Damon Smith, Extension Field Crops Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

While everyone has been on the lookout for tar spot in Wisconsin, southern rust snuck in the back door. We have been receiving samples and images of southern rust from various locations in the southern and central production regions over the last week or so. The conditions this year have been ripe for this disease and it also started early in the southern U.S. where it has to be blown in from to cause problems here in Wisconsin. Now is the time to study up on this disease and understand that we are quickly approaching the end of the management window. To learn more about southern rust and all of the management strategies, along with a handy real-time map, visit the Crop Protection Network Overview of Southern Rust. As always, get out there and scout, scout, scout!