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Soybean rust detected in 3 Arkansas countiesLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)--Agriculture officials have confirmed soybean rust in three southeast Arkansas counties and are working to determine how far the fungal disease has spread. The rust has been found in Ashley, Desha and Drew counties. The disease causes premature leaf loss and can be treated with fungicides. "We're still out scouting, trying to get a good handle on how far it has spread into the state," said Jeremy Ross, soybean agronomist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Ross said he does not anticipate widespread crop losses. The Arkansas soybean crop is worth close to $1 billion, second only to rice in value and first in acreage, with 3.15 million acres planted. Soybean rust first appeared in Arkansas in November 2004, likely brought by Hurricane Ivan. So far this year, seven states, from Florida to Texas, have detected rust. Ross said beans that are to be harvested latest in the season are most vulnerable to rust. The state had about 900,000 acres of wheat planted. Farmers commonly plant soybeans after their wheat harvest, so close to a third of the state soybean crop would theoretically be at risk. Scott Monfort, an extension service plant pathologist, said Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gustav may have spread rust spores. The disease thrives in cloudy, wet weather; its spores are killed by ultraviolet light, Ross said. 9/15/08 Date: 9/11/08
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