Storm damage overview Parts of Meeker, McLeod and Renville counties were hard hit by thunderstorms last week. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear of rainfall reports up to 10 inches between Cedar Mills and Buffalo Lake. This area had flooded fields, crop injury from hail and structural damage. Some cornfields and small grain fields were flattened by wind and sustained some hail damage. The worst crop damage appeared to be toward Cedar Mills and south into Renville County. Jason and Don Lang, dairy farmers just into Renville County, lost their barn and had many other buildings damaged. All cattle had been moved to a neighboring barn by the following morning. The Lang’s are well known in the dairy industry, having shown dairy cattle for many years at all of the neighboring county fairs. The major crop loss will come from flooding in low areas. Replanting corn and soybeans in low areas will not be an option this late in the growing season. Corn should be affected very little by hail at this stage of growth. Corn at the nine-leaf stage with 100-percent leaf loss results in only 13-percent yield loss. Small grain and soybeans are hurt by hail more than corn. Small grain had just headed out and this is when it is most susceptible to hail injury. Later planted cornfields will benefit by applying an additional 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Nitrogen leaches below the root zone in sandy soils and is lost through a process called denitrification in clay loam soils when they become saturated. I realize it is too late for most cornfields because they are too mature. For information on floods including wet basements, go to our Web site at www.extension.umn.edu /county/meeker. Farmfest – August 5-7 Mark down these dates to attend Farmfest on the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls. Watch for a demonstration plot at the university tent on corn rootworm control. Other activities include youth farm safety training and outstanding farm families will be honored at 2:30 p.m. August 6, with a reception and award presented by U of M president Robert Bruininks.
