This past weekend there was a severe weather event that moved through the upper portion of Platte County. This storm caused damage from just north of Columbus to Humphrey, NE. This storm brought strong winds and hail storms that caused severe damage throughout our fields. The hail storm has many growers wondering and questioning what the next steps are. After speaking and helping several area growers I have compiled a list of a few things to think about, for moving forward.
- Contact and speak with crop insurance representatives.
- Review your herbicide program that was utilized throughout the growing season (this will determine plant back restrictions if you are interested in planting oats or cereal rye as a cover/forage).
- If chopping corn for silage determine the moisture content before chopping (for more information regarding silage check out what Dr. Bruce Anderson has to say about proper silage production ( https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2017/correct-timing-makes-best-silage ).
- Determine your goals for this fall and next spring, this will determine if should plant oats (fall) or cereal rye (spring). If you are concerned about nitrate issues see this recent publication in CropWatch detailing cover crops being utilized for forage needs (https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2018/reducing-nitrate-concerns-when-grazing-forage-cover-crops).
- What should I do with my soybeans? This is a particularly difficult question to answer and unfortunately there isn’t a one size fits all answer. However, I am tracking a field of beans through their recovery and will hopefully have more information soon. In the meantime I have attached a video put out by Purdue University’s soybean specialist Shaun Casteel on assessing damage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIqTYoeHeWU), the Neb Guide related to hail damage in soybeans (http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec128.pdf), and soybean hail damage information put out by University of Minnesota ( https://extension.umn.edu/growing-soybean/hail-damage-soybean-crops).
Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list. There are many facets that go into making the correct decision for your farm and family. These are just a few things that have come in conversation with other growers. I would encourage anyone making these difficult decisions to have patience. I would also encourage growers to talk with the local cooperatives, agronomists, other farmers, and extension personnel to ease the decision making process.
I have attached a link to Jenny Rees’ webpage featured on CropWatch, this covers a similar late season hail event that occurred in 2013.
https://cropwatch.unl.edu/storm-damage-response-information
Also this publication put out by University of Nebraska’s economics department details custom rate prices.
http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/ec823.pdf
As always for any information or questions contact me through Twitter or the local extension office. Stay positive and have a great week everyone.
Crop Talk Megan 