The bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas vasicola pv vasculorum (Xvv), which causes the disease bacterial leaf streak (BLS), was officially reported on maize in the U.S. in 2016 (Korus et al. 2017). This represents the first report of this disease in North American and is the only report of the disease anywhere in the world outside of South Africa. The disease was observed in 51 counties in Nebraska as well as 6 counties in eastern Colorado and 16 counties in western Kansas. The disease has continued to expand in 2016 reaching epidemic proportion in regions of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska with several fields reporting disease incidence levels above 90% and disease severity reaching greater than 50% of leaf area infected. This level of disease will likely have an impact on yield. The disease was also recently identified from maize fields in Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas. The rapid penetration of Xvv into the U.S. maize production region combined with a lack of management methods has created a critical and urgent need for research and engagement with affected producers and allied industry.