When a new, nonnative plant pest is first detected in the United States, standard protocol calls for the pest to be definitively identified by a national expert before the state where it was found is declared “confirmed” for the presence of this pest. This process has been quietly used for many years. However, the hoopla over Asian soybean rust (ASR) has suddenly taken this process from the backroom to the forefront of our attention. Late last fall we watched official press releases roll out of the nine states where ASR was found, each announcing the state’s first confirmation. Those nine states will not have to go through the initial confirmation process again, but states such as Iowa that did not find rust in 2004, will follow the confirmation process in 2005 if ASR moves into the state.