Asian Soybean Rust Found In Arkansas

Southwest Arkansas soybean farmers must now work to save their plants from a devastating fungus. Asian Soybean Rust has already affected farms in Northern Louisiana and East Texas. The fungus was located earlier this week in a field in Little River County. It is capable of destroying a field in less than one month. It usually spreads by wind. Little River is the first county in the state to report the Rust. There are 2.9 million acres of soybean in arkansas. If the fungus spreads farmers will probably yield only half of this years expected crop. "It could be quite an economic affect. We could have 12,000 soybean fields here in Little River County that could be destroyed," said Ag Extension Agent, Joe Paul Stuart. Tests are currently being done to see if the Rust has spread to Miller and Lafayette counties. If farmers dont catch it in time they could lose up to fifty percent of their crops.