By Joe Lawrence; PRO-DAIRY

Reports of isolated crop damage due to recent weather events range from flooding to hail to wind. While some of these events have impacted relatively small areas in NY, the damage is greater in other areas of the Northeast. Regardless of whether a few acres or several fields were affected, it is helpful to get out and scout your crops to understand the impacts.  

For corn, the stage of growth is important to the potential level of impact. Fortunately, the recent damage was predominately in pre-tassel corn, which generally results in a lower negative impact compared to damage occurring later in the season. For hay crops the timing between cuttings should be considered when assessing damage. Remember to consult with USDA and crop insurance representatives to document damage before taking any actions in the field. 

FLOODING 

Key points related to flood damage of forage and row crops are explained in Managing Flood Damaged Crops from Penn State University. Key points across crops include: 

• Height of water (silt line) 

• Length of time the crop is underwater 

• Contamination impacting quality and feed hygiene (ash, molds, and toxins) 

• Silt resulting in extra wear on harvest equipment 

• Debris in field which could harm equipment or end up in forage 

HAIL 

Defoliation from hail typically looks worse than it is. The loss of leaves in pre-tassel corn will have relatively small impacts on yield and quality due to the loss of leaf material. However, providing good growing conditions for the remainder of the season, the plant will progress to pollination and ear fill with relatively little impact.  

The same applies to hay crops, with slight impacts on yield and quality due to leaf loss. The exception is extreme damage with significant defoliation. In this case, the plants will need to be cut to encourage regrowth. The decision to harvest the crop or just chop the material back onto the field will be a case-by-case decision based on:  

• level of damage 

• expected forage quality (keep in mind most of the nutritional value of a crop like alfalfa is in the leaf) 

• need for forage 

• ability to store this lower quality feed in a separate storage based on quality and animal groups  

WIND DAMAGE 

There have been isolated reports of corn knocked over by wind shears. Given the average stage of corn at this point in the season, the critical point is to assess whether stalks are broken or just bent over. Some recently observed fields had relatively wet soil conditions which resulted in some corn tipping over due to partial uprooting versus stalk snapping. While this partial uprooting will have a negative effect on the crop, it likely will not die. Impacts to prepare for can include:  

• compromised growth due to a smaller root system 

• "goose-necking" in the regrowth which can impact harvest flow 

• potential for less stability (reduced standability) of the crop later in the season 

If the stalks are snapped, then the plant is likely dead. 

EMERGENCY FORAGES 

When damage occurs, a common reaction is to think about emergency crops to replace the damaged crop. First, do not overreact. Take time to truly assess the damage and viability of the crop. Often the resilience of the crop will surprise you. Further, even if the current crop's potential is compromised, the remaining potential (yield and nutritional fit for animals) may still be greater than that of a late planted "emergency forage". 

Other considerations include: 

• viable options for emergency forage crops at this point in season (see Agronomy Fact Sheet # 114: Emergency and alternative summer annual forages) 

• herbicide rotation restrictions 

• nutritional profile of current crop compared to new crop in meeting herd needs (i.e. forage oats have a different nutritional profile and role in diet than corn silage) 

• current forage inventories 

• availability of other crops (corn for grain that could be harvested as silage)