By Scout Nelson
Hailstorms with heavy rain impacted parts of central Nebraska on May 16, causing damage to newly emerged corn and soybean crops. Most corn fields were at early growth stages between V2 and V4, while soybeans were at V1 or just starting to emerge. While the hail caused visible injury, rainfall between 1 to 3 inches helped reduce drought concerns.
After a hailing event, the first step is to carefully inspect fields. It is important to identify which fields need further observation after crops begin to recover. Farmers should check plant population, leaf damage, and broken stems. If crop insurance is available, fields should be reported, and instructions from insurance agents should be followed. Taking clear photos and recording locations can also help document losses. Historical storm data can be reviewed on the NOAA website.
Understanding crop growth stage is very important when evaluating damage. In corn, early stages are more tolerant to leaf loss. Before the V5 stage, most yield loss comes from plant loss rather than leaf damage. Corn plants may look severely damaged after a hailstorm, but many recover over time. Even with 50 percent leaf loss at later stages, yield reduction may be minimal. It is advised to wait about one week before assessing plant survival because recovery signs take time to appear.
Soybean plants often show better recovery than corn. During early growth, leaf damage has little effect on yield. However, plant population loss is more critical. Soybean plants have multiple growing points, allowing them to regrow if the stem is not fully damaged. Damage to the hypocotyl can cause full plant loss.
Replanting should not be decided immediately. Farmers should wait to see how crops recover. Studies show soybeans can still produce good yields even with lower plant populations.
Hail damage can also increase the risk of bacterial diseases such as Goss’s wilt, bacterial leaf streak, and stalk rot. These diseases enter plants through wounds caused by hail. Proper identification is important because fungicides do not control bacterial infections.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-olga-ivanova
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Weather