Asian soybean rust has been found on overwintering kudzu foliage in Dade City, Pasco County, Florida, the southern-most confirmation of soybean rust in that state to date and the first evidence of U.S. overwintering of the pathogen. The detection was made February 23 and noted today on Florida's ag department Web site.

The information was posted late today on the Florida Asian Soybean Rust site. The citing reference is signed by "T. Schubert, DPI" (Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Science).

A map on the site shows that the February 23 sighting is just below the approximate frost line in Florida.

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The National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS) Pest Tracker Web site is not yet showing the finding of soybean rust in this Florida county. The latest data retrieved from the system for Florida is dated 2/22/2005, and site's news page was last updated on 2/25. A search of the soybean rust survey findings in NAPIS shows no other officially reported findings for 2005.

StopSoybeanRust.com is a Web site with news, information and resources about Asian soybean rust, created by the Greenbook, Dealer & Applicator magazine and Successful Farming magazine. It is sponsored by Bayer CropScience US. Cooperating partners include the United Soybean Board and the Crop Advisor Institute.