Be Aware of the Threat

By the December 6, Asian soybean rust had been confirmed in 12 counties in the United States. The rust spores theoretically were brought to the country on the winds of the hurricanes that hammered the southern states this year. Now many questions loom about rate that the disease will spread during the upcoming growing season.

The rust will cause: premature defoliation, increase in number of unfilled pods/plant, decrease in the number of seeds per plant, decrease in seed weight, decrease in germination of seed, and this creates yield losses beginning at approx. 3% severity. To put it in the short version it is going to be costly, both in yield loss and additional spraying cost.

The current thought is, the rust spores can only exist on living plant material. Which means that the rust cannot winter over in areas where the host plants such as soybeans, clovers, and legumes die out in the winter. That is the good news, but the bad news is in the southern states the spores will survive on host plants like kudzu and spread north with the prevailing winds.

The rust will affect crops in the soybean family including soybeans, vegetable food beans and sweet clover. Currently there are no rust resistant soybeans on the market yet that can provide protection from the disease.

The key to control is scouting, early detection and timely spraying of fungicides.

Dr. Susanne Bissonnette, U of I Extension's Asian rust task force leader provided suggestions for scouting:

"Look Low As You Go."

When scouting examine the lower quarter of soybean plants

–Examine the undersides of leaves for pustules. Observe pustules with hand lens.

¨ If you suspect rust

– collect 20 leaflets exhibiting symptoms.

–Place flat, dry leaflets between paper towels.

–Double bag suspect leaflets in zip lock bags.

–Clearly label sample.

¨ Submit sample to your local Extension Unit office for digital analysis (DDDI, online

diagnosis).

¨ Currently the U of I Plant Clinic's $12.50 sample fee will by paid by Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board (ISPOB) for samples pre-screened by DDDI system that

need to be sent to the Plant Clinic for further analysis.

The Macon Extension Office has digital diagnostic equipment online and welcomes any one that has a suspected problem. Digital photos will be taken at the local office and electronically sent to the University of Illinois Campus Specialist for diagnosis. If the specialist suspects Asian rust they will contact the USDA for final confirmation. The problem is that other diseases like: Bacterial Pustule, Bacterial Blight, Septoria Brown Spot, or Downy Mildew can be mistaken for Asian Rust. This makes confirmation by a specialist extremely important.

If Asian Rust is confirmed immediate spraying with an approved fungicide is that only way to control the disease. Depending on the time of detection it may take one to three applications for control.

Suggestions from Dr. Bissonnette are:

¨ Scout weekly for soybean rust

¨ Get suspect samples properly identified

¨ If positive ID–apply first spray: preventative fungicide if low percent incidence (3- 5%), if the incidence is higher, use a curative second spray

¨ Manage resistance to fungicides, follow label directions.

Prepare Yourself for Soybean Rust Before It Arrives

¨ Equip sprayers with proper nozzles

¨ Plan to scout weekly for soybean rust

¨ Get it properly identified

¨ Know what fungicides to spray & when

¨ Pre-plan fungicide spray program

If you are calculating crop budgets for 2005 one of the significant costs is insecticide for Western Corn Rootworms. Since 2001 Western Corn Rootworm has made its presence known and has caused substantial losses in Macon County with rootworms wintering over in soybean fields.

If you used sticky traps last year in your soybean field to get a handle on the likelihood of rootworms in that field this year, you are ahead of the game and can make a plan based on the results. If you didn't, some form of rootworm protection in your 2005 cropping plan is a prudent idea.

Dennis Bowman, University of Illinois Extension Crop Systems Educator, suggests:

· Use sticky traps during the year to estimate 2006 need for treatment.

Costs Traps - 6 fields=$200

Insecticide - 500A=$7500

· Soil insecticides need incorporation

· If no insecticide boxes, consider:

1) Transgenic seeds (consider marketing problems)

2) Liquid (Capture or Lorsban

3) Seed-applied insecticide

Beginning January 1, grain sales in Illinois will not be subject to the fee deducted by elevators to fund the Illinois Grain Insurance Fund. The fund, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, is a state law designed to protect farmers from elevator bankruptcies. In 2003 the Legislature revised the law and required farmers to pay a $4 fee for each $10,000 in grain sales as their share of the fund, along with elevators and lenders. However a technical problem in the law brought the collection program to a halt on Dec. 31, 2004, and the assessments likely will not resume until July 1, 2005.

Authorities indicate elevators will have additional challenges in developing settlement sheets for grain sales, since the fee is programmed into their computer software. Additionally, it will take more time for the fund to accumulate the $6 million set by the Legislature as the minimum for the Fund. The Legislature is expected to repair the problem with the law when it convenes in January.

With the start of a new year, come thoughts of resolutions and new beginnings. Did you find that your farm records for last year left something to be desired? Were you stressed out by trying to get everything gathered and summarized? Is your income tax preparer always asking for more information? Does your lender ask for more detailed financial reports every year? Are you ready to make a change and improve your farm records?

Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) is a not-for-profit, cooperative, educational service program that provides farm records and accounting assistance to farmers and landowners throughout the state. Production and financial business analysis is provided through counsel with an unbiased farm business specialist. A series of farm visits through the year encourages timeliness in your record keeping. Financial statements are prepared for your use with lenders and a comparative business analysis is provided to compare the performance of your business with similar farm businesses. Income tax planning and preparation are a part of the program and computer software and support are available.

The FBFM organization has been in existence since 1924 and currently over 6500 cooperators are served by approximately 65 field staff. Support is provided by a cooperative effort with the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics and the University of Illinois Extension.

The beginning of the year is a great time to make a fresh start in the organization of your farm records. If you might be interested in the FBFM program, feel free to call the local FBFM office, your local Extension office, or talk to your neighbors. Many of them are already cooperators and would be happy to share their thoughts about FBFM. Enrollment in FBFM might be one of the best business decisions you make this year.

Robert Daggett

Area FBFM Fieldman

(217) 875-7196

- Robert Daggett, Area FBFM Fieldman