To protect the United States from the accidental introduction of Asian soybean rust disease, the 25,000 members of the American Soybean Association (ASA) are saying that the soybean rust risk assessment currently being conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) should be completed before any potential commodity soybean imports from rust-affected countries are contemplated.”Given the impact soybean rust would have on soybean production and growers in the U.S., the only prudent course of action is to avoid imports from diseased areas until APHIS completes its risk assessment,” said ASA President Ron Heck, a soybean producer from Perry, Iowa. “We know APHIS scientists are working diligently on the risk assessment, and ASA supports their science-based evaluation.”To help promote greater understanding about soybean rust, ASA recently hosted a Soybean Rust Conference that was conducted in cooperation with APHIS. More than 200 soybean producers, scientists and industry experts shared information about rust identification and detection methods, the approval status and registration of fungicide products to combat the disease, and the steps being taken to develop rust-resistant soybean varieties.Soybean rust is not present in the continental United States. It has been present throughout Asia and Australia for decades. In 1996, the disease moved from Asia into Uganda, and by 2002, it had spread throughout much of Africa. In 2001, soybean rust was found in South America and it has spread throughout the soybean growing areas of Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. By 2003, rust had also spread to a northern, non-soybean growing area of Argentina.For more than two years, ASA has been working with APHIS to make sure the U.S. is protected from the accidental introduction of rust, a fungal disease that attacks the foliage of a soybean plant. Rust spores can be transmitted on the plant stems, pods, and leaves that are typically mixed with bulk shipments of commodity grade whole soybeans. The disease can reduce yields up to 80 percent or more, but does not affect the quality or safety of the soybeans.”ASA and APHIS share the goal of developing procedures that will protect our 74 million acres of soybeans while ensuring that the procedures are science-based,” Heck said. “Asian rust is already causing significant soybean crop losses in countries where it has been detected. ASA’s goal is to make sure soybean rust isn’t accidentally introduced here in the U.S.”In a Phytosanitary Alert issued by the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), it was estimated that soybean rust could adversely affect all soybean varieties in the United States at an estimated cost of $7.2 billion, which represents about half the value of the U.S. soybean crop.A drought-reduced 2003 soybean crop, coupled with record exports and strong domestic demand, has led to U.S. soybean ending stocks at the lowest levels in nearly 30 years. Due to this tight supply situation, USDA analysts project imports of 430,000 metric tons of soybean meal will be needed to sustain and feed the U.S. livestock demand base.”From risk assessment information APHIS has shared with ASA, soybean meal can continue to be imported under the proper protocols without risk of introducing soybean rust into the United States,” Heck said. “U.S. soybean growers need U.S. livestock demand to be robust when growers harvest the 2004 U.S. soybean crop. It is not in U.S. growers’ interests to choke-off this livestock demand in the short-term, or to encourage livestock operations to locate offshore in the long-term, via ill-considered import restrictions that aren’t supported by science.”Last year, ASA worked with APHIS to require that Brazilian soybean meal imported into Wilmington, N.C., had been processed, heat-treated, and handled in such a manner as to eliminate the possibility of any potentially viable soybean rust spores being present. There are reports that several shipments of soybean meal are again scheduled for delivery later this year.”The safety of importing commodity soybeans remains much less clear than for properly-handled soybean meal,” Heck continued. “ASA has raised many questions on this issue to make sure APHIS scientists are looking at all the potential risks and pulling together as much scientific knowledge as is necessary to protect the U.S. soybean industry.”Commodity soybeans grown in Canada could be safely imported into the United States since soybean rust is not present in North America.”APHIS scientists will soon be back in the lab and out into the field, and a team is scheduled to go to Brazil to do more research,” Heck said. “ASA will continue to work with scientists to make sure U.S. growers are fully protected and to ensure that APHIS’ risk assessment is based on the best science.”There is the potential for a natural introduction of soybean rust into the United States that would likely result from spores being carried on wind currents or storms from West Africa or northern South America and the Caribbean. However, it is critically important for researchers to have as much time as possible to develop rust-resistant soybean varieties.ASA is working to significantly increase federal soybean rust research funding. Soybean producers are asking Congress to allocate more resources for soybean rust, and ASA is seeking $2.8 million for the development of rust resistant varieties and fungicide efficacy testing. Growers can help by becoming ASA members, and helping ASA lobby Congress to get these needed funds. Go to www.SoyGrowers.com to become a member today.
The 5: Takeaways from the Coyotes’ introduction of Alex Meruelo “Honestly, I just felt like I was just kind of contributing and doing my part,” he said.Hardly. Peterson’s impact was immediate and sparked the entire team.“It was real fun to watch him up close and personal,” dollar linebacker Deone Bucannon said.Peterson spurred an offense that had scored 20+ points just once in the first five games. And it took less than a half for the Cardinals to exceed their season high in points (23) when they took a 24-0 lead with more than five minutes remaining in the second quarter.“It was refreshing to see some movement and see some big plays,” defensive lineman Frostee Rucker said. “Our offense is capable of a lot of big plays. They got playmakers all across the board and just to see them, all their hard work pay off and A.P. coming in and doing a fantastic job and re-energizing that whole unit, it’s great.”Only five days after being acquired from New Orleans, Peterson played 48 of the Cardinals’ 65 offensive snaps.“Body feels good. I feel really good. Not banged up,” he said. “Got my squats in today. Did some cardio; I didn’t like how I felt the first half. But, ultimately, I came out well. A couple of bruises, but outside of that, I’m fresh.” Derrick Hall satisfied with D-backs’ buying and selling Peterson received a crash course on the Cardinals’ playbook in the days leading up to the game. Still, he felt prepared. And the Cardinals felt comfortable enough to keep feeding him the football. Peterson had 26 of the team’s season-high 35 carries.“I think the game kind of flowed that way once we got the running game going and so, OK, hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it type situations,” he said.Peterson certainly enjoyed the moment. And while he won’t make it about him, Peterson did take great satisfaction in helping bring back some of that joy that perhaps had been missing from his new teammates.“I was able to kind of glance over at the sidelines at times and see guys fired up and just watching the tape today, looking at the sidelines and the guys were really wired up. That’s all part of it,” he said. “That’s the type of impact that I want to make on my teammates and the fans and it’s just, for me, I’m just happy to have that opportunity.”And what about the standing ovation Peterson received after his first carry in a Cardinals uniform?“That was a first,” he said, quickly adding, “Maybe, 2012, when I came back after the ACL injury but that was pretty special.” Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) tries to run past Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Chris Conte, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso) TEMPE, Ariz. – Twice, immediately after the game and then again in the locker room on Monday, running back Adrian Peterson deflected the attention. He chose instead to credit his teammates, specifically “those guys up front,” talking about the offensive line, wide receivers and tight ends — all of whom helped make his Arizona Cardinals debut a success.Peterson, who had 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns, believes he played no larger of a role than anyone else in Sunday’s 38-33 win over Tampa Bay. Top Stories 10 Comments Share Competition at CBThough a change isn’t imminent, head coach Bruce Arians did acknowledge Monday that cornerback Tramon Williams showed enough to compete for Justin Bethel’s job.Pressed into duty when Patrick Peterson exited the game with a quadriceps injury — it was a precautionary move more than anything — Williams excelled with an interception and pass breakup in 30 snaps.“That’s what I came here to do. I came here to play,” he said.Prior to Sunday, in the last three games, Williams twice dressed but did not play and was inactive against San Francisco.“A guy who’s used to playing, man, it’s one of the most difficult things,” he said. “But, you got to maintain (being a) professional and just come to work every day and continue to prepare like you’re going to play, and that’s what I had to do because if anybody went down, I’m going to be the next guy up. So, I have to come prepare like I’m going to be a starter.”Deone Bucannon a leading tacklerPerhaps lost in the Peterson excitement and defensive letdown in the second half was the fact that Bucannon, in only his third game back, led the Cardinals in tackles. He finished with eight, playing all 70 snaps on defense. Former Cardinals kicker Phil Dawson retires – / 37 Bucannon, remember, is four months removed from ankle surgery.“I’m feeling a lot better. Every day I’m getting stronger and better,” he said. “(The trainers) told me it’s going to take a bit to get me all the way back to where I’m usually feeling good. At the same time, these people we have here are state-of-the-art. They’re getting me back right and I’m feeling a lot better. Each and every day, it’s feeling better, it’s getting better. The swelling is going down. It’s getting a lot stronger and I’m starting to trust it, so I’m looking forward to it. Each and every game I just want to get better and I want to do the things that I’m capable of doing.”Better with ageLooking at the long list of contributors to Sunday’s win, one thing stands out: They’re all old.The eight oldest Cardinals that played combined for some big numbers: kicker Phil Dawson (42), receiver Larry Fitzgerald (34) and Peterson (32) accounted for 26 of the 38 points, while Williams (34) and safety Antoine Bethea (32) had interceptions.“All those guys, even though they’re old, they can still play,” said punter Andy Lee, who at 35 punted twice for 93 yards, including one downed at the one-yard line. “I think that’s just what it shows: you can be old and you can still play. There’s something, maybe, to be said about young versus old in the NFL — I mean there’s definitely some statistics that show that — but I think the guys we have are definitely still, obviously, able to play and play at a high level. It’s exciting to see so many old guys doing well and playing good football.” Grace expects Greinke trade to have emotional impact