June 7, 2004

U.S. Not Ready To Fight Soybean Disease
 

The US government is unprepared to handle an outbreak of a soybean fungus that is ultimately expected to reach the United States from South America, a growers group said Friday.

Ron Heck of Perry, president of the American Soybean Association, said Friday the Bush administration needs to speed the approval of fungicides and improve coordination among agencies responsible for detecting and controlling an outbreak of the disease, known as soybean rust.

"The reality that exists today is that an effective soybean rust surveillance program is not yet in place," he said. "Adequate supplies of cost-effective fungicides approved for use on soybeans do not exist, and programs to provide widespread training and education to farmers, crop consultants and others have not been implemented."

A scientist at the University of Illinois who is tracking the disease by computer modeling said the fungus could reach the United States late in this growing season. However, he said, it is more likely to take a few years.

There are unconfirmed reports that the fungus may have spread into northern Brazil, which would put it north of the equator and vulnerable to wind currents that would spread it toward the United States, said Scott Isard, an aerobiologist.

Even if the fungus does reach the States this year, it would likely be too late in the growing season to infect crops, he said.

"Don't be too alarmed; that doesn't help anybody," Isard said. "For the first time, the United States, or the USDA, and the soybean growers associations are really trying to prepare for something coming."

Julie Quick, a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture, said the department is researching the disease and developing import regulations to prevent the fungus from getting into the country in imported soybeans and meal.

Preliminary studies indicate the spores cannot survive more than seven weeks, she said.

The department also is coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure there are adequate supplies of approved fungicides, she said.