Southern Rust Spreads to 13 Iowa Counties, But Experts Urge Calm

A southern rust outbreak has been confirmed in 13 Iowa counties, but experts say there's no need to panic.

The disease was initially detected on July 20-21 in five counties and has since spread to eight more, with all incidents reported at low severity.

Virgil Schmitt, an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agronomist, advises farmers to keep scouting for the disease, which thrives in warm, humid weather with frequent storms.

The Crop Protection Network's Southern Rust of Corn Map allows farmers to track the spread of the disease.