• In 1983, Ph.D. from Purdue University working in plant breeding and genetics, specifically with grain sorghum
• In 1980, M.S. degree from the Department working in crop science in the area of small grains breeding
• In 1978, B.S. degree in Agronomy from the University of Arkansas

• He has been in the Department since 1984.
  

• CSES 4103 - Plant Breeding (FA, Even years)
  Basic principles involved in plant breeding programs to improve crop plants and seed programs. Recitation 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours per week.
  Prerequisite: BOTY 3203 or ANSC 3123.
• CSES 3342 - Cereal Grain Production (Sp, Even years) 
  An overview of the botany, production, cultural practices, soil and climatic adaptation and utilization of the major cereal grain crops. 
  Prerequisite: CSES 1203.
• CSES 4013 - Advanced Crop Science (Sp)
  Fundamental concepts of crop physiology, crop improvement, seed science, and crop production systems. Recitation 3 hours per week.
  Prerequisite: CSES 2103

• Conducts breeding and production research with winter wheat, oats and canola. The major emphasis is in wheat breeding. The objective is to develop improved wheat cultivars that are high yielding and disease resistant. Another major thrust has been in breeding for improved end-use quality.

• Gunsaulis, J. L., W. K. Coblentz, R. K. Ogden, R. K. Bacon, K. P. Coffey, D. S. Hubbell, III, J. V. Skinner, Jr., M. S. Akins, J. D. Caldwell, K. S. Lusby, and S. A. Gunter. 2008. Fall growth potential of cereal grain forages in northern Arkansas. Agron. J. 100:1112-1123.

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, E.A. Milus, and C.E. Parsons. 2006. Registration of Soft Wheat Germplasm AR93005 Resistant to Leaf Rust. Crop Sci. 46:1398-1399.

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, E.A. Milus, and C.E. Parsons. 2006. Registration of AR 910 wheat. Crop Sci. 46:985-986 .

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, E.A. Milus, and C.E. Parsons. 2006. Registration of AR 839 wheat. Crop Sci. 46:471-472.

• Slaton, N.A., K.R. Brye, R.K. Bacon, and M. Mozaffari. 2005. Correlation and calibration of Mehlich-3 phosphorus recommendations for winter wheat following rice in Arkansas.  Comm. Soil Sci. and Plant Analysis. 36:993-1004.

• Bacon, R. 2004. Understanding Biotechnology : An Intergrated and Cyber-Based Approach (Book Review). NACTA Jour. 48(2):61-62.

•  Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, E.A. Milus, and C.E. Parsons. 2004. Registration of Pat wheat. Crop Sci. 44:694-695.

• Mayta, J.*, R. Bacon, J. Kelly, and E. Gbur. 2003. Effect of Triticum turgidum cytoplasm on test weight of soft red winter wheat. Discovery 4:53-58.

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, E.A. Milus, and C.E. Parsons. 2002. Registration of Sabbe wheat. Crop Sci. 42:1375-1376.

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, and C.E. Parsons. 2002. Registration of AR91017 winter rapeseed germplasm. Crop Sci. 42:1385-1386.

• Bacon, R.K., F.L. Kolb, and J.P. Murphy. 2001. The U.S. Soft Red Wheat Pool. In A. Bonjean and W. Angus (ed.) The World Wheat Book. Editions Lavoisier, Cachan, France. p.469-478.

• Bacon, R.K., and J.T. Kelly. 2000. Registration of AR91004 winter rapeseed germplasm. Crop Sci. 40:1206-1207.

• Kelly, J.T., and R.K. Bacon. 2000. Registration of Arkansas hull-less oat composite germplasm. Crop Sci. 40:1204.

• Lloyd, B.J., T.J. Siebenmorgen, R.K. Bacon, and E. Vories. 1999. Effect of harvest date and conditioned moisture content on test weight of soft red winter wheat. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 15(5): 525-534.

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, and E.A. Milus. 1998. Registration of ‘Jaypee’ wheat. Crop Sci. 38:1723.

• Bashir, R., R.J. Norman, and R.K. Bacon. 1997. Accumulation and redistribution of fertilizer nitrogen-15 in soft red winter wheat. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61:1407-1412.

• Jacques, S.*, R.K. Bacon, and L.D. Parsch. 1997. Comparison of single cropping, relay cropping and double cropping of soyabeans with wheat using cultivar blends. Expl. Agric. 33: 477-486.

• Bacon, R.K., J.T. Kelly, and E.A. Milus. 1996. Registration of ‘Hazen’ wheat. Crop Sci. 36:209-210.

• Kelly, J.T., R.K. Bacon, and B.R. Wells. 1995. Genetic variability in nitrogen utilization at four growth stages in soft red winter wheat. J. Plant Nutrition. 18(5):969-982. 

• Schuler, S.F., R.K. Bacon, P.L. Finney, and E.E. Gbur. 1995. Relationship of test weight and kernel properties to milling and baking quality in soft red winter wheat. Crop Science 35:949-953. 

• Kelly, J.T., R.K. Bacon, and E.E. Gbur. 1995. Relationship of grain yield and test weight in soft red winter wheat. Cereal Research Communications. 23:53-57.

• Bacon, R.K. 1994. Plant breeding theory and practice (book review). J. Natural Resources and Life Science Education 23:151. 

• Kelly, J.T., R.K. Bacon, and B.R. Wells. 1994. Relation of nitrogen utilization to yield components in soft red winter wheat. J. Plant Nutrition 17:2105-2118.

• Schuler, S.F., R.K. Bacon, and E.E. Gbur. 1994. Kernel and spike character influence on test weight of soft red winter wheat. Crop Science 34:1309-1313. 

Link of interest 

• Small Grains Variety Testing