Hail Causes Damage to Noxubee County Crops

By Malaysia McCoy

After a severe storm on June 14 dropped hail on Noxubee County, row-crop farmland suffered up to 50% yield loss.

Row-crop specialists with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service met with affected growers at MSU Extension’s Noxubee County facility the morning after the severe storm to help them assess their next steps.

Of the state’s three primary row crops, corn likely faced the most losses due to the later stage of its development when the storm hit. Reports of hail and wind damage were also recorded on some cotton and soybean operations, but plant recovery or ample time for replanting are more likely for those crops because they had not been growing as long as corn.

All the corn leaves were emerged, and when a storm defoliates all those leaves right before sensitive reproductive stages, it can cause heavy yield losses,” said Erick Larson, MSU Extension corn specialist. “When your corn is already developed fully and this happens, there’s not much you can do to salvage the crop. You’re stuck with the damage you have.