ODA RESPONDS TO SOYBEAN RUST ISSUE

Steps have been taken in preparation

In response to the discovery of soybean rust in Louisiana, David Schleich, Chief of the Plant Industry Division of the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), has informed us Ohio has a section 18 (emergency exemption) in place for fungicides to spray for soybean rust if it becomes necessary.

ODA has been working with The Ohio State University, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture. Together they have developed a written plan to follow in case the problem makes it to Ohio. They will continue to update and refine the plan as new developments take place. Schleich says "The best thing producers and commercial agribusiness businesses can do at this time, is to educate themselves. In the long run, the best defense will be good management practices. This could help reduce the need to spray fungicides, which can add significantly to the cost of soybean production. A great contact for info at this time is Anne Dorrance, Associate Professor at OARDC, (330) 202-3560."