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: Targeting Soybean Rust: Characteristics That Make Soybean Rust Potentially Devastating
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Targeting Soybean Rust
Many sources of soybean rust information are available on the web. At "Targeting Soybean Rust" our focus is on Nebraska soybean producers. Soybean rust is a serious foliar disease that has caused significant crop losses in other parts of the world. It was first detected in the United States in November 2004 and has since been identified in several states in the southeastern U.S. Since wind-borne spores principally spread soybean rust, this suggests it will be a seasonal problem in Nebraska. Our intention is to provide you with the resources you need to stay current with soybean rust developments and the information toolbox to manage this disease if management actions are needed.
As this is a new disease to the United States, spread of disease is being monitored throughout the season and current findings can be found in the distribution section of the links. Current mangement recommendations and fungicides either fully labeled or Section 18 approved are listed in the "Rust Control Products and Spraying Information" section of this web site.
Revisit this site frequently as posting of upcoming programs, workshops and field days where more soybean rust information is being delivered will also be listed on this page.
top of page ^Characteristics That Make Soybean Rust Potentially Devastating
Broad Host Range: Soybean rust has 35 leguminous hosts and is reported to infect 95 plant species.
Lack of Resistance in Soybeans: Based on evaluations of commercial soybean varieties done by the USDA, there is no resistance in commercial varieties at this time.
Airborne and Repeating: The soybean rust fungus is airborne and spreads via spores. A spore can infect a plant and cause a new lesion producing spores every 7-10 days. Under favorable temperature and humidity conditions, spore production in a field can double every two days and over 400 billion spores per acre per day can be produced.
Large Acreage of Soybeans: There are over 74 million acres of soybeans in the U.S. which can serve as a continual inoculum source for the disease as it progresses northward each year.
top of page ^Soybean Rust and Crop Insurance
Crop insurance and soybean rust is a big question for many producers. Please see the latest brochure on ”Soybean Rust, Crop Insurance and You”
published by the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). Information on the
level of risk and distribution of soybean rust through the season will
be posted on this site to assist you in your decision on the use of a
fungicide, if needed.