2004-12-6
I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
Asian soybean rust has been found in a number of American states.
The first report of the plant disease came on November tenth in the
state of Louisiana. There were later reports from Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina. All these states
are in the South. The presence of soybean rust was also confirmed in
Missouri, in the Midwest.
Asian soybean rust is a fungus that can sharply reduce harvests.
A fungus is a simple organism. It cannot make its own food. So it
takes nutrients from material living or dead. Asian soybean rust can
infect several other kinds of bean plants, as well as kudzu, an
invasive plant. The fungus does not harm animals or people.
It was first discovered in Japan just over a century ago. It has
spread to Africa and, most recently, to South America. Scientists
believe it moved north to the United States on the winds of a severe
storm, Hurricane Ivan, in September.
The rust is light brown or red in color. It grows on leaves,
which develop growths. These growths break open and release a powder
of reproductive material. Scientists say winds can carry the fungus
spores for thousands of kilometers.
Over the years, the disease has caused major damage in Asia.
Australia has also experienced damage. Outbreaks in Africa over the
last several years have reduced soy harvests by over fifty percent
in some areas. The disease arrived in Brazil in two thousand one.
The United States Agriculture Department says soybean rust took only
one year to spread to sixty percent of the soybean fields in Brazil.
Still, the Brazilian government says it expects a record harvest
this year. Brazil recently passed the United States as the biggest
exporter of soybeans in the world.
The United States is the biggest producer. In nineteen
ninety-four, Asian soybean rust appeared in Hawaii. But until now,
it was never found on the mainland.
The discovery comes at the end of the growing season in the
United States. Officials say the fungus did not affect this year's
harvest. But it could return next year.
Agricultural officials say farmers have time to start planning
ways to control the disease for the next planting season. A number
of chemicals can be used to treat fields. But they are costly.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario
Ritter. I'm Gwen Outen.