Severe storms with large hail hit parts of Indiana over the weekend of June 24 & 25, bringing much-needed rain but also causing damage to crop. The rain was welcomed, but less welcome were the hail the size of golf balls and baseballs.
The storm moved eastward, damaging crops as it passed through places like Colfax and Kirklin. Experts say the extent of the damage and the chances of recovery depend on the size of the hailstones and how long they fell on the corn and soybean plants. It's too early to make a definitive assessment, so farmers will need to wait for three to five days to see if the crops can bounce back and show new growth.
Luckily, the corn in the region is not at the tasseling stage, which would have been the worst time for hail damage. Currently, the crops are in the earlier to mid-vegetative stage, so losing some leaf area may not be too detrimental. Farmers are advised to be patient and give the plants time to recover before evaluating the situation.
Photo Credit: GettyImages-Olga Ivanova
Categories: Indiana, Crops, Corn, Soybeans