Update from the south: Soybean rust is finally starting to stir once again in the south. During the past few weeks, soybean rust was found in new counties in Alabama, Mississippi (first find in state), Arkansas (first find in state) and Florida. Both finds in Mississippi and Arkansas were at very low levels, so while piquing interest of growers and scientists, plant pathologists in both states have not sounded any alarm bells. Mexico and southern Texas continue to be extremely dry, creating poor weather conditions for soybean rust development.

Soybean dieases in Iowa: Several diseases are starting to show up here in Iowa. To date, brown spot, downy mildew, frogeye leaf spot, Cercospora leaf blight, bacterial blight, bacterial pustule, Phyllosticta leaf spot, white mold and SDS have been reported. Individual fields may have high levels of disease, but for the most part disease severity is still low to moderate throughout the state.

Modeling predictions: The predicted soybean rust spore movement is still limited to states south east of Iowa. The predicted risk of rust getting to Iowa over the next month remains low.