News

Hail damage to corn/soybeans from weekend storms

A strong storm system hit parts of the corn belt over the weekend, damaging corn and soybeans in some places. Stephanie Porter, Burrus Sales Agronomist, tells Brownfield Ag News there were strong storms where she is, in central Illinois, but there was worse damage further north, “In the last 24 hours we had up to six inches of rain in our area and some pretty heavy winds. And then, in some areas, like northern Illinois, had hail.”

Porter’s been on the phone all morning and has heard about extensive damage in north Central Illinois just south of the German Valley, “A lot of the corn is below the V6 growth stage which is good news.”

But, she says growers will have to watch soybeans carefully over the next 10 days. Most of the foliage has been torn off and Porter says it will be imperative to make sure growing points on the plants are still there for them to come back.

On the plus said, Porter tells Brownfield the rain was VERY much needed, with many parts of Illinois bordering on drought conditions. She says the very dry areas of central and northern Missouri, however, did not get ANY of the much-needed rain.

AUDIO: Interview with Stephanie Porter ~