NATCHEZ &045;&045; When it comes to reports of possible Asian soybean rust, do keep an eye out &045;&045; but don’t believe all the hype, local farm experts said Tuesday.

An Associated Press article released last week noted that spores like those associated with soybean rust, a fungus blown here from South America with last year’s Hurricane Ivan, had already been found near St. Joseph, La.

However, Concordia Parish County Agent Glen Daniels said rumors of soybean rust have been greatly exaggerated.

&uot;They found suspect spores in a trap in Tensas Parish, but no far there have been no reports of rust in Louisiana &045;&045; or Mississippi, that I know of,&uot; Daniels said.

Farm consultant Roger Carter noted that the number of spores found was even lower than the 100 needed to conduct a DNA test to verify soybean rust.

&uot;So it couldn’t be 100 percent verified, and such a minute amount is not significant&uot; enough for local farmers to be unduly concerned, Carter said.

Besides, Carter said, it has been too hot and dry this season to promote the growth of soybean rust, whose symptoms include rusty-colored pustules on leaves.

That doesn’t mean that farmers shouldn’t take reasonable precautions, however.

Carter said some farmers are hiring consultants to advise them on the rate and timing of fungicides to help combat soybean rust.

Others are seeking advice from county agents or representatives of farm chemical dealers.

In an area that has suffered several plant closings and other economic setbacks in recent years, agriculture is an increasing big part of the region’s economy.

Although soybean statistics for Adams County weren’t available as of Tuesday, Concordia Parish produced 2.61 million bushels of soybeans last year.

That tied Concordia with Madison Parish for the second-highest amount of soybeans produced that year, according to figures from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.