When Asian soybean rust appears, most U.S. soybean farmers will be ready. Results from a recent soybean checkoff-funded producer attitude survey reveal that farmers are clearly concerned about the effects the disease may have on their crop. But most farmers also have the knowledge to effectively manage the disease.

The biannual, nationwide survey of 1,000 soybean farmers was recently conducted on behalf of the United Soybean Board (USB). It shows that 77 percent of farmers are aware of what can be done to manage rust. The disease was discovered in the southern United States last fall.

“This survey reflects that the soybean checkoff and other organizations have been successful in informing farmers about soybean rust,” says Greg Anderson, USB Chairman and soybean farmer from Newman Grove, Neb. “Shortly after rust was identified in Brazil in 2001, the soybean checkoff began investing in research that will eventually help protect U.S. soybean fields from ever being devastated by the disease.”

While the survey shows farmers are concerned about how rust may affect their soybean crops, USDA’s March Prospective Plantings Report suggested that rust has not greatly affected farmer decisions to plant soybeans in 2005. Special survey questions that accompanied the report’s forecast revealed that 89 percent of soybean farmers are aware of rust and have seen, read or heard information about the disease. Only 11 percent reported rust was a decision-making factor in soybean planting intentions.

“Soybean farmers must realize that this disease can be controlled,” says Anderson. “Rust has been around worldwide for years. While it should be respected, rust can be treated like any other soybean disease. As long as farmers stay up to date and properly scout fields, yield losses can be minimized.”

USB approved in excess of $680,000 for rust research in 2005 and has cumulatively invested nearly $2 million since research began in 2001. Research projects include evaluating U.S. and exotic soybean germplasm for resistance to soybean rust, disease management strategies, assessment of rust migration from South America to North America using regional and global particle transport models that monitor and predict rust migration, and evaluation of handheld assays for field-friendly diagnosis of soybean rust.

“We are trying to stay ahead of the game by keeping farmers informed and investing in soybean rust research,” says Anderson. “The soybean checkoff was involved in research on rust even before it was found here. U.S. researchers collaborated with scientists in countries already infected with rust to plant U.S. soybean varieties in those countries and conducted tests to evaluate whether any U.S. varieties had resistance to rust.”

Additionally, the checkoff has been working to educate farmers on the disease in terms of preparing for, identifying and managing the disease. The checkoff has developed two diagnostic guides that include information on rust. Both are available through the USB Web site at www.unitedsoybean.org.

USB is sharing rust information with farmers through the checkoff-funded www.stopsoybeanrust.com Web site as well. The checkoff has also partnered with USDA to create a plan to monitor soybean rust, which includes the Web site www.usda.gov/soybeanrust, designed to track the daily spread of rust throughout the country.

USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.