SOYBEAN RUST

In mid November 2004, USDA/APHIS announced that soybean rust had been discovered on a research farm in Louisiana. Since then, rust has been confirmed in Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, and most recently in Missouri. 

Background

• Asian soybean rust first appeared in Brazil in 2001 and spread to nearly all of Brazil’s soy producing regions by 2004. According to the Brazilian government’s research arm (Embrapa) – soybean rust caused the loss of 4.5MMT of soybeans last year.
• Because soybean rust spores are wind-borne, they are capable of being transported over long distances. As early as last winter, experts were warning that spread of soybean rust to the U.S. was imminent, particularly if this continent experienced a severe hurricane season.
• The U.S. raises 77 million acres of soybeans. U.S. agricultural agencies and producer associations have been actively preparing for the Soybean rust for nearly two years. Action plans for identification, treatment, and monitoring of rust have been in place at the national and state level for the past six months.
• For example, the Illinois Soybean Rust Program (ISRP) is a coordinated effort between the Illinois Soybean Check-off Board, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Illinois Seed Trade Association, Professional Crop Consultants of Illinois, University of Illinois, U of I Extension Service, Southern Illinois University, National Soybean Research Center at the U of I, USDA-APHIS & -ARS and the Illinois Department of Agriculture to identify and control Asian soybean rust. A description of the ISRP is available at http://www.agr.state.il.us/regulation/soybeanrustprogram.pdf.
• On November 10 at approximately 10:00 am Central time, USDA confirmed the presence of soybean rust on soybean leaf samples in Louisiana. The infected plant samples were taken from two different research plots at Louisiana State University.
• U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employees believe the spores were spread by this year’s active hurricane season ( www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/sbr/sbr.html).
• USDA dispatched its soybean rust detection assessment team to the site within 24 hours.
• AFBF, the American Soybean Association, and others have been briefed by USDA regarding how this assessment team will operate now that soybean rust is confirmed in the U.S.
• IFB, ISA, U of I, IDOA, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical, industry representatives, and others discussed the Illinois soybean rust plan and were briefed on educational, identification, and monitoring plans for producers and others on November 10.

Identification and Spread

• The soybean harvest in Louisiana is nearly 95 percent complete.  As a result of harvest, the impact of the discovered fungus should be minimal this year.
• In addition, with the onset of winter in areas north of the “discovery” area, there could not have been a better timeframe to find and identify the disease. Now farmers have months to prepare and educate themselves regarding identification and treatment options.
• Soybean rust can be managed and controlled with the use of fungicides.  Early detection is extremely important for effective management. 
• Soybean crops that do not have the disease confirmed should NOT be treated.
• Scouting for soybean rust needs to start right after the plant’s emergence. Although soybean rust will not over winter anywhere there is a freeze, it can be hosted by Kudzu and other plants that are prevalent in Illinois. Moreover, with the spring storms and winds from the Gulf, spores will easily move into Illinois each spring.
• Rust treatment itself must be immediate and targeted. Treatment begins just before the flowering stage.
• Air temperatures from 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit are optimal for infection as long as there is at least 6-12 hours of continuous moisture or dew on the leaf. Moisture, as rain or dew, promotes the spread of the pathogen once plants are infected.
• If a farmer suspects the presence of soybean rust, he is asked to notify his county extension agent immediately
• Iowa State University has a one-stop shop on soybean rust:  www.soybeanrust.info.

Production and Identification Issues

• If soybean rust enters the Midwest in 2005, yield losses would be in the range of 10% per acre because conditions are not as favorable to soybean rust as they are in Brazil according to X.B. Yang, extension plant pathologist at Iowa State University.
• Yang's computer simulations predict soy crop losses of 40-50% in the Gulf Coast region, where humid environmental conditions are much more conducive to proliferation of the disease.
• Cooperators in the ISRP, will hold educational meetings again this winter. Topics will include: diagnosis, treatment options, and coordination of information and action if rust appears in specific area of the state. There will also be considerable emphasis on what we have learned from watching the disease management activities of other countries affected by soybean rust.
• As regards crop insurance and whether or not producers may see increased rates in 2005 due to the potential for soybean rust, RMA has confirmed that there is no chance that this discovery will affect rates charged to producers in 2005 as those rates are based upon loss history and not on “as yet unrealized potential” for losses. In addition, crop insurance rates for 2005 have already been filed.
• Rates for revenue products could potentially rise if there is a large market rally between now and March 2005 . 

Treatment Options and Costs

• Currently, there are three fungicides approved for release under Section 18 emergency exemptions due to the entry of soybean rust into the U.S.  Twenty-five states submitted letters of requests to EPA for exemptions in order to use the fungicides propiconazole (Tilt, Propimax, Bumper), myclobutanil (Laredo), or tebuconazole (Folicur).  All 25 states have been approved to use at least one of the three fungicides.  The states requesting exemptions and receiving approvals are: Arkansas, Del., Fla., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kan., Kentucky, La., Md., Mich., Minn., Mo., Miss., Neb., N.Y., N.C., N.D., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., S.D., Tenn. and Texas.

• Estimates regarding the cost of fungicide applications to combat rust vary.

• The lowest end estimate comes from ERS/USDA at $25 per acre.
• A mid-range estimate of $35 per acre was provided by state plant pathologists.
• High end estimates are $40/acre by some extension staff and crop scouts.
• In Brazil, where fungicide plus application fee costs are $15 per acre and up to three treatments are required in areas severely affected, the total cost per acre per season was approximately $45.

• Earlier this year, industry estimates showed that there is only enough fungicide to treat 3 million soybean acres. However, an amount necessary to treat 3 million more acres would be available in approximately one week’s time.
• Last year’s high demand for fungicide in the U.S., plus the perceived imminence of the spread of soybean rust probably helped increase the fungicide supply situation for 2005.

Looking Forward

• The Illinois Farm Bureau will have a brief update on soybean rust and informational materials available at its December 6-8annual meeting in Chicago.
• Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, and others will be offering educational seminars on soybean rust this winter.
• Farmers are urged to thoroughly educate themselves this winter on:

• soybean rust generally
• identifying the disease
• notifying appropriate agencies
• treatment options and costs
• Near the end of February 2005, IFB will also have VHS, CD-ROM, and PowerPoint educational materials developed by IFB News and Communications staff on a February 2005 trip to Brazil to specifically study rust and its treatment.

• Producers will also want to take seriously the potential for soybean rust in Illinois and make production, risk management, and marketing decisions accordingly.

• In terms of considering potential treatment for soybean rust, farmers need to:
• read information on the Illinois Soybean Rust Program ( http://www.agr.state.il.us/regulation/soybeanrustprogram.pdf)
• stay informed of the monitoring efforts and projections for soybean rust’s spread into the Midwest
• talk to chemical dealers regarding the availability and costs of treatment products
• consider the economics of whether or not to order treatment products (treatment products are expensive and have a shelf life)….moreover, producers in the Gulf states will likely need treatment products in advance of any outbreak in Illinois.

• Longer term, experts are looking at single and multiple gene resistance in the plant itself and producer organizations are already working with the companies involved in producing fungicides to develop crops and products that will work better in Illinois.
• Although there are approximately 400 germplasm lines that have shown some form of resistance to soybean rust, it will likely take 5 years to bring a suitable product to market.