Yield Loss Prediction Tool for Field-Specific Risk Management of Asian Soybean Rust

USA, Lexington Kentucky - August 4th, 2010 (Joe Omielan) - Project Update

Dear SBR Colleagues,

Here is the link to the new SBR Yield Loss Prediction Tool for Managing Soybean Rust, developed by Saratha Kumudini and coworkers.

http://dept.ca.uky.edu/sbrtool/

I have also attached a publication which describes how the tool was developed, as well as the use and limitations of the tool. You can also access this publication through the tool website.  The yield loss prediction tool was developed primarily for southern soybean producers, but should SBR ever be an issue further north, it will be a good starting point. If you have an SBR website, please consider linking to the tool page if you think it is something you want your growers to have access to.

One thing I wanted to mention. This point is made in the publication, but I also wanted to bring it out here. The tool allows producers to see what the yield impact (and economic ramifications) will be under three SBR progress scenarios. Of course, applications targeting SBR must be made BEFORE anyone knows how the epidemic will play out. So, the options are given in order to provide the producer with at least some information on possible outcome depending on how things play out. But ultimately the grower will have to make a best guess as to which epidemic type is most likely to play out based on the disease situation at a given time, recommendations being made by the state specialist, and past experience with SBR (grower and/or consultant).  In most cases, the worst case scenario will NOT be an accurate reflection of disease progress, but it could be.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.


Don Hershman
Extension Plant Pathologist
UKREC
1205 Hopkinsville Street
Princeton, KY 42445
Phone:  270-365-7541 x 215
Fax: 270-365-2667
E-mail: dhershma@uky.edu<mailto:dhershma@uky.edu>
SBR Toll Free Hotline:  1-888-321-6771
KY SBR Website:  www.uky.edu/soybeanrust<http://www.uky.edu/soybeanrust>
Twitter SBR updates:  http://twitter.com/KYsbrUpdate