2007 soybean rust sentinel plots

Cool, wet conditions. That is what has delayed planting in Iowa. These are also the conditions that favor the development of Asian soybean rust (SBR). Don\u27t worry, current conditions do not make it more likely for rust to appear in Iowa this year. The causal agent, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, cannot overwinter in the Midwest. In order to infect Midwestern soybeans, viable spores must be blown from southern Florida or Texas and arrive when there are cool, moist conditions

Progress in soybean rust sentinel plots

Our cooperators have worked hard to establish sentinel plots across Iowa. As of May 1, we have 25 of the 30 plots sown and five plots have begun to emerge. Cool temperatures have temporarily halted plant development. We are thankful that, to date, we have lost no plots to frost. Our objective with these plots is to have an early warning should soybean rust reach Iowa. Our strategy for detecting rust early is to have known areas where the host and environment will allow disease development and to closely monitor these areas

Tracking soybean rust in 2006

Under favorable conditions, soybean rust can spread and develop rapidly. This characteristic makes it important to track its advancement on a national scale so Iowa producers can apply protective fungicides when necessary but avoid expensive unnecessary treatments. It was with this in mind that the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), the United Soybean Board, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the soybean rust sentinel plots. In 2005, sentinel plots were established in 31 states and Ontario, Canada. The results of scouting these plots are posted at the USDA Soybean Rust Information Site. This provided producers and researchers with current information about the development of the disease in the United States

Monitoring soybean rust

After the discovery of soybean rust, the United States Department of Agriculture and scientists from land grant colleges worked together to create a system that would monitor the development and increase of soybean rust in North America. In 2005, soybean rust sentinel plots were first used to track the progress of soybean rust. Soybeans, kudzu, and other susceptible crops at representative locations were closely watched for any evidence of disease, results were posted on the Internet, and researchers spoke together in a weekly teleconference to share observations. The use of sentinel plots proved to be an effective tool. Sentinel plots were used in 2006, and this year, Iowa will have 20 sentinel plots

Sentinel plots: The end of the season

During the past few weeks we have heard much about being prepared for when bad things happen--bad things like devastating natural events. For Iowa soybean producers, one bad thing we knew was a possibility in 2005 was Asian soybean rust (ASR). Numerous meetings and publications provided information for getting producers prepared should this disease become a problem. Happily, as the season progresses toward its end, ASR is still far from Iowa

Asian Soybean Rust Sentinel Plots

Asian soybean rust (SBR) caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi was discovered for the first time in the continental United States in November 2004. It was known that under the right conditions, this pathogen could spread rapidly and cause severe yield losses. There are no resistant soybean varieties available, and management requires proper timing of fungicide treatments. In addition to the impact of the disease itself, there are concerns that producers would be tempted to treat their fields unnecessarily before the fungus was present in their area, making their treatments ineffective and increasing the costs of production