“These are fields that are checked daily throughout the growing season for diseases,” Carlton said. “There is always someone checking them. They act as a warning system to the areas to alert farmers of any diseases.”

However, Wright said there are patterns known as “green bridging effects” where the disease skips and entire area.

“We have seen instances where a wind-blown disease is in Arkansas and Iowa an nowhere between,” he said.

Though detection is something that officials are working to increase, Carlton said farmers are encouraged to check their fields periodically and alert their county extension office if they notice any disease.

“From there, the county extension office can alert other farmers and let them know that a disease has been found,” he said.

Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.