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STREET ADDRESS Robeson County 455 Caton Rd O.P. Owens Agriculture Center Lumberton, NC 28360 (910) 671-3276 Phone (910) 671-6278 Fax Map & Mailing Information Recent Tweets Tonight at 6 pm: [more] teams with #NCSU researchers to investigate germs in students' lunch boxes | [more] |
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOYBEAN RUSTNovember 14, 2005 As a result of monitoring activities conducted by North Carolina State University with the aid of Cooperative Extension Agents Mac Gibbs, Art Bradley, Josh Beam, and Carla Pugh, Asiatic soybean rust has now been identified in 15 North Carolina counties (Onslow, Hoke, Carteret, Craven, Brunswick, Bladen, Columbus, Robeson, Pender, Scotland, Duplin, Hyde, Catawaba, Edgecombe, and Tyrrell Counties). The earlier report on Beaufort County was incorrect as the actual site was in Carteret County. Soybean rust will not impact North Carolina soybean production in the 2005 growing season, because over 80 percent of the crop is mature. The impact on the remaining soybean will be minimal because of the late entry of this pathogen into the state. Soybean rust does not infect seed and will not contribute to seed rots. November 11, 2005 Edgecombe County has this week become the 14th North Carolina county in which Asiatic Soybean Rust has been confirmed on soybeans and the farthest north that the disease has been confirmed on soybeans this year. Our best guess is that hurricane Ophelia delivered the spores that initiated the disease symptoms we've seen in the last two weeks. Quite a few people are continuing to monitor what few soybean plants still have green leaves (e.g. stray plants with no pods or plants under a nightlight), and suspicious samples are still being checked daily in the lab. Texas has confirmed Asiatic Soybean Rust on Kudzu in one county; this is the farthest west that soybean rust has been confirmed in 2005. The farthest west it has been confirmed on soybeans is in Louisiana. Georgia has found what is apparently Asiatic Soybean Rust on a Florida Beggarweed plant, but lab confirmation has not been as consistent as we'd like to see, so we'd consider that report as "probable" rather than "definitely confirmed" for now. To date, the disease has been confirmed on soybeans in 32 counties in Georgia, 24 counties in Alabama, 23 counties in Florida, 18 counties in South Carolina, 14 counties in North Carolina, 2 counties in Mississippi, and one county in Louisiana. (END UPDATE) NCSU has developed an excellent website and rust forecast system which will provide updates on the threat of rust development in our area. Possible yield losses to the disease can be as high as 80 to 90 percent, according to Ron Heck, president of the American Soybean Association. Rust could have a devastating economic effect on the soybean industry and other leguminous crops. How does it spread? Asian soybean rust is spread mainly by wind-borne spores, which can travel long distances if wind patterns and weather are conducive to survival of the spores. The disease is currently a significant problem in some of the major soybean-producing areas of South America. Experts think that rust will enter the United States through the southern states which lie along the Gulf of Mexico. North Carolina stands a good chance of suffering great economic losses due to a temperate climate which favors survival of the spores which can remain active for more than 50 days. Over 90 different plant species can host or be a reservoir for rust. One widespread host is kudzu. Robeson County is the number one county in the state for soybean production, so this is a very important issue for us. How can rust get to the United States? Rust can travel to the United States four different ways; wind-blown spores, contamination from trade in soybean products, a deliberate bioterrorist infection, or a careless traveler who accidentally brings rust back on clothes or other material exposed to rust. The most likely is through wind-blown spores.
Control Strategies When rust arrived in Brazil, growers were ready, because they were accustomed to spraying fungicides on their crop for other diseases. For the United States, the biggest challenge will be making sure we have adequate supplies of fungicides and the equipment to apply them. Several fungicides are available to control rust, but the disease must be identified early to prevent further spread and yield loss. Web Resources
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Phone: 910-671-3276
Date created: 3/29/05
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Identification is the Key
Early identification is the key to preventing severe economic losses from the disease. If you see anything unusual in your fields, don't take any chances. Have the plant inspected by the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic to verify presence of the disease. Call us and we will be glad to look at your soybeans and make an assessment. Rust looks very similar to many of the foliar diseases normally found on soybeans, so it is extremely important to have the plant tested if there is any doubt of which disease is present.
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