By Chad Lee, Extension Professor and Agronomist, University of Kentucky
Heavy rains and winds occurred the July 13 and 14, 2015. Farmers, county agents and students submitted images of the damage that resulted. Each image contains a short caption to identify the issue. Several days are needed before we can fully determine crop recovery and the extent of the damage. More images will be added to this post as they are submitted.
Hail damage to corn in blister stage.
1. Hail Damage. Hail was reported in central Kentucky this morning. Corn in this field was at the blister stage. Corn was just exiting it's most sensitive period to hail damage. The upper leaves are shredded, but most are still attached. If these leaves remain - and we'll know that in a few days - then yield losses could as small as 10%. See this publication for assessing hail damage.
Most leaves are attached, just shredded by hail. Leaves below ears are in decent shape. Minimal yield loss expected.
2. Green Snap in Corn. The edge of a corn field on the university farm in Fayette County had some green snap occur yesterday. The stalks broke at the nodes. Most of these plants broke at a node below the dominant ear, essentially killing the affected plants. Green snap was low for the entire field and yield losses are minimal. Green snap occurs for several reasons, and is often the result of a combination of factors: fertilizers applied, genetics, growth stages, fast growing conditions and strong winds.The video shows graduate student, Julie Baniszewski, checking corn stalks for their strength. As she pushes the stalk over, you hear and see the break or "snap" at the node. Winds had to apply a similar force to cause this on other plants. Check out this article by Bob Nielsen about green snap or this article by Peter Thomison about green snap.
Hail killed about 2 kernels on lower part of ear.
3. Flooded Plants. Soybeans are under water. The water needs to recede in about 24 to 48 hours for the plants to survive. If the plants survive and air gets to the roots, then the plants can recover. They likely be behind in development compared with other plants that were not submerged. See this publication on flood damage corn.
Soybeans flooded out in Rowan County. The water needs to recede in about 24 or 48 hours for the plants to survive.
4. Tobacco and Wet Feet. Yes, this is a grains blog, but we do grow tobacco in Kentucky. According to our tobacco experts, the plant does not like wet soils.
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