The late-season spread of soyabean rust has infected 14 new counties in five states, pushing the US total above 200 counties, with the Agriculture Department warning on Tuesday that more findings are expected until a severe frost kills the fungus.
Soya rust has now been found in 205 counties in 15 states this year. It has been detected in 122 counties in October, or about 60 percent of the total findings in the 2006 season. "Much like the 2005 season, more soyabean rust finds are coming late in the season and could continue until severe frost," USDA said on its Web site devoted toward monitoring for soyabean rust.
Last year, rust was found in 138 counties in nine states.
USDA and plant pathologists have said most of the US crop is near maturity or already harvested, so soya rust will not impact yields. On Monday, USDA said 76 percent of the soyabean crop had been harvested.
USDA SAID SOYA RUST WAS FOUND ON TUESDAY IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES:
-- In Virginia, rust was detected in commercials fields in Greensville, Isle of Wight, King and Queen, Prince George, Southampton, Sussex and Virginia Beach counties.
-- Illinois reported rust in Jefferson County.
-- Mature soyabeans in Lee County, Mississippi had the fungus.
-- North Carolina detected rust in Carteret, Montgomery, and Pender counties.
-- Tennessee found rust in Dyer and Haywood counties.
A TOTAL OF 15 STATES HAVE FOUND RUST THIS YEAR INCLUDING: 29 in North Carolina; 24 in Louisiana; 23 in Arkansas; 21 in South Carolina; 18 in Florida; 16 in Kentucky; 15 in Georgia; 13 in Alabama; 12 in Tennessee; nine in Virginia; eight in Illinois; five in Mississippi, four in Texas, four in Missouri and four in Indiana.