Experts: Asian Soybean Rust Fungus Found in La.
Pastor Dale Morgan
May 16, 6:42 PM EDT
*Experts: Asian Soybean Rust Fungus Found in La.*
Agriculture experts say farmers should be on alert, but not panicked, by
the discovery of Asian soybean rust in a kudzu patch in Iberia Parish.
The fungus, often lethal to soybeans, has been found in southern
Louisiana earlier than last year.
"Right now, it's just sit and watch and wait," said Clayton Hollier, a
plant pathologist with the Louisiana State University AgCenter. "We're
telling them it's a little too early to do anything."
Whether Asian soybean rust becomes a major problem in Louisiana this
year will depend on the weather, Hollier said. Regular rainfall in
southern Louisiana so far this spring could set the stage for the
disease to spread. Rust did not show up last year until late in the
growing season because of the dry summer.
"As we continue to have those showers, the more chances are of having
problems this year," Hollier said.
If the disease becomes a significant problem, farmers may have to use
two applications of fungicides, considerably reducing profits, he said.
"Just the fact that it was found so early compared to last year is
alarming," Hollier said.
The first discovery of 2006 was 53 days later than the confirmed finding
of Asian soybean rust in kudzu this year.
Soybeans that have emerged are still in the vegetative phase, and ASR is
more of an issue for the later reproductive stages, he said, noting that
monitoring for the disease goes on year-round.
"We're doubling our efforts now," he said.
Hollier said his research associate, Rose Berggren, found the rust on
May 8 in an area where it was found last year, but he said confirmation
of the disease was necessary before releasing word of the discovery.
The U.S. Agriculture Department reports that besides Iberia Parish,
Asian soybean rust has been detected in 10 counties in Florida and five
counties each in Georgia and Alabama.