The Iowa Soybean Rust Team will offer training sessions in July for the state's 1,500 certified crop advisers, certified professional agronomists and independent crop consultants.

"These professionals are the best qualified to watch for symptoms and signs of rust on a daily basis throughout the growing season across the millions of acres of soybeans in Iowa," said Greg Tylka, plant pathology professor at Iowa State University. "We hope that the system being developed will result in an accurate and rapid evaluation of soybean rust."

Although it is unlikely the disease will appear in Iowa in 2004, plans are being made to prepare for the possible arrival of the disease. Asian soybean rust has been found in every soybean growing area throughout the world except the continental United States.

Crop professionals who complete this training will gain first detector status in a fast-track system developed to identify soybean rust. The first detectors will work with ISU Extension field specialists and county extension directors to quickly and accurately identify soybean rust.

Five training sessions on soybean rust will be offered July 6 to 9 throughout Iowa. The three-hour program offers an explanation of Iowa's overall plan to respond to soybean rust as well as specific information about accurate identification.

All certified crop advisers, certified professional agronomists and independent crop consultants are invited to attend. Program locations and details and can be found at http://www.aep.iastate.edu/feel/rust.html. Three continuing education units in the pest management category will be earned for certified crop advisers participating in the training. There is a $20 registration fee.

A June 29 training session also will be held for those interested in general information about soybean rust. The session is a multi-state program, "Soybean Rust: Issues & Facts." The program will include basic information about Asian soybean rust biology and management. Continuing education units also will be offered for this training, but participants will not qualify to become first detectors.

"Soybean Rust: Issues & Facts," will be offered in at least nine locations at a cost of $10. To find a location, go to: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/eccrops/040629SBRust.html.

The Iowa Soybean Rust Team members represent the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Soybean Association and Promotion Board, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Iowa State University. The team's goal is to keep farmers, crop consultants, extension specialists and researchers informed on how to spot the disease, where to take samples for accurate identification and how to minimize yield loss in Iowa.