Asian soybean rust and legume disease scouting: IPM-PIPE
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EmailAs part of the Integrated Pest Management - Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (IPM-PIPE) funded by the North Central Soybean Research Program and the USDA, MSU plant pathologists are actively scouting legumes for soybean rust, legume viruses and diseases. If you have suspect or unusually severe disease symptoms, contact your local county Extension educator or Martin Chilvers directly by email chilvers@msu.edu or phone 517-353-9967. Unlike previous years, we are using “mobile” scouting so that more fields can be examined. Based on the national sentinel program guidelines, scouting started a few weeks ago and will continue through the growing season. As in the past, the purpose of the IPM-PIPE program is to provide an early warning system for soybean rust. Growers and consultants can have suspect rust samples examined by MSU’s Diagnostic Services at no charge.
So far this year, Asian soybean rust has not yet been detected north of the southern tier states. Weather events affect the spread and severity of disease and events such as hurricanes may blow spores produced on infected material further north from its overwintering grounds. Since the initial discovery in 2004 of Asian soybean rust in the United States, soybean rust has never been reported in the state of Michigan. Current information on the progress of soybean rust in the United States can be obtained at www.sbrusa.net.
