Counties where soybean rust sentinel plots are located
Twenty sentinel plots were established by Iowa State and were located in Iowa State University Research Farms, test plot sites, and growers' fields. Iowa State University will continue to participate in the sentinel plot system.
Sentinel plots are used for early detection of soybean rust. Timely application of fungicides is the only way to effectively and efficiently protect soybean crops from soybean rust infections. Because we do not know when and where the disease outbreaks will occur, early detection of soybean rust during the growing season is key for timely applications. In other countries, sentinel plots have been effective in detecting the disease early and guiding producers in making better spray decisions. In Iowa, sentinel plots will be scouted weekly until disease is found in neighboring states or presences of spores are predicted by models, and then plots will be scouted on a 3-day interval.Advantages of sentinel plots:
- Planted earlier than commercial fields with early maturing cultivars to improved chances of disease showing up in sentinel plots first
- Scouted by trained experienced staff that are guided by forecasted spore movement and confirmed detections in southern states
- Used by other states to help predict arrival of rust. Here in Iowa, we are keeping a close watch on sentinel plots in states to our south.
Data from seninel plots can be viewed on the USDA website.
