Rust Found in Georgia

For the first time in 2005, Asian soybean rust has been confirmed in a state outside of Florida. USDA reports that rust has been confirmed in Seminole County, Ga., on April 27.

This newest discovery is on volunteer soybean plants near the town of Donalsonville in extreme southwest Georgia. Soybean rust is also likely to be present on kudzu in this area.

The source is significantly removed from the Florida counties. The North American Plant Disease Forecast Center predicts conditions near the rust finds and along the forecast pathways as unfavorable for long-range transport and deposition. In addition, the forecast center says both sources in Georgia and Florida are at low threat levels on Thursday, with low risk for all areas.

Transport events from the Georgia location "do not pose a threat to other areas," the rust forecast site says. Thursday's trajectory moves north and northeast, east of the mountains into southern Virginia. "Sky conditions will be unfavorable for survivable transport for both events, with no rain expected near the source or along the forecast pathways," the forecast center adds. There is a low risk to susceptible plants near the source and along the forecast pathways for Thursday.