Hail damage, Hardin County, August 2009 (View video report)
Harvest Issues
Hail Damage – Grain Quality Survey (10/02/09)
Integrated Crop Management News article by Bill Arndorfer, Extension field agronomist; Alison Robertson and Gary Munkvold, Department of Plant Pathology; Charlie Hurburgh, Department of Ag and Biosystems Engineering; and Steve Ensley, Vet Medicine
Adjusting Hail-damaged Crops for Crop Insurance Reporting (9/29/09)
The guidelines in this article are intended to help farmers through the process of adjusting hail-damaged crops for crop insurance reporting.
Update on Hail Damaged Grain (09/29/09)
A checklist offered by ISU Extension specialists will help producers work through concerns related to marketing and using crops damaged by severe summer hail storms.
Extension clinics will address hail damaged corn harvest and storage issues. (9/10/09)
Quality Issues Related to Hail Damaged Crops
(9/10/09)
By Charles R. Hurburgh, Department of Ag and Biosystems Engineering; Alison Robertson and Gary Munkvold, Department of Plant Pathology
Risk of Mycotoxins Associated with Hail Damaged Corn
(9/1/09)
By Alison Robertson and Gary Munkvold, Iowa State University Department of Plant Pathology
Making Silage from Hail Damaged Crops
Dale Thoreson, ISU Extension dairy/beef/forages field specialist, offers some tips on making silage from hail damaged crop:
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Use good silage making techniques such as one-fourth inch theoretical length of cut. Kernel processing will not be necessary.
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Harvest in a timely fashion and pack the silage very well
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Set baggers to attain a maximum amount of packing.
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Consider using a corn silage innoculant to increase the potential for proper fermentation.
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Cover bunkers and piles with plastic immediately after chopping is done
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Have a use for the silage ahead of chopping, either fed to your own livestock or an arrangement with a neighbor to use the silage.
Silo Gas -- Nitrate Concerns
(from University of Wisconsin)
Impact of Defoliation on Corn Forage Quality
(from University of Wisconsin)
Financial Issues
Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues
8/17/09
This 34-page guide, written to help you regain a sense of financial balance following a natural disaster, offers suggestions on steps to take immediately, what to do in the initial weeks and months, and how to begin planning again for the future. Chapter 6 - Managing a Property Loss may be of special interest to those dealing with property damage from recent hail and wind storms. It has information about insurance claims, loans and grants, tax relief and hiring contractors. The booklet is a joint effort of the National Endowment for Financial Education, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Red Cross.
Crop Insurance Coverage for Hail-damaged Crops
8/10/09
(by Willam Edwards, ISU Extension farm business management specialist, pdf file)
Pricing Hail-damaged Silage
8/10/09
(by Willam Edwards, ISU Extension farm business management specialist, pdf file)
Corn Silage Pricer
8/10/09
(by Willam Edwards, ISU Extension farm business management specialist, Excel spreadsheet)
Assessing Crop Damage
Assessing Hail Damage to Corn
(from the National Corn Handbook)
Assessing Hail Damage To Soybeans
Assessing hail damage to soybeans is more complicated than for corn. Stand loss, defoliation and broken or cut stems (loss of nodes and pods) are all considered. Different sets of tables are used for the stage of soybean development at the time of the hail event. The numbers from these tables are used in equations to estimate yield loss. The attached key tables and figures give a rough idea of damage done within the early reproductive stages (R1-R3.5) ,which is where most of the crop was during the July 24, 2009 storm event.
Mid- to Late-Season Lodging from High Winds
The corn crop may have escaped hail damage, but was damaged by high winds.
Emergency Forage
Depending on the spring herbicide program used for corn or soybeans, fields with severe hail damaged crops, such as from the July 24, 2009 event, may be replanted to an emergency forage – after the Crop and Hail Insurance Adjusters assess the crop.
Small Grains as Emergency Forage
Small grains can make a good emergency forage planted in August. The University of Wisconsin conducted trials using oats, barley, triticale, winter wheat and winter rye.
Planting Alfalfa in August
Get a jump on next spring’s alfalfa seedings by planting an alfalfa stand in August, preferable by mid-August in northeast Iowa. Once again, double check on the corn or soybean herbicide program used this spring to see if an alfalfa seeding would be allowed. Alfalfa should be seeded alone. A small grain nurse crop likely would be too competitive for soil moisture. Since the majority of weeds do not germinate very well this late in the season, there should be no need for a herbicide. The warm soil temperatures will get alfalfa off to a quick start, but since soil moisture may be a bit limiting, make certain to achieve excellent seed-to-soil contact when planting. It is highly recommended to use press-wheels or a cultipacker.
Salvaging a Hail Damaged Crop
Managing Immature Crops for Grain or Silage
8/11/09
This publication offers decision-making information for immature corn and soybeans and addresses some of the additional logistical concerns. It may be useful to producers who have sections of field with lighter damage and who are deciding to make whole field harvest decisions.
Managing Hail Damaged Alfalfa
8/11/09
For producers who must make decisions about hail-damaged alfalfa crops.
Forage Use Options for Wind-Damaged Immature Corn
discusses various opportunities and concerns in dealing with “standing crop” immature forage. This 2002 article applies to the recent situation created by the July 24, 2009 hail storm event.
Salvaging a Damaged Crop for Silage
Dr Dale R. Hicks, University of Minnesota discusses salvaging corn crop for silage.
Nitrate Toxicity Concerns
Foliar Fungicide and Hail Damage
Should Hail Damaged Crops be Sprayed With a Fungicide?
Further Considerations for Foliar Fungicides on Corn and Soybean
Effects of Foliar Fungicides on Corn Stalk Quality