Under favorable conditions, soybean rust can spread and develop rapidly. This characteristic makes it important to track its advancement on a national scale so Iowa producers can apply protective fungicides when necessary but avoid expensive unnecessary treatments. It was with this in mind that the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), the United Soybean Board, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the soybean rust sentinel plots. In 2005, sentinel plots were established in 31 states and Ontario, Canada. The results of scouting these plots are posted at the USDA Soybean Rust Information Site. This provided producers and researchers with current information about the development of the disease in the United States.