The farthest northward progression of Asian soybean rust in 2012 has been confirmed in Desha County, Ark.
A small amount of soybean rust was detected last week in a field near Rohwer, Travis Faske, extension plant pathologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture said.
There are no recommendations to apply fungicides at is time, he said.
"This is the first report of soybean rust this year in the state, and is about one week earlier than 2009, the last time it was reported in Arkansas," Faske said. "This is the farthest north soybean rust has been confirmed this year in the U.S."
Soybean Rust In Arkansas
He said disease severity was low with an average of five pustules per leaflet, and disease incidence was extremely low in this field. He said other small pockets of the disease are likely to be found, "but there is a low risk of disease progression due to drought conditions that cover much of the state and with the forecast for hot, dry weather."
Plot monitoring will continue, Faske said.
For more information about the soybean rust report, visit www.arkansas-crops.com/2012/08/01/soybean-rust-confirmed-in-arkansas/.
Last week was a busy one for Asian soybean rust confirmations. In addition to Desha County, Ark., SBR was found in two counties in Georgia and three parishes in Louisiana on July 31 and in one county in Alabama and two counties in Mississippi on July 30.
So far in 2012, SBR has been reported in 43 counties in the USA including Alabama (7), Arkansas (1),Florida (8), Georgia (12), Louisiana (6), Mississippi (7), Texas (2), and 13 reports from Mexico. With continued hot dry weather, new reports of SBR are not expected in the central and northern states, but new reports are expected to continue in the southern states.