World Grain - July 2005 - 34

FEATURE

Oilseeds News Roundup
Soybean rust spreading slower than expected
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S. - Asian soybean rust is spreading at a much slower rate than
initially expected in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported in June.
As of June 22, Seminole County in Georgia was the only county in the United States with
rust on soybean plants. The fungus was found on common ditch weeds in four Florida counties, according to the USDA, which noted that numerous soybean fields have been scouted
in the eastern half of the United States.
Although the fungus has not spread as quickly as experts predicted, the USDA said new
computer models indicate that plant pathologists in the southeastern U.S. should continue to
monitor their areas for the fungus, which can quickly defoliate soybean plants and produce
yield losses of 80% to 90%.
USDA said Tropical Storm Arlene, which moved across the southeastern U.S. in early June,
had the potential to spread rust spores.
For more information, visit the USDA's public soybean rust web site at www.sbrusa.net.
A soybean field in the United States last year ravaged by Asian soybean rust. Photo courtesy of USDA.

Research shows glyphosate may
be soybean rust suppressant
PULLMAN, WASHINGTON, U.S. - Laboratory results by researchers at Washington
State University (WSU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service show the herbicide glyphosate has activity in suppressing Asian
soybean rust.
WSU, which has applied for U.S. and
international patent protection, intends
to license this intellectual property
broadly through its Washington State
Research Foundation. The foundation
already has reached a preliminary agreement with Monsanto Co., the producer of
glyphosate-based Roundup agricultural
herbicides.
The researchers found that glyphosate
suppressed Asian soy rust in preliminary
greenhouse trials when glyphosate-resistant soybeans were treated. However,
further research must be conducted to
validate the results "under field use
conditions," said R. James Cook, plant pathologist and interim dean of WSU's College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural
Resource Sciences.
www.World-Grain.com / World Grain / July 2005

U.S., Paraguayan soybean organizations form alliance
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S. - The American Soybean Association and the United Soybean
Board have entered into a memorandum of understanding with representatives of the Paraguayan Chamber of Cereal & Oilseeds Exporters and the Paraguayan Soybean, Oilseeds and
Cereals Producers Association, ASA farmer leaders announced in June. The memorandum will
allow the groups to begin and expand cooperation in areas of similar interest. The goal is to
broadly promote the development and use of the soybean complex.

USDA says Brazil will likely slow soybean expansion in 2005-06
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S. - In a special report on Brazil's crop area released in June, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service said it expects Brazil's expansion in soybean acreage to slow as a result of factors such as high production costs, depressed commodity
prices and strengthening domestic currency. In 2005-06, soybean area in Brazil is forecast at 23
million hectares, nearly unchanged from last year's sown area of 23.2 million hectares.

Large soybean processing
facility being built in Russia

China soybean imports forecast
to jump 45% in FY 2004-05

KALININGRAD, RUSSIA - Panevezio
Statybos Trestas (PST), the leading
Lithuanian construction company, will
build a €29 million soy oil plant in
Kaliningrad, which will evolve into the
largest soybean processing complex
in Russia. Construction began in June
2005 and the facility should be completed by late 2006.

BEIJING, CHINA - It is estimated that
China will import 24.8 million tonnes of
soybeans in the 2004-05 fiscal year, a 45%
jump compared to the 2003-04 fiscal year,
according to China State Grain and Oil Information Center. Cao Zhi, a senior analyst
with the information center, forecasts that
China will import some 12.2 million tonnes
of soybeans from the United States.
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World Grain - July 2005

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