The coordinated efforts by federal and state agencies, stakeholders,
and the agricultural industry to combat the disease have largely
fallen to the NCERA-208 committee, which continues today. It is
estimated that this collaborative multi-state project saved North
American soybean farmers over $600 million between 2006 and
2011 in unnecessary fungicide costs, thereby reducing chemical
exposure to the environment and food supply, and diminishing
apprehension within the soybean industry (12). NCERA-208 promotes
productive interactions among extension and research scientists,
soybean farmers, and the agricultural industry, mobilizes
regional resources, and builds relationships with international partners
in Canada and Mexico to provide a structured, North American
response to SBR.