Production Research
VSB allocates nearly 50 percent of its operating budget each year to production research. Below, find a summary of current projects being funded through VSB.
2011 Research and Extension Program to Improve Insect Pest Management Practices for Virginia Soybean Producers
Researcher(s): Ames Herbert, Ph.D., Professor, Entomology
Project Summary: Herbert’s research focuses on aphids, stink bugs and corn earworm in soybean production and provides recommendations for managing insect pests and insecticide resistance. Farmers may access recommendations based on this and other pest research in Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Pest Management Guide for Field Crops and the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory.
Funds Awarded: $15,000
Project Summary: Herbert’s research focuses on aphids, stink bugs and corn earworm in soybean production and provides recommendations for managing insect pests and insecticide resistance. Farmers may access recommendations based on this and other pest research in Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Pest Management Guide for Field Crops and the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory.
Funds Awarded: $15,000
Breeding Soybean Varieties Adapted to Virginia
Researcher(s): Katy M. Rainey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Plant Breeding
Project Summary: Project addresses regional factors reducing yield by developing soybean varieties with high yield, herbicide tolerance, nematode resistance, lower production cost and other economically valuable traits.
Funds Awarded: $30,500
Project Summary: Project addresses regional factors reducing yield by developing soybean varieties with high yield, herbicide tolerance, nematode resistance, lower production cost and other economically valuable traits.
Funds Awarded: $30,500
Educational Program – Virginia Tech Crops Judging Team
Researcher(s): A. Ozzie Abaye, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Alternative Crops
Project Summary: This project educates the future agronomy workforce. Abaye focuses on giving Virginia Tech Crops Judging Team students a strong background in crop analysis, specifically plant and seed identification, seed analysis and commercial grain grading.
Funds Awarded: $2,500
Project Summary: This project educates the future agronomy workforce. Abaye focuses on giving Virginia Tech Crops Judging Team students a strong background in crop analysis, specifically plant and seed identification, seed analysis and commercial grain grading.
Funds Awarded: $2,500
Evaluation of Grower-Advisory Models for Improving the Efficiency of Foliar Fungicides in Soybeans
Researcher(s): Pat Phipps, Ph.D., Professor
Erik Stromberg, Ph.D., Professor
Steve Rideout, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Project Summary: Project looks at using advisory models to determine fungicide application and timing for better disease control and increased profit. Researchers use southern U.S. rust reports, Virginia sentinel plot disease incidence and weather-based advisory models to make spray decisions and evaluate control results.
Funds Awarded: $16,125
Erik Stromberg, Ph.D., Professor
Steve Rideout, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Project Summary: Project looks at using advisory models to determine fungicide application and timing for better disease control and increased profit. Researchers use southern U.S. rust reports, Virginia sentinel plot disease incidence and weather-based advisory models to make spray decisions and evaluate control results.
Funds Awarded: $16,125
Impact of Soil pH, Application Timing, and Pesticide Mixing on Manganese Response for Glyphosate Resistant Soybeans
Researcher(s): Mark S. Reiter, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Nutrient and Soils Management
Project Summary: Research aims to improve recommendations for manganese use on glyphosate- resistant soybeans. Reiter considers soil pH, manganese application rates, timing and effect of mixing manganese with pesticides to develop new recommendations to address manganese deficiency.
Funds Awarded: $18,000
Project Summary: Research aims to improve recommendations for manganese use on glyphosate- resistant soybeans. Reiter considers soil pH, manganese application rates, timing and effect of mixing manganese with pesticides to develop new recommendations to address manganese deficiency.
Funds Awarded: $18,000
Intensive Soybean Production Systems
Researcher(s): David L. Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Project Summary: This third-year project evaluates profitability of full-season, barley-soybean and wheat-soybean cropping systems, including best agronomic practices to maximize returns. Specific goals include developing a cropping system decision tool for farmers.
Funds Awarded: $39,674 (This project received $38,799 in 2010-11)
Project Summary: This third-year project evaluates profitability of full-season, barley-soybean and wheat-soybean cropping systems, including best agronomic practices to maximize returns. Specific goals include developing a cropping system decision tool for farmers.
Funds Awarded: $39,674 (This project received $38,799 in 2010-11)
Intensive Soybean Production: A Management Guide
Researcher(s): David L. Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Project Summary: Funding provides farmers printed copies of the new Intensive Soybean Production: A Management Guide. The guide focuses on environmentally responsible practices known to result in consistent profitability increases in intensively managed soybeans.
Funds Awarded: $5,000
Project Summary: Funding provides farmers printed copies of the new Intensive Soybean Production: A Management Guide. The guide focuses on environmentally responsible practices known to result in consistent profitability increases in intensively managed soybeans.
Funds Awarded: $5,000
On-Farm Investigation and Evaluation of Soybean Production Strategies for 2011
Researcher(s): David M. Moore, M.S., Extension Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources
David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Project Summary: Agents and specialists conduct on-farm test plots throughout Virginia’s soybean- producing counties, looking at varietal, nutritional and pest-related problems. Test results enable farmers to improve yield and profit potential through better management decisions.
Funds Awarded: $13,700
David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Project Summary: Agents and specialists conduct on-farm test plots throughout Virginia’s soybean- producing counties, looking at varietal, nutritional and pest-related problems. Test results enable farmers to improve yield and profit potential through better management decisions.
Funds Awarded: $13,700
Physiology of Soybean Yield and Variety Advancement in Virginia Cropping Systems
Researcher(s): Maria Balota, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Crop Physiologist
David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Katy M. Rainey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Plant Breeding
Project Summary: Research examines physiological characteristic relationships affecting yield. Results help plant breeders better direct their yield improvement efforts to address flat yield trends.
Funds Awarded: $18,465
David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Katy M. Rainey, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Plant Breeding
Project Summary: Research examines physiological characteristic relationships affecting yield. Results help plant breeders better direct their yield improvement efforts to address flat yield trends.
Funds Awarded: $18,465
Reducing Glyphosate Applications in Roundup Ready® and Non-Roundup Ready® Soybeans
Researcher(s): Henry P. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, Weed Sciences
Project Summary: This project evaluates reduced glyphosate application (Roundup) weed-control programs in order to reduce selection pressure and slow the occurrence of glyphosate-resistant weeds.
Funds Awarded: $15,000
Project Summary: This project evaluates reduced glyphosate application (Roundup) weed-control programs in order to reduce selection pressure and slow the occurrence of glyphosate-resistant weeds.
Funds Awarded: $15,000
Soybean Research Support – Summer Student Labor
Researcher(s): David Holshouser, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist
Robert M. Pitman, M.S., Superintendent, Eastern Virginia AREC
Project Summary: This project funds additional student labor to assist in field research activities at the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Additional labor ensures collection of important research data and provides learning opportunities for a future agriculture graduate.
Funds Awarded: $5,300
Robert M. Pitman, M.S., Superintendent, Eastern Virginia AREC
Project Summary: This project funds additional student labor to assist in field research activities at the Eastern Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Additional labor ensures collection of important research data and provides learning opportunities for a future agriculture graduate.
Funds Awarded: $5,300
Use of Genomics to Develop Disease Resistant Soybeans
Researcher(s): M.A. Saghai Maroof, Ph.D., Professor, Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
Project Summary: Project aims to develop disease-resistant, high-yielding soybean cultivars for Virginia. 2011-12 research focuses on developing DNA markers for soybean-virus-resistance genes and a marker-assisted selection program aimed at pyramiding or stacking genes conferring resistance to soybean virus and Phytophthora root rot diseases.
Funds Awarded: $10,000
Project Summary: Project aims to develop disease-resistant, high-yielding soybean cultivars for Virginia. 2011-12 research focuses on developing DNA markers for soybean-virus-resistance genes and a marker-assisted selection program aimed at pyramiding or stacking genes conferring resistance to soybean virus and Phytophthora root rot diseases.
Funds Awarded: $10,000