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April 2006 e-newsletter
A new partnership between NCSRP and Florida
Last month, the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) board voted to fund an innovative partnership between NCSRP scientists and the University of Florida in Gainesville. University of Florida researchers are opening the doors of their Quincy Research Station, providing Midwestern scientists with lab space, greenhouse space and land for Asian soybean rust (ASR) research trials...read press release»
(MS Word doc file)
"For Midwestern researchers, access to Asian soybean rust is critical. This was an opportunity we simply couldn't pass up because if successful, the benefits to Midwest soybean producers are too great. Many thanks to leaders from the Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin checkoff boards, who've agreed to partner with NCSRP to help cover the cost of this initiative. We hope other checkoff boards also will see the value in this initiative and partner with us." - DW
Iowa's on board
Says Dean Coleman, Iowa Soybean Association Supply Committee Chair, "This initiative allows Iowa and other Midwest researchers to go down to Florida and study rust firsthand." He adds that rust is moving farther west. "It has been found in Texas and Mexico, and the wind patterns will likely bring it to Iowa, especially once inoculum builds up and becomes more prevalent.
Kansas values the communications
Before the Kansas Soybean Commission (KSC) signed on, "We visited with Kansas State researchers to get their opinions," says KSC's Jerry Wyse. "It's an important initiative and we want to support it. And from a communications standpoint, we want to stay tuned to what NCSRP-funded researchers find on a daily basis."
Wisconsin wants a leg up
According to Paul Harrison, who just attended his last meeting as the NCSRP member representing the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, "We have to do research where it's most appropriate, and with the people who are best equipped to help. In Florida, they have the facilities, the Asian rust and the personnel with rust experience. NCSRP researchers can benefit from that experience and get a leg up on rust."
What do NCSRP-funded researchers get?
Easy access to Asian soybean rust. "In Florida, scientists have unlimited, year-round access to Asian rust," explains Gregg Fujan, NCSRP president. "They don't have to operate in a containment facility or controlled environment. So NCSRP-funded scientists can do practical, in-field research without spending a fortune."
"Many state laws prohibit bringing in an invasive species for research until the species arrives in state naturally. This is understandable, but it's limiting our ability to do preemptive research in many Midwestern states. We need to get as many researchers as possible working on finding solutions to Asian soybean rust. This partnership with Florida enables anyone to begin an Asian soybean rust research program." - DW
What the NCSRP funds cover
NCSRP funding will help defray the costs of operating the research lab, greenhouse and land rental for trials. Funds also will help offset the cost of University of Florida scientists training certified crop advisors to identify and manage Asian soybean rust, as well as hiring two Florida-based scientists to detect and monitor rust year-round.
Year-round monitoring for ASR
The need for people in Florida to monitor the overwintering characteristics of Asian soybean rust and determine the amount of spores being produced in the spring is very critical to determining risk for Midwest soybean producers. "The risk of yield loss from this disease is too great to not have personnel entirely focused on this disease," says Fujan. NCSRP stepped in because the Florida Department of Agriculture had pulled their resources and refocused them on other invasive diseases of the state's citrus crop - a $9 billion a year industry.
A good use of checkoff dollars
"The goal is to find solutions to Asian soybean rust before we suffer significant losses," says Fujan. "We're spending a little money now, and hoping to save producers a lot of money later. That's your checkoff dollars at work."
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