Soybean Rust Monitoring Program in Place for 2009

Ontario will again be participating in the North American Soybean rust monitoring efforts. The primary purpose of the soybean rust (SBR) sentinel network is to provide early disease detection, education and to function as an early warning system that producers, extension and industry stakeholders can utilize to make appropriate SBR fungicide use decisions. The monitoring efforts around this disease is a good news story and shows how through partnerships and mutual cooperation (local and international) a comprehensive monitoring program can be developed and effectively operated to benefit all North American soybean producers.

The Ontario sentinel plot program involves intensive scouting for soybean rust symptoms and field evaluations by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) in conjunction with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and industry partners. In addition to the in-field monitoring, the Canadian soybean rust spore detection network (using rainfall and air sampling equipment) will again be utilized in Ontario and most likely other provinces in 2009 led by Dr. Sarah Hambleton (AAFC-Ottawa). All of this information is incorporated into the USDA ipmPIPE soybean rust website (www.sbrusa.net) and helps in not only monitoring efforts but with other activities such as soybean rust forecasting models. The sentinel plots and spore detection locations are being established and by the end of May they all should be in place. At that time I will update you at that time.

Funding for the Ontario sentinel monitoring and spore trapping is provided in part by the Ontario Soybean Growers, OMAFRA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council's (CanAdvance Program), the Ontario Research and Development Program (ORD), and the Ontario Soybean Rust Coalition.