November 2, 2005

 

Another case of soybean rust found in Brazil
 

 

Brazilian farm research institute, Embrapa Soja, reported Tuesday that soybean rust was found on a farm in Ituverava, located in north-eastern Sao Paulo state.

 

The crop found to have rust was planted in August, but more recently planted soy is roughly 1,000 metres away.

 

Embrapa confirmed that agro-toxins to prevent the fungus from forming on the leaves were applied to the plants before the rust appeared.

 

The presence of the fungus in the region means neighbouring farms will have to closely monitor recently planted soybeans.

 

"The weather conditions will determine how this spreads now," said Embrapa scientist Claudia Godoy. "Temperatures that favour soy growth also favour rust growth."

 

Rust does not grow in temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius or above 30 degrees Celsius.

 

The northeastern region of Sao Paulo tends to plant its soybeans earlier in the year, on a shorter cycle, for harvest in January and February. The majority of Brazilian soy is harvested in late February and March.

 

Last week, a soy farm in Primavera do Leste in Mato Grosso registered Brazil's first case of Asian soybean rust for the 2005-06 harvest.

 

"It's a scenario a lot like last year. Just as we are starting to plant, the disease is being spotted in different parts of (Mato Grosso) state," said Godoy.

 

Asian soybean rust was also found along roadsides in Parana state on soy plants that had grown from seeds that fell off delivery trucks.

 

The discovery of soybean rust worries agronomists because the plants are still in their infancy, which means farmers will likely have to apply more anti-rust fungicides than originally anticipated.

 

"Finding rust this early in the season is very serious," said Godoy. "You have new leaves popping out on the plant all the time and right now they are unprotected by fungicides. Farmers are going to have to let less time pass between applications."