Kentucky News updated as of August 13, 2007

• Hello Everyone,
  
  
• There have been four official SBR finds in Georgia, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana since last Friday. The most recent finds are circled on the map (below) so you can get a feel for where SBR has been found. The one in Georgia was the most recent, being confirmed late Monday afternoon.
  
  In order for soybean rust to be a problem in Kentucky, the disease must first build up to substantial levels somewhere south of us. This build-up is now taking place in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Generally, spores of the rust fungus are predicted to be moving primarily into states west of Kentucky. However, spores could be moved into Kentucky any time now if a tropical or mid-latitude storm system moves through the lower midsouth and into Kentucky. This said, there continues to be absolutely NO REASON to apply a fungicide for soybean rust management in Kentucky at this time. If the disease follows the path I have just described, it will take 10-14 days for us to see evidence of disease following spore deposition. Initially, the incidence and severity levels will be very low. Once we see evidence of low levels of soybean rust in or very near Kentucky, then would be the time to begin making fungicide applications, but not until then. In my opinion, the absolute earliest we may need to treat here is late-August. By that time, most full-season crops will be well into pod fill and may not need to be treated. Doublecrop beans continue to be at the greatest risk for possible damage by SBR. Of course, if no tropical storms or multi-day wet periods pass through Kentucky during August, we may end up with a repeat of 2006 where no spraying for SBR was needed.
  
  The soybean rust status in Kentucky can change rapidly, so please continue to monitor this site and call into the KY Soybean Hot Line at least twice weekly (888-321-6771).
  
  
  
  
• Soybean rust is now confirmed to be active in three states: Alabama, Florida and Georgia. [read more]
• Asian Rust Found on Kentucky Soybeans [read more]
• Soy Rust Hotline available offers new service
• KY Soybean Rust Hotline (888-321-6771) is now being updated bi-weekly; weekly updates will begin in May.
• Tradename of Cheminova's Section 18 soybean rust product containing flutriafol changed to TOPGUARD (pdf)
• Putting 2005 Soybean Rust Spore Trapping Efforts into Proper Perspective By Don Hershman (pdf)
• DO SOYBEAN PRODUCTION PRACTICES NEED TO CHANGE DUE TO SOYBEAN RUST? By Jim Herbek and Chad Lee (Source = Kentucky Pest News, April 25, 2005)
   
• archived news page (through April, 2005)

Trainings

• no soybean rust specific trainings are presently being offered in Kentucky