and Jeffrey Gillespie

  Imported fresh or frozen beef, along with other food products, is identified by country-of-origin as it enters the U.S. in bulk containers. This bulletin includes information and primary objectives on country-of-origin of fresh or frozen beef.

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  Runoff Losses of Atrazine, Metribuzin, and Nutrients as Affected by Management Practices for Sugarcane (Bulletin #875)

  H. M. Selim, R. L. Bengtson, H. Zhu, and R. Ricaud

  A primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of selected pesticide management practices on the movement of atrazine and metribuzin in surface runoff from sugarcane fields in south Louisiana.

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  A Timber Resource Assessment of Northwest Louisiana (Bulletin #873)

  Richard P. Vlosky and N. Paul Chance

  This publication focuses on forest resources and implications for industry development in this region.

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  Industry Structure and Market Potential for Value-added Wood Products in Northwest Louisiana (Bulletin #872)

  Richard P. Vlosky and N. Paul Chance

  This bulletin explains how value-added secondary wood processing offers opportunities for increased profitability through higher margins and increased profits. It also includes information on how secondary manufacturers can generally increase prices to make up for lost profits when raw material costs rise.

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  Valuation of Sugarcane Associated with Eminent Domain Land Acquisition in Louisiana (Bulletin #867)

  Michael E. Salassi, Lonnie P. Champagne, and G. Grant Giesler

  The purpose of this bulletin is to present a method to value perennial crops associated with eminent domain acquisition of agricultural crop land. More specifically, it focuses on the estimation of the value of ‘short-lived’ perennial crops, crops that have a productive life over a relatively short, defined period of years, as opposed to permanent plantings, such as orchards or vineyards, which have a productive life over a considerably longer period.

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  Maximizing Economic Returns from Sugarcane Production Through Optimization of Harvest Schedule (Bulletin #868)

  Michael E. Salassi, Lonnie P. Champagne, and Benjamin L. Legendre

  This bulletin presents a methodology for the incorporation of within-season sucrose accumulation in sugarcane into an optimal single-season, daily harvest scheduling model at the individual farm level.