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

June 15, 2007

Dry Conditions in the South Reduce Risk of Soybean Rust this Season

Overall, dry conditions in many southern states early this season reduced the level of soybean rust being detected this year. In the most recent report from the southern states limited amounts of soybean rust were being found. This greatly reduces the risk of soybean rust being a problem this year in the North Central states. Once we get to early July, if rust has not become more active, our risk for a significant disease problem is very low to no chance.

Recent rains in some southern states should increase soybean rust activity, but it may simply be too late for rust to move into Nebraska this year. On June 2 soybean rust was found in eastern Texas along the gulf in Liberty County. This is the earliest we have seen soybean rust this far west; however, a significant amount of rust has not been found in Texas and they are currently pretty dry. This is definitely a potential source of inoculum for Nebraska, but there will need to be much more development and spread for this to reach us.

Current soybean rust conditions can be found at the national soybean rust web site at sbrusa.net. We also are continuing to operate the soybean rust hotline and the UNL soybean rust Web site (soybeanrust.unl.edu) where an updated list of fungicides is available. I encourage you to stay tuned to see what happens as we go through the season.

Loren J. Giesler
Extension Plant Pathologist

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Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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