There’s rust on some soybeans, though preferably not, but none on the scientists fighting it.
Experts from more than 30 U.S. and Canadian institutions, including OARDC, continue to battle soybean rust, a big yield robber elsewhere in the world that invaded the U.S. 10 years ago. Two new videos are their latest steps forward.
“Soybean rust is a significant invasive species that poses a distinct threat to the U.S. soybean crop,” said OARDC Director Steve Slack (pictured), a plant pathologist and member of the team. “These videos provide information to help growers mitigate the impact of this serious disease, presented broadly in an easily understood and useful format.”
The videos detail what the team has learned and done, including identifying management strategies, working to test and register fungicides for use in the U.S., and setting up a network of more than 2,300 sentinel plots — an early warning system — that shows farmers where rust will likely pop up and what fungicides to wield and when.
“Soybean rust poses a distinct threat to the U.S. soybean crop.”—Steve Slack
Ramping up soybean security
- The videos were produced with support from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the national Cooperative Extension System, the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s national Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the United Soybean Board.
- The first video, “Defining Soybean Rust,” which details the disease’s impact, spread and more, is at go.osu.edu/rust1.
- The second video, “Modeling Prediction and Forecasting,” details the use of the sentinel plots. It’s at go.osu.edu/rust2.