By Terrence Nowlin, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)

Over the last couple of years, America’s farmers and ranchers have met the challenges of diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and citrus canker. Those diseases have been kept under control by the amazing and coordinated system of checks and balances that U.S. agriculture has in place.

This year, soybean farmers are finding it necessary to prepare for Asian soybean rust, which made its way into the continental United States last fall. Rust is not a health concern, but it can sure put a dent in yields.

The emergence of soybean rust in the U.S. was anticipated for a number of years, so preparation was already under way. The path of the disease had been tracked since it was found in South America in 2001. It was just a matter of time before it crossed the Gulf of Mexico, carried by the wind and rain associated with last year’s violent hurricane season.

When the Agriculture Department confirmed the presence of soybean rust in plots of soybeans in Louisiana on Nov. 10, 2004, U.S. agriculture was prepared, and information was strategically dispersed to prepare for this year’s growing season.

AFBF public policy specialist Dana Brooks said that while the discovery of soybean rust causes farmers problems, the disease made landfall at the best possible time. A fall entrance gave American agriculture advance notice to have fungicides registered for the spring growing season.

With timely leadership from the Agriculture Department, a comprehensive system to prevent and control soybean rust was developed and fine-tuned. In addition, USDA now has a web site -www.usda.gov/soybeanrust - devoted specifically to soybean rust identification and information.

Two House Agriculture subcommittees held a joint hearing last month to further determine the best method for dealing with soybean rust. And on May 12, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced $1.2 million in funding for a soybean rust surveillance and monitoring network.

Farmers are being offered resources at a more local level, as well. Illinois, for example, has established an early warning system for soybean rust. The Illinois Farm Bureau, in a partnership with Grainger, is even offering magnifying glasses for soybean rust detection at a deep discount to members.

So far this season, only one instance of soybean rust has been found on soybean plants. Our early-warning system is proving effective again.

Brooks says USDA, the American Farm Bureau Federation and other agriculture organizations are working hard to make sure sufficient fungicides are available to control soybean rust regardless of the circumstances.

The fact is that some countries in Asia have lost as much as 70 percent of their soybean crop to soybean rust. But with the amount of preparation and persistence within the network of U.S. agriculture, it’s doubtful the United States will face anything close to that kind of loss. Once again, in the face of a challenge, all facets of U.S. agriculture are uniting behind efforts to maintain the world’s safest and most plentiful food supply