2023
Asian Soybean Rust Monitoring System
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Crop protectionDiseaseField management
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Jonathan Croft, Clemson University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
This project’s overall objective and goal is to implement a monitoring system for Asian soybean rust in the southwestern part of South Carolina. The monitoring system is a safety net that will help identify when rust is present in the state, allowing soybean growers ample time to make management decisions for their farms.
Key Beneficiaries:
#agronomists, #extension agents, #farmers
Unique Keywords:
#asian rust, #disease, #scouting, #soybean diseases, #soybean rust
Information And Results
Project Summary

If ASR moves into South Carolina from overwintering sites in Florida and the Gulf Coast States it should be detected first in the southwestern counties of SC. Early detection in the counties in the monitoring system should give soybean growers across SC several weeks of notice to make timely fungicide applications. Since 2004, the first detection of ASR in SC has been after mid-August. For the 2023 crop season sampling for monitoring plots will start by July 15th and end October 15th. Detection during this period should provide optimal protection for SC Soybean crop. Agents will sample 10 to 15 fields located across the southwestern counties of SC, examining 75 leaves from each location. Dr. John Mueller, Extension Plant Pathologist, will be consulted when an agent initially finds ASR for confirmation. A weekly email news note will be sent out on Mondays each week during the sampling period to rely results and provide recommendations for management of ASR if detected in SC or if it is believed to be here based on weather conditions during the growing season. We will also use this note as way to send out information on other foliar diseases noted in the sample area. This will be sent to growers, extension personnel and agricultural industry professionals.

Project Objectives

The projects overall objective and goal is to implement a monitoring system for Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) in the Southwestern part of South Carolina. The monitoring system is a safety net that will help identify when ASR is present in SC. Allowing soybean growers ample time to make management decisions for their farms.
Timeline:
1) Locate 10 to 15 soybean fields across the southwestern counties of SC for sampling (May – June)
2) Agents collect and examine 75 leaves from each location (July – October)
3) Report weekly findings (positive/negative and provide recommendation for management) via Soybean Rust Newsletter (July – October)

Project Deliverables

Results from the monitoring program will be reported to growers, agricultural industry professionals, and Clemson Extension personnel through weekly email news notes during the months of July – October. Information will also be reported to the SC Soybean Board through the expected quarterly reports.

Key Performance Indicators:
A survey will be conducted after the soybean growing season to determine the following:
1) Number of people that find the weekly rust news note useful
2) Number of people that used recommendations in the weekly rust news note to make management decision in the 2023 soybean crop
3) Number of soybean acres treated or not treated based on recommendations in the weekly rust news note
4)Average cost of fungicide treatment if needed

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.