In its soybean rust forecast issued last week, USDA called for freezing weather in the southeastern states. Lows were expected to generally be in the 20s from Oklahoma to central Louisiana, most of Alabama, and Georgia during the weekend.

Tuesday morning, it is possible to have temperatures in the mid 20s near the Georgia-Florida border, USDA said. This cold air mass was expected to further kill some of the kudzu hosts in Georgia and northern Florida on the weekend and early this week.

In its most-recent national commentary on www.sbrusa.net, USDA says soybean rust has been reported on kudzu from five counties in each of AL, FL and GA in 2007. Infected leaves from some of these locations have been destroyed.

Expected colder temperatures along with eradication efforts may help to reduce the over wintering potential of soybean rust, the commentary said. Scouting efforts are continuing in many southern states where kudzu may still be green.

SOURCE: www.sbrusa.net.