Plant Industry - Soybean Rust

Soybean rust was confirmed as present in North Carolina on October 28, 2005 from samples collected in Brunswick, Columbus, and Robeson counties on October 25th, and Beaufort and Craven counties on the 26th. While this is a significant development, it is believed that the disease will have minimal to no effect on this year's soybean crop because the timing is so late in the year. Soybean rust, a serious plant disease that has caused crop losses in other parts of the world, was detected for the first time in the United States in November 2004. In response to this, the USDA facilitated the development of a federal, state, university, and industry-coordinated framework for surveillance, reporting, prediction, and management of soybean rust. The USDA website is a one-stop resource for soybean rust. Plants suspected of being infected with soybean rust can be submitted for testing to the NCSU Plant Disease and Insect Clinic through the local NC Cooperative Extension Service office (map and contact information provided on the USDA website).  

For more information, visit these websites: 

American Phytopathological Society/Plant Management Network

Southern Plant Diagnostic Network

North Carolina State University information note

For Additional Soybean Rust Information, contact:

HT Tseng, NCDA&CS Plant Pathologist at (919) 707-3754, or HT.Tseng@ncagr.gov