Disease.
Has anybody heard about "Soybean rust?" It's a blight that can befall soy crops.
Here's some background from "planethealth:"
Folks, I am really REALLY disheartened by this. Links for more info:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/sb ... 11-16.html
http://www.planthealth.info/rust/rust.htm
Has anybody heard about "Soybean rust?" It's a blight that can befall soy crops.
Here's some background from "planethealth:"
We have a MAJOR problem if we're hoping to convert to biodiesel and become more dependent on crop yields to support our transportation and energy production needs. At some point in the future, we might be extremely (or maybe even solely) dependent on bio-fuel. One bad year could expose us to the potential for mass energy shortages, or worse: The inability to plant, harvest, or transport food or medicine.Soybean rust is a disease caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi. It is most destructive in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Australia. In the past decade it has spread to several countries in Africa, and in 2001 was found in South America. Soybean rust has recently been confirmed in the United States.
The disease spreads quickly through a field planted with a susceptible variety, making it the most destructive foliar disease of soybean where it occurs. Yield losses where rust occurs range from 10-80%, depending on how early in the season the plant is infected. The main effects of rust infection are the destruction of photosynthetic tissue, premature defoliation and reduced number of days to maturity.
Folks, I am really REALLY disheartened by this. Links for more info:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/sb ... 11-16.html
http://www.planthealth.info/rust/rust.htm