Asian soybean rust was confirmed in a small patch of kudzu in Louisiana last week. The airborne fungus has now been found in five U.S. southern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
It is believed soybeans in the Midwest remain relatively safe from the potential yield-robbing disease. Kevin Black, GROWMARK insecticide/fungicide technical specialist, did not rule out a potential finding of soybean rust in Illinois or surrounding states later this season.
Black told FarmWeek the most recent findings of rust in Louisiana were confined to a few plants and in the Alabama case just three leaves.
Farmers who want to track the movements of soybean rust or to learn more about the disease may visit the websites {www.sbrusa.net} and {www.usda.gov/soybeanrust}.
Dan Grant will have more on this story in Monday’s edition of FarmWeek.
USDA Soybean Rust Information Site
USDA Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education