Soybean rust alerts and updates

Check the USDA site www.sbrusa.net for sentinel plot updates for other states.
Please visit the following websites for information about Illinois soybean diseases/pests and management approaches:
University of Illinois IPM
Southern Illinois University Soybean Pathology
Glen Hartman's USDA/UIUC Lab
University of Illinois Crop Science Soybean Pathology

Crop Growth Stage

Observation and Outlook: Sentinel plots
On the national scene for 2010 (obtained from the ipmPIPE website):

On August 11th, soybean rust was confirmed in Taylor county, Florida on kudzu. Florida has not reported any finds of soybean rust this year on soybeans. Soybean rust was confirmed on August 9th on soybeans in southern Tamaulipas in the municipality of El Mante in Mexico. Rust was found in that municipality earlier in the year. On August 5th, soybean rust was confirmed in Marion county, Florida on kudzu; the incidence and severity were low.
In 2010, soybean rust has been found in sixteen US counties in five states and six states in Mexico.

In 2009, soybean rust was found in 16 states and over 576 counties in the United States, and in three states and nine municipalities in Mexico.

For the Illinois scene in 2010 (provided by Carl Bradley, Illinois Extension Plant Pathologist, obtained from the ipmPIPE website):

Observation and Outlook: Weather vane spore traps
Commentary not available.

Scouting and Management

Any leaves that are suspect for soybean rust should be taken to the nearest Illinois Extension Office. The Digital Distance Diagnostics Imaging (DDDI) system will be used to help evaluate suspicious leaves for soybean rust. Leaf samples can also be sent overnight directly to the University of Illinois Plant Clinic, 1401 W. St. Mary's Road, Urbana, IL 61802 (217-333-0519).

Scouting Techniques
When scouting soybeans that have a canopy, look at the underside of leaves on the lower half of the soybean plants. Look at 5 plants in 20 different locations in a field. Since soybean rust lesions are difficult to diagnose due to similarities in symptoms with several other leaf pathogens, you may want to view leaves with a 20X hand lens. Also, have available several sources for images of the various stages of soybean rust infection for comparison to any suspect symptoms that appear. Check out how to handle and submit suspect soybean rust samples for diagnosis.