University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

What does soybean rust in Mexico mean to Nebraska soybean producers?

In recent weeks information has been released about soybean rust affecting soybean seed field production in Mexico. As a result there have questions as to how this may affect Nebraska's risk for soybean rust.

The finds in Mexico are important because they provide an inoculum source directly south of the Great Plains. We know that each year wheat rust moves north through the Great Plains via the Puccinia Pathway. This pathway is a dominant air pattern which plant patholoigsts have named after the genus Puccinia (wheat rust genus). The potential for soybean rust to move in this pathway to Nebraska is significant and would be greater than if the source were in the southeastern United States. Soybean rust has only been confirmed on kudzu in the southeastern United States and there haven't been any confirmed cases in soybean.

The big deciding factor for the outcome of rust in Mexico will be the weather pattern that continues to develop. Currently, soybean rust will have to pass over a very, very dry (listed as extreme drought on the U.S. drought map) southern Texas. An area north of here did receive some rain last week, so we will have to see what develops.

I encourage all soybean producers to keep track of where soybean rust is moving in the United States throughout the season. Sentinel plots have been established in all states and routine scouting is underway. If soybean rust starts moving, the plots will provide a tool for tracking it and the resulting information will be posted to the USDA Soybean Rust Web site. In addition, Nebraska soybean producers can call into the soybean rust hotline, funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board. The toll-free hotline is (877) NebRust or in the Lincoln area (402) 472-8688.

Loren J. Giesler
Extension Plant Pathologist

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