At this point a line separating the solid and liquid portions of the endosperm can be detected. This is the milk line. Killing frosts during the grain filling period, particularly before the one-half milk line stage can be devastating to both yield and quality. The leaf rust appears to be most severe on the lower leaves of the plant, especially on the later planted hybrids. There are differences between hybrids in their tolerance to rust.
Upper leaves have relatively low infections and the spread appears to be slowing.
Rust should not have a major impact on yield. The soybean crop is well into pod development. The lower pods do not appear to be filling as quickly as would normally be expected. The current stretch of warm weather should help pod fill. There are reports that the later planted soybeans are not well podded.