While soybean rust (SBR) has not been confirmed in Tennessee it has been predicted that spores will be transported over Tennessee this week.
Based on the Sept. 2nd, 2013 SBR forecast bulletin, wet deposition of SBR spores is predicted over Tennessee and portions of Kentucky and southern North Carolina (image below). The majority of soybeans in Tennessee are in reproductive growth stages and the decision to apply a fungicide should be based upon multiple factors including, the yield potential of the crop (fungicide application on low yield potential soybeans is unlikely to be beneficial) and growth stage of crop (if there is a high risk of frost before harvest no fungicide application is recommended). More information on fungicides, SBR, and other soybean diseases can be found at UTcrops.com/soybean/diseases. Sentinel soybean leaves will be examined this week from across middle and west Tennessee for soybean rust. Any positive observation will be reported here on the news.utcrops.com and the sbrusa.net website.
Though no long-term movements of soybean rust are forecasted for the coming week, a tropical system or deep trough could move spores long distances as source strength has been increasing in the southeast. A tropical disturbance currently located near the central Lesser Antilles is forecast to further organize and develop this week (image below). Currently, the chances of this disturbance becoming a tropical depression or named tropical system are 40% over the next 5 days. Beyond the next 5 days, models indicate further further conducive conditions for development depend on the track the system takes. The tropical disturbance is forecast to move to the west-northwest over the coming week approaching Cuba. Within the next 10 days, the possibility does exist for this system to threaten the mainland U.S.
The above information is from the Soybean Rust Forecast Bulletin produced by Jeremy Zidek (ZedX, Inc.) with assistance from S.A. Isard and J. Golod (PSU). It contains maps and other information contributed by student interns in the PSU Ensemble Field Crop Rust Forecasting Program, USDA, and NOAA.
