The overall impact of Asian soybean rust to the
United States mostly depends on the spores ability to overwinter in host plants, for example kudzu, in southern states. Weekend reports from
Florida have found rust in kudzu foliage in Dade City, Pasco Co.
According to Tim Schubert of the Division of Plant Industry, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science, the latest find is the most southern spotting of the disease in Florida.
The below map shows that the finding in Pasco County is just below the freezing line.
Maps courtesy of Florida Division of Plant Industry