That puts the U.S. count up to 209 positive counties and parishes in 15 U.S. states.

As the latest USDA national commentary notes, unlike the 2005 season, more soybean rust finds are occurring up the Mississippi River Valley this year — the spores apparently traveling from the outbreaks in Louisiana.

Last year at this time, there were only 86 counties in five states positive for soybean rust. (See comparison maps below.) So far this year, soybeans were the infected host in 184 of the counties, while the rust in the other 25 counties was found on kudzu, including the latest Alabama find yesterday in Covington County.