Agronomists across the Corn Belt reported total-loss hail damage, tornadoes, flooded fields, and wind-related crop losses that could reduce yields.

Severe storms left a path of crop damage across the Corn Belt in mid-June, with agronomists reporting impacts ranging from total losses in Nebraska to drowned-out acres in Illinois. 

Tennis-ball and softball-sized hail and dozens of tornadoes tore through crops in several corn-producing states during the week of June 15–21. 

“There was lots of vegetation stripped, and some fields will be total loss,” said Brady Kappler, a BASF agronomist in Nebraska.

While hail and tornadoes caused localized damage, agronomists and climatologists reported that saturated soils along with standing water following heavy rains could cause the greatest yield losses.

Hail Damage Across the Midwest

Kappler said rainfall ranged from 0.40 inches in the western part of the state to 4–6 inches in south-central and southeast Nebraska. Localized flooding occurred in some areas, but quarter- to ping-pong-sized hail caused the most damage, mainly in south-central Nebraska, he said.

“Storm conditions also turned over some pivots in a few areas,” Kappler said. 

Hail arrived while much of the corn crop was in a rapid growth phase, creating the potential for significant yield losses, said Eric Hunt, a climatologist and Extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

“Hail damage at this time of the season is not good and could be a 100% loss, as leaves generally will not regenerate once you get past V6–V8,” Hunt said. “Most of the corn is probably well past that in eastern and south-central Nebraska.”

In Illinois, Phil Krieg, a Syngenta agronomist, reported tornadoes, heavy rain, and hail damage along the I-70 corridor. This round of storms arrived after severe weather the previous week had caused more than $1 billion in damages throughout the state, according to risk management and insurance firm Aon. 

“Weather has been very damaging in some areas, with heavy rains and hail spread across the region, with some areas seemingly hit over and over,” Krieg said. “The I-70 corridor through Effingham, Illinois, received tornadoes and heavy rains on Tuesday, June 16, with considerable damage to crops and buildings. Hail was also reported in southern Illinois, south and southwest of Mount Vernon.”

Waterlogged Fields

Agronomists across the Corn Belt reported saturated soils, saying excess moisture could have a longer-lasting impact on yields than the storms. 

“Indiana continues to get waves of storms that have affected crops,” reported Chad Threewits, a Syngenta agronomist. “There was a wave of tornadoes and hail that hit a few areas. Rainfall has been highly variable. Areas that received 3–5 inches have ponded areas that took out stand and will likely not get replanted at this stage of corn.”

In northwest Indiana, excessive rain is stressing crops, said Aaron Brooker, a Beck’s agronomist.

“Most of the fields I scouted looked rough, but I expect them to recover,” Brooker said. “Our Practical Farm Research data suggests that there will be some yield loss, but applying fungicides or other products following a hail yields inconsistent returns.”

Kansas, which has experienced drought much of this year, received as much as 12 inches of rainfall in June in some parts, said assistant state climatologist Matthew Sittel at Kansas State University.

“I’ve seen some standing water in fields across north central Kansas,” Sittel said. “There was a severe storm earlier in the month that brought 113-mph winds to Salina. There were broken power poles aplenty and lots of tree damage, but from what little I’ve seen of crops, there were no obvious signs of damage.”

T.J. Binns, an agronomist with Syngenta, said recent storms in northwest and southwest Kansas have affected crops. 

“High winds and hail storms have had an impact on a lot of acres,” Binns said. 

Crops across parts of Iowa and Illinois are showing signs of stress from standing water. 

Ryan Gentle, an agronomist with Wyffels, said Illinois has received “way too much” rain during recent weeks, with some areas getting anywhere from 3–4.5 inches in the past several days, and 7–12 inches during the past couple of weeks. 

“This will be the first time in a couple [of] years that the yields in wet spots will really show up on the yield monitor this fall,” Gentle said. 

It’s been tough to remain positive after all the rain, wind, and hail in Illinois in recent weeks, said Robby Meeker, a Wyffels agronomist. 

“The rain in particular caused saturation in soils and limited root oxygen,” Meeker said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had holes this big in fields, making field averages hard to be at the top end.”

Other agronomists have reported yellowing corn, nitrogen loss, and roots struggling in wet soils. 

Eric Wilson, a Wyffels agronomist in Iowa, said yellowing is apparent in corn and soybeans. 

“Roots are starving for oxygen but should improve as fields become less saturated,” Wilson said. 

Crop Resilience 

Some agronomists have reported crop resilience after the recent storms, pointing out not all fields are expected to experience significant yield losses. 

In northeast Iowa, some areas have received 6–8 inches more than average, according to Iowa State University climate data. 

“Things look really good until we get east of the Waterloo area, then we start seeing signs of what too much rain can look like,” said Lee Koenigsfeld, an Iowa agronomist for Beck’s. “Corn is starting to show signs of nitrogen loss, either through leaching or from denitrification in fully saturated soils.”

Despite the extra rainfall, some crops have been able to recover, he said. 

“These storms have also been accompanied by winds that have leaned some of the corn over,” Koenigsfeld said. “The good news is that the plants at this point have an amazing ability to stand themselves back up, so it was virtually unnoticeable 72 hours later.”

In western Iowa, farmers were able to work in the fields. But “wind was blowing so hard that some fields were blowing soil in standing crop,” reported agronomist Katie Jorgensen. 

Despite some challenges, Ohio’s crops are progressing well, said Jacob Foote, an Ohio agronomist for Stine. 

“Growers continue to monitor fields for weed pressure and localized areas of excess moisture, but overall crop conditions remain favorable,” Foote said. “The combination of timely rainfall and seasonally warm temperatures has positioned much of Ohio’s soybean crop for solid early-season growth, as the state moves into the critical summer production period.”

Looking Ahead

Climatologists said they expect challenging conditions to continue throughout the coming weeks. 

In Nebraska, Hunt said he expects severe weather to be a concern for the next 10 days at least. “I'm also concerned about a transition to heat in early July, too,” he said.

In Kansas, Sittel said he was hopeful for continued rains going forward. 

“Above-normal precipitation will be good for crops, as we move into July and August, and will hopefully sustain them,” he said. 

Source - https://www.agriculture.com