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Soybean Rust absent from Minnesota fields
The impact of Dennis, and other hurricanes, is being felt in another way here in Minnesota. A potentially devastating crop disease known as 'soybean rust' appears to be using storms, and the jetstream, to make it's way north. If you venture into a soybean field right now, you?ll find rows of green plants with small blossoms. These blossoms will turn into soybean pods that'll grow one of the largest crops in Minnesota. Soybean Grower Larry Muff says growers will be watching their precious crops carefully for signs of a devastating disease. ?Rust is an emotional topic for farmers. The minute rust was found in the United States, we just jumped the gun because we've all heard stories about South America, how fast rust can come across.? Muff grows 350 acres of soybeans. He and other soybean growers know that rust can cause as much as 80 percent crop loss if left untreated. They know treatment costs about $20 an acre. And they know the disease is not here yet, but it's on its way. Asian soybean rust, shown in photographs taken in Brazil by University of Minnesota extension educator Lisa Behnken, has been known in Asia for a hundred years. It swept across South America in five. Last summer hurricanes blew soybean rust into the southeastern United States. Now farmers are wondering if hurricane Dennis will also be carrying soybean rust. U of M Plant Pathologist Jim Kurle says even if the storm isn?t carrying soybean rust spores, it will still have an impact on the disease, ?With the added precipitation, there will probably be more reports of disease in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, those areas where the hurricane has moved through just because there's more rainfall.? Kurle says the disease has not moved as fast as expected this year but it will eventually get to Minnesota and folks are already looking for it. Andy Sorsoliel was examining one of 50 of what are called sentinal plots that have been established in soybean fields in Minnesota. He and the rest of the experts don't expect to see soybean rust in Minnesota this year. And they know it'll get killed off by the cold Minnesota winters. But one thing is for sure, rust is one more thing soybean growers will have to plan for. Soybeans and field corn are the two biggest agricultural crops grown in Minnesota. For soybean rust movement, experts say farmers should pay particular attention to several Web sites which track the disease as it spreads across the nation. By Ken Speake , KARE 11 News (Copyright 2005 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
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