Fungus Among US Crops

It started in Louisiana on November 10, 2004. Soy farmers all over the state were dismayed to find what they first thought to be merely some sort of spider mite infestation, a problem that could easily be solved with simple pesticides. In actuality, it is something far worse. An extremely contagious fungus known as Asian Soybean Rust, believed to be brought in by the winds from hurricane Ivan, was confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to have infected soy crops across the state. Over the past few weeks, the fungus managed to spread throughout several other southern states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Arkansas. According to www.science.gov, Asian Soybean Rust is a fungus that was discovered by Japanese soy farmers in 1903. The fungus grows on the leaves of the soy plant, starting off as merely some yellow discoloration along the upper section of the leaf. It then begins to cloud the entire leaf, preventing photosynthesis (the process by which plants extract food and energy from sunlight), causing the chlorophylls (pigments in leaves which conduct photosynthesis) to die off. With no energy to fuel the growth of the soy, it withers and dies. Meanwhile, the Rust fungus continues to grow off the soy, creating brown or reddish spore-filled boils along the bottom of the leaves. While it may be harmless to other living creatures, these delicate boils will burst, even in a light breeze. These spores are capable of traveling thousands of miles, even across open water. It wasn’t long before the fungus left Japan and spread into other countries, beginning with Asia, then Australia. Eventually, it was found infesting crops all over Africa and South America as well. According to the USA Today, from 2001 to 2003, South Americans watched as Asian Soybean Rust, covering crops in Paraguay, spread over 1,500 miles. The fungus managed to infect 90 percent of Brazil’s soy crops in just two years. Brazil, being second only to the United States in soybean growth, was dealt a massive economical blow, giving American soy farmers cause for concern. Soybeans accounted for 16 percent of U.S. crop production alone in 2003; grown across the mid-western and the southern regions. Iowa is the largest producer of soy, having grossed 497.4 million bushels of the 3.2 billion bushels harvested this year. While soybeans are of ten considered simply a vegetarian supplement, in the form of tofu or soy milk for instance, its uses in cleaning products and feed for livestock make it an integral part of our economy and our society. On November 20, 2004, Congress approved $800,000 for research and development of a strand of soybean that can resist the fungus. Scientists estimate that developing a strand that can resist Asian Soybean Rust is possible, but an effective solution is still a few years away. They also say that while it may be affecting crops in the South, the Mid-West (where the majority of soy in the U.S. is farmed) may only see minor crop damage, due to the fungus’ inability to survive in below freezing temperatures (www.science.gov). Farmers for the time being are expected to suffer up to one billion dollars in losses, due to infected crops and increased cost of special fungicides to stop the infestation. Fortunately, most of the 2004 crops were harvested before the fungus arrived, giving the government, scientists, and farmers time to work on a way of preventing these huge losses. Unfortunately, many farmers unable to afford the heightened costs, are being forced to grow different produce or to stop farming all together. Organic soy farmers are in even more trouble, because none of the affective fungicides are organically sound. Sure it may all seem so far away, but U.S. consumers will be bearing a possible 20 percent of these costs as well. Not just for soy, but for meat, poultry, dairy products, household and personal cleaning products, even quite a few make-up and hair products as well.