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What to do in case of hail damage in maize?
During the growing season, crops such as maize can be affected by hailstorms. The question is whether the maize crop should be considered lost after hail or whether there is still any chance of recovery.
Moderate hail damage
In moderate hail damage, the leaf apparatus is damaged in the form of perforated or torn leaves. If the growing point (heart of the plant) is not damaged, regrowth/continued growth will simply take place and there is no reason for drastic measures such as the destruction of the remaining crop. There is, however, a greater chance of, for example, infestation with leaf fungi in the further course of the season.
Heavy hail damage
With severe hail damage, the leaf apparatus is often completely destroyed and knocked off the stem. The question is also whether the plume and breast construction are damaged. Although this is quite difficult, patience should be preserved and regrowth/continued growth should be assessed no earlier than a few days after the hailstorm. If, after assessment, there is some recovery and the plume and cob formation are not or hardly damaged, it is recommended to leave the crop. Unfortunately, a lower yield and a greater chance of infestation with leaf fungi must be taken into account.
Devastating hail damage
The maize plant was completely destroyed in a devastating hailstorm. The leaves have been knocked off the stem and the stems are broken. Such corn, or what is left of it, must be considered lost.
At this point in the growing season (end of June/beginning of July), overseeding/sowing with maize seed on such plots no longer makes sense. Even with the very earliest maize varieties it is very doubtful whether an acceptable ripening is achieved. Maize that is currently sown is about sixty growing days behind maize sown in time (around 1 May). That is one third of the normal growing season (+/- 160 growing days for silage maize). At the same time, June 21 is the longest day behind us. A warm month of August and an excellent late summer in September can somewhat eliminate a moderate growth retardation, but sowing two months later than usual cannot be compensated. Due to the photoperiodic reaction of maize, a longer crop should be taken into account when sowing later, but also a strongly delayed flowering and a thinner and therefore weaker stem. The granulation and flask formation will then start (too) late. And given that the date around October 15 equates to the end of net photosynthesis (net dry matter production increase), there isn't much room to get a filled flask. The dry matter and starch yield is then low. In addition, due to low dry matter percentages at harvest, there will be significant loss of juice juice during the silage period.
Opting for an alternative to hail-ravaged maize fields
Fields of maize that are destroyed by hail after mid-June are best sown with a crop that can provide some yield and quality for the remainder of the growing season. One option is, for example, Italian ryegrass. To do this, cleave the remaining maize crop and then plow it under in combination with a furrow packer to create a good seedbed, prevent the seedbed from drying out and reduce the weed pressure. If there is space on the farm for the succeeding crop to deliver sufficient yield and quality, it is desirable to add a small starting dose with organic manure. An important point of attention is the possible effect on this crop of the crop protection products used in maize (soil herbicides).
Weather insurance against crop damage
Possibly as a result of climate change, more extreme weather conditions during the growing season should be taken into account. As is much more common in arable farming, it is worth seriously considering taking out (broad) crop insurance against extremities such as hail. In this way, the financial damage caused by a crop failure may be partially or completely covered.
Consult your KWS advisor in the event of alleged damage
Consult your KWS advisor for expert advice regarding your own specific situation (damage assessment and any follow-up measures). View on the website for his contact details.
