Old, previously unseen crop diseases found in New York

Research by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has found a corn disease not seen in the region in 30 years, and a soybean disease new to New York.
The report, “Diagnosis and Assessment of Diseases of Corn and Soybean in Northern New York,” says head smut was found on corn in Jefferson County. Head smut has not been identified in New York since the 1980s, according to the report, which said the finding was “surprising.”
On soybeans, the northern stem canker, which has never been identified or documented in New York, was found. The northern stem canker was identified in nine soybean fields in western New York, which the report said indicates that this previously unknown disease may be widespread and undermanaged throughout the area.
The report also found that northern corn leaf blight was widespread, though not universal. It says white mold and northern stem canker are “potentially serious” soil-borne diseases with “long-term implications for crop rotation sequence” and that these diseases deserve further assessment in the region.
Also, the report says soybean cyst nematode was not found in any of the 28 soil samples collected, but that scouting will continue into 2015. If soybean cyst nematode is confirmed, more intense testing would be needed and affected farms would need to plant soybean varieties with resistance to the nematode.

USDA allocates $48 million to crop pest, disease management

Invasive insects, weed species and diseases threaten the health and profitability of US agriculture.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated $48.1 million, provided by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 farm bill), to projects across the country that will help to prevent the introduction or spread of plant and crop pests and diseases that threaten America's agriculture economy and the environment.
Invasive insect and weed species have a potentially crippling effect on ecosystems, crop growth and the U.S. economy. Each year, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), invasive pests cost the U.S. economy approximately $120 billion by damaging crops, requiring costly response efforts and closing foreign markets to U.S. products from infested areas.
APHIS is funding 383 projects in 49 states, as well as Guam and Puerto Rico. Prospective projects receiving funding were evaluated by teams comprised of USDA experts and industry representatives and were selected based on criteria that supported six goals: enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey; targeting domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum; enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology; safeguarding nursery production; enhancing mitigation capabilities; and conducting outreach and education about these issues. The 2008 farm bill provided funding for more than 1,500 projects over the last five years.
"Invasive pests cause billions of dollars in damage each year and endanger our nation's food security," said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in a press release. "The funds USDA is making available today will help partners and stakeholders develop strategies, products and treatments to safeguard our farms and natural resources from invasive threats."

Volunteer soybeans put 2013 corn crop at risk of pests, diseases

One of the biggest threats to the emerging 2013 corn crop in Nebraska and South Dakota is the presence of volunteer soybeans, according to Chip Flory, ProFarmer editor and crop analyst. Flory shared that observation on August 27 during the Grain & Meat Outlook Webinar, hosted by WATT Global Media and Farm Journal. The webinar, the second in a series, remains available for online viewing.
Volunteer crops are not necessarily unusual, especially in farms where crops are rotated. But the presence of soybeans in corn fields is concerning to Flory.
"In a lot of those fields, there are some pretty good beans in there once you get the corn out of the way," Flory said.
However, the presence of soybeans in a corn field is a serious matter, Flory added, because it is a harbor for soybean diseases and pests that can harm the corn. It has also brought aphids to the corn crop.
Despite the problems brought on by the presence of volunteer soybeans in some corn fields, Flory said the 2013 corn crop looks "very clean" and is at minimal risk for mycotoxins.