Station Identification:

Physical Location: 212A Macon Ridge Road, Winnsboro, LA 71295

Distance/Context: Approximately 121 miles north of LSU Main Campus, Baton Rouge, LA

Contacts:

Resident Coordinator: Trey Price; 318-435-2903; pprice@agcenter.lsu.edu

Farm Manager: Dustin Ezell; 318-435-2903; dezell@agcenter.lsu.edu

Station Overview:

Research at this station focuses on row crop production and forages. Overarching goals are to continually develop/refine integrated pest management strategies for insects, diseases, and weeds. Additionally, research is conducted in variety development/selection, fertility, tillage, crop rotation, irrigation, cover crops, and forage crops to develop best management practices for farmers.

Key Commodities and Production Systems Served:

The Macon Ridge Research Station works with corn, cotton, grain sorghum, oat, peanut, rice, soybean, and wheat as well as forage and cover crop production. Many applied field research projects in entomology, pathology, weed science, soil fertility, agronomy, variety/hybrid performance, irrigation, and forage crops are performed.

Research Programs and Disciplines:

The Macon Ridge Research Station has active research projects in the following areas:

• Breeding and Variety Development
• Agronomy
• Plant Pathology
• Entomology
• Weed Science
• Soil Fertility
• Irrigation
• Forages

Physical Resources and Infrastructure:

Acreage for Field Research: 502 acres

Station Infrastructure:

• Office Building with associate office space. Total square footage of 1,104 sq. ft.
• New Office Building with faculty offices and meeting space. 2,345 sq. ft.
• Tom H. Scott Research, Extension, and Education building with offices and meeting spaces. 4,544 sq. ft.
• Pest Management Research Facility with pathology and entomology labs as well as research associate offices and workspace. 3,840 sq. ft.
• Pesticide Storage Building with spaces to store chemicals and equipment. 3,150 sq. ft.
• Equipment Shed to store tractors, planters, sprayers, harvesters, etc. 5,537 sq. ft.
• Forage/Agronomy Lab/Soil Fertility Lab with four large dryer rooms and storage space upstairs. 1,800 sq. ft.
• Greenhouse & Headhouse. 1,616 sq. ft.
• New Greenhouse with 8 flood tables, 6 regular tables, two dew chambers, and a small storage space. 2,209 sq. ft.
• Equipment Storage for tractors, planters, sprayers, harvesters, etc. 4,600 sq. ft.
• Shop used to maintain station and research equipment. 6,090 sq. ft.
• New Storage Building for seed and equipment storage. 3,000 sq. ft.
• Two irrigation wells and four ponds and three power units used to water crops.

Analysis Capabilities and Impact:

The resources, personnel, and infrastructure at the Macon Ridge Research Station provide a strong capacity to address many of the most critical challenges facing the farming industry. Faculty and research staff at the station support crop breeders in developing multiple crops enhancing yield potential, grain quality, pest resistance, and environmental stresses. Extensive research is also conducted on environmentally sound and sustainable production practices, including evaluations of land preparation methods, planting dates and seeding rates, crop management strategies, and optimized water and nutrient management systems that balance productivity with long-term resource conservation. In addition, research efforts focus on the development of effective integrated pest management strategies for weeds, insects, and diseases, combining cultural practices with targeted chemical controls to minimize environmental impacts while maximizing economic returns for farmers.

Agricultural Applications:

Varietal research at Macon Ridge provides farmers with high-yielding pest resistant options. Varietal information is released annually and provided to stakeholders for their use. Many commercial and experimental herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are tested for efficacy on many different weed, insect, and disease pests. Multiple agronomy projects directed at producer production practices are conducted. Soil fertility practices are explored with N, P, K, S, and other fertility rate trials as well as source evaluation. Two salty irrigation wells at the station allow for screening multiple crop varieties/hybrids sensitivities. Irrigation studies looking at overhead and in-furrow irrigation are conducted. Multiple forage trials are also conducted looking at many different varietal combinations. All the information developed at the station is provided in a timely manner to producers and adopted into integrated management programs.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

At the Macon Ridge Research Station, we collaborate extensively with multiple agricultural departments on campus and with other scientists at many other research stations in the state. Additionally, we collaborate across state lines with piers at other agricultural universities throughout the United States. There are multiple state and federal agencies that we secure funding from and collaborate with. Also, there are multiple commodity groups and producer organizations that we obtain funding from. Finally, we conduct a substantial amount of field research with our industry partners.