We have heard it over and over this year. “It’s so dry, we are desperate for rain, but we don’t need any hail with it,” or something this effect. Statewide, Minnesota has been plagued by lack of rain from June through July. Just as the weather patterns seemed to change for the better, some heavy thunderstorms boiled up in south central Minnesota on Friday afternoon and evening. These storms affected parts of Renville, McLeod, Meeker, Wright and Carver counties and beyond. Hail was very intense in some areas where either large quantities or very large hail stones fell. There have been many reports of damaged property and crops.
August hailstorms are not uncommon, but they can be particularly disheartening for farmers. Hail in mid-August can be the most devastating for crop yields and they also occur after much energy has been spent making the crop. This year may be especially frustrating for those affected. Farmers were beginning to be optimistic about potential yields after recent rain events, only to get hit by hail on a Friday evening.
Soybean is most sensitive to hail damage at the point in the growth cycle where leaves cease development and expansion. At this time the soybean plant begins to put all of its energy into filling seeds. Developmentally we call this stage R5.5 or midway between Beginning Seed (R5) and Full Seed (R6). The stage is easy to identify visually by noting a cluster of small leaves at the very top of the plant. Defoliation at the R5.5 stage is particularly damaging as the soybean has not accrued any yield in the form of seed and yet it does not have the capacity to make any new leaves to help fill those developing seeds. In addition, soybean stores about half of the seeds’ protein requirement in the leaves that is normally mobilized to the seed late in development. The loss of leaves late in the growth cycle removes stored resources that cannot be replaced.
Source: umn.edu
Photo Credit: gettyimages-olga-ivanova
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Weather