Becoming Rust Ready: A host of pre-planning and minor equipment upgrades are needed to combat Asian soybean rust

摘要

WHEN its spores were first discovered in the U.S. back in 2004, Asian soybean rust was expected to be a major crop disease during the 2005 growing season. While the threat remained largely unrealized last year, crop consultants and university researchers warn that it is only "a matter of time" before this disease strikes the U.S. market in a major way. To prepare for this eventuality, sprayer manufacturers are offering numerous recommendations to their customers when it comes to equipment preparation. "Spraying for Asian soybean rust is similar to spraying for aphids and other pests," says Brian Springer, sales representative and a Certified Crop Adviser for Hagie Manufacturing Co., Clarion, IA. "It's all about coverage, coverage, and coverage." The keys to this, he adds, fall into four categories — volume, nozzle selection, pressure, and boom height.