By Jeff Caldwell

With an entire section of the American Soybean Association (ASA) resolutions for 2005-2006 devoted to the fight against Asian Soybean Rust, there is no question about the importance the disease, and its possible presence in more U.S. fields in the coming year.

"With the growing season just several weeks away, many of us are wondering if soybean rust will be an issue on our farms this year, and what we can do now to prepare for it," said Greg Anderson, United Soybean Board (USB) chairman during a discussion with ASA members and soybean rust authorities during 2005 Commodity Classic in Austin.

How is the soybean industry working to prepare growers for the possible arrival of soybean rust? Since 2001, $1.8 million of soybean checkoff funds have been devoted to rust research, which comprises a two-pronged approach, according to Anderson. The first area of emphasis is fungicide availability, in the event that producers must face the disease head-on in the immediate future. Secondly, research funding is also being devoted to the development of rust-resistant soybean varieties. These methods of preparation, though different in scope, are, according to Jim Sallstrom, USB production chairman, working toward the same end: Expanding knowledge.

"Knowledge is power, and that's especially true when it comes to protecting our crop from soybean rust," Sallstrom said. "Thanks to our checkoff investments, we've already made significant progress to increase our knowledge of rust."

In planning for the management of soybean rust if it rears its head during the 2005 growing season, growers should feel comfortable with the tools at their disposal and realize effective control is not impossible

"It's important for all of us to remember that rust is a manageable disease," Anderson said. "Soybean farmers in other countries are managing rust and surviving, and U.S. soybean farmers will, too."

Even though confidence can be derived from the knowledge of the tools available to fight soybean rust, this should not be realized without early planning for how each operation will manage the disease, according to Dr. David Wright, Iowa Soybean Association director of production technologies. Only with prudent prior planning can soybean growers fully utilize protection measures at their disposal.

"I think it's a good idea to determine a game plan. Actually buying and bringing in fungicide to your operation is probably not the wisest thing to do," he said. "But, you can prepay and arrange contracts for the chemical and application beforehand.

"The grower should do what makes him most comfortable."

One grower who has done just that is Curt Sindergard, Rolfe, Iowa, grower and Iowa Soybean Association president. By the time he left home to attend Commodity Classic in Austin, Sindergard already had contracts arranged for fungicide and application, in the event rust nears his fields. This way, he said he's near the top of a short list of growers who will receive treatment early on, if needed.

"I already have everything contracted, so I'm guaranteed I'll be covered," he said. "We haven't dealt with something with this kind of logistics before. People just aren't looking at the logistics, and how far it can spread. If the elevator has 10 sprayers, but 10,000 acres to spray, that's going to be a problem."

Another issue addressed by ASA resolutions, in terms of strategies for dealing with soybean rust, is crop insurance, specifically, if current policies will cover losses caused by rust. Even though wording that required growers to follow "good farming practices" was removed during final discussion by delegates, a resolution was approved that provides ASA support for coverage of all rust-related losses. Still, Sindergard said the policy's wording makes it necessary for the grower to act in good faith.

"We want to make sure growers are prudent in how they manage this disease. They can't not do anything and expect federal crop insurance," he said. "If we say losses are covered, period, your neighbor might not spray, and you do, and you'll get $20/acre, and he'll get none, but he'll get insurance money."

Yet, in view of the whole situation, Sindergard said grower fraud is of little concern.

"Farmers aren't saying they're worried about other farmers doing what's right," he said. "They just want to make sure they can get everything taken care of."

Date: 3/24/05