Rust Surfaces Early in Brazil

The Brazilian government's crop research company, Embrapa, has identified the first case of Asian soybean rust in a commercial soybean field for the 2009-2010 crop season. The fungal disease was found in the top growing state of Mato Grosso, where planting began early, according to The Brock Report.

Rust is likely to be a bigger problem across Brazil's soybean areas this year due to prospects for the El Niño weather event to bring above-normal rainfall.