From UnitedPrairie.com
Soybean Rust Found in United States
By
Nov 12, 2004, 08:45
SOYBEAN RUST
As you may have heard, Asian soybean rust is in the United States. It was reported on Wednesday, November 10th that the fungus was present in two experimental fields at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Unfortunately soybean rust is going to be one of the biggest epidemics that farmers will have to deal with in recent history. Although rust can be very devastating to soybeans, it is manageable and can be controlled by application of fungicides.
The disease spreads quickly through a field, making it the most destructive foliar disease of soybean where it occurs. Yield losses where rust occurs range from 10-80%, depending on how early in the season the plant is infected. The main effects of rust infection are the destruction of photosynthetic tissue, premature defoliation, and reduced number of days to maturity.
Currently there are no rust-resistant or tolerant soybean varieties. Research is ongoing, but such varieties are still 5 to 10 years away. Fungicide treatments currently represent the only option for containing soybean rust by lessening the spread of spores. Fungicide use in other countries has been effective in keeping soybean rust below the economic threshold of yield loss.
Fortunately, soybean rust cannot over winter in Central Illinois. This means that we have somewhat of an advantage over farmers in the southern United States. The fungus will now over winter in the South and then have to be blown up by strong South winds, to our area, during the growing season. Depending on when or if the fungus arrives in Central Illinois, will determine how much impact it has on the soybean crop. If the fungus arrives early in the growing season, it will be a long summer for those in the agriculture community. However, if the fungus has a late arrival damage may be minimal due to later maturity of the soybean crop.
This bulletin only has a fraction of information about soybean rust. Right now our advice at United Prairie is for you to become as educated as possible about this fungus. There are many websites, articles, and other sources that have an abundance of information about all the aspects of the fungus. Please take the time to research about soybean rust so you will know what to expect if the disease is in Central Illinois next summer. If you have any further questions about soybean rust feel free to contact your United Prairie Sales Agronomist.
Other info can be found here:
http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/article.php?issueNumber=24&issueYear=2004&articleNumber=7
11-12-04