Measures to Minimize Spread
NASDA believes communication among government agencies as well as within the farm community is central to monitoring and minimizing the damage from soybean rust. NASDA supports producer education about identification of the disease and about viable options to control the pest, so producers are well informed and equipped to address the problem.
Quarantine and eradication steps are not practical as the disease may infect many plant species (crop and non crop) found in the United States. Therefore, it is imperative that NASDA members, USDA and other federal officials coordinate their actions and quickly inform producers of a rust confirmation. Time is of the essence as under the right conditions, soybean rust may produce spores at an alarming rate, further infecting additional fields. The faster the news of a rust confirmation can be communicated with growers, the earlier the producers can apply fungicides to lessen the consequences of a soybean rust infestation.
Farmers must be assured that communication concerning infected fields with agricultural officials will not result in punitive actions. Rather, it must be emphasized that early detection allows officials to warn growers so that both protective and curative fungicide treatments can begin as soon as possible.
NASDA encourages the USDA to take a leadership role in the development of a soybean rust monitoring plan to determine the seasonal rate of spread. Further, the USDA should take the lead in the development of a soybean rust management plan.