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Soybean rust found in more Arkansas countiesArkansas Asian soybean rust disease has been found in six more Arkansas counties, Dr. Scott Monfort, extension plant pathologist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said Sept. 19. "It's now above Interstate 40," he said. "It's just starting to build up to where we can find it." Soybean rust has the potential to seriously threaten soybean crops. Monfort believes it was blown into southeast Arkansas by Hurricane Fay and Gustav. Initially, it only affected Ashley, Chicot, Drew and Desha counties, then it was confirmed in Lincoln and Jefferson counties. The newest finds are in three fields in Phillips, Lee, Monroe, Prairie, Arkansas and Woodruff counties. Monfort believes the disease won't spread much because "our clear weather doesn't favor spread." As a precaution, he said, "my group is out now looking for it on a daily basis." The rust is hard to find in the field until it reaches a later stage of development. "The incidence of this disease in the affected areas is at a really low level and isn't getting worse," he said. About one in 100 leaves in all infected fields show symptoms. "For the most part, soybean rust will not be a problem in a majority of our statewide acreage because of the late arrival of the disease in the state," he said. "Unfortunately, we estimate that a small percentage of our acreage could be impacted." Farmers in the areas where the disease has been found should treat fields with a fungicide, he recommended. It's believed rust spores that cause the disease were initially picked up from a severely infested area in the Florida panhandle and blown into Arkansas through Louisiana. Monfort asked farmers in the infected areas to apply a fungicide when soybeans are at growth stage R1 to early R5. Early R5 is when pods are found in the top four nodes of a plant with 1/8-inch or smaller beans. After R5, yield impact from the disease will likely be minimal this year due to its late arrival and slow development. "At this time, the southcentral and southeast part of the state is at more risk than the rest of the state and should be the primary area when considering applying a fungicide," Montfort said. Montfort asked for farmers to take suspicious leaves to their county agent who will send them to a diagnostic lab for disease confirmation. An updated fungicide list has been released and is available from county agents or by calling the Soybean Rust Hotline at 1-866-641-1847. If farmers have questions they can call Monfort at 870-659-0648, Dr. Jeremy Ross at 501-944-0621 or Amy Carroll at 870-258-2509. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture. 9/29/08 Date: 9/23/08
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