Asian soybean rust is a ruthless killer. In the past year it's gotten the attention of American farmers much like AIDS received in the medical community more than 20 years ago. Staying informed and on top of this ferocious fungus is almost a full-time job.
The Corn And Soybean Digest is devoting this entire special issue to rust. From identifying the disease to providing spraying advice, we hope you find this comprehensive coverage something you'll use as a resource throughout the growing season. Heck, toss it in your pickup so it will be handy if you need to decide what fungicides, for example, you'll need to treat rust.
Besides the information packed inside this issue, you'll also find a handy pocket guide called “Identifying Soybean Rust” inside the plastic wrap surrounding this magazine.
You can even check our Web site at www.cornandsoybeandigest.com for a look at the more than 125 stories posted there about rust. Or, log on to USDA's site at www.usda.gov/soybeanrust/.
Although rust may seem like a new disease to contend with, it's not. It's actually been around for 100 years, so you're not the first to cope with its ugly uncertainty. Don't panic. Stay alert, scout your fields and keep this issue available to help you through the next few months.
Good luck.
Greg Lamp
EDITOR
glamp@primediabusiness.com
