Ferrie: Triple Weather Punch Hits Corn Belt, Crop Still has Time to Recover

Rain, hail and high winds moved through parts of the Corn Belt this past week, flattening crops in some fields while causing hardly a stir in others. 

While some of the corn Ken Ferrie checked was snapped off, he reports most of the crops he saw withstood the high winds in better condition than he anticipated.

“Much of the hailed-on corn will be healed up in time for pollination,” says Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist and owner of Crop-Tech Consulting, Heyworth, Ill.

“The top leaves that supply the plant during grain fill are still in the whorl, so they're somewhat protected, based on the fields that we saw,” he says. “Corn that blew down is going to cause some harvesting issues, but it will still have time to get both the tassel and the ear upright before pollination.”

In the storm-stressed fields, L1 hybrids are likely to experience the most yield loss. L1 hybrids flex down in ear length between V6 and V15. 

“So when you’re out there in August checking this corn, you may find ears that are filled to the tip but they’re only 30 kernels long, and that would be the result of this wind event we just had,” he explains.

Ferrie adds that he knows some of the fields of corn went down in the storm before growers were able to make a planned nitrogen application with their Y-Drop system. 

His advice: “Don't give up on these fields. Go by air with your nitrogen and your planned fungicide passes.”

He also says to plan on harvesting these hybrids early this fall. “Spend a little money on drier gas, so we can get the corn in the combine,” he says. “Yes, it'll slow down harvest. But this is still a valuable crop. Never walk away from a crop, especially at these prices.”

Keep an eye out for pests. Damaged corn stands encourage pest pressure and need careful management. He says to scout early and often and put out pheromone traps. In addition, watch the crop closely during pollination because it will take longer with plants that are at different growth stages.

Pests to be looking for now:

Spider Mites: Ferrie says in parts of Illinois that didn't get any rain or received small amounts, it's time to stop mowing ditches and waterways next to soybean fields. He estimates spider mites are on the move in central Illinois this week.

“We do not have enough insecticide sitting around to fight a spider mite war,” he says. “So stop mowing. Pest teams, watch the borders for the start of these spider mite infestations. And again, due to product availability, this will be the year when we may have to spray those field borders and try to hold these pests from infecting the rest of the field.”

Western Bean Cutworm: Ferrie says western bean cutworm moths are in flight and to add lures for them to your pheromone traps.

Corn Rootworm: It’s time to start doing corn rootworm floats to check for larvae and root damage. The steps to take:
•    Use a flat shovel to cut a 7” cube of soil around a corn plant to preserve the roots. 
•    Submerge the plant in a bucket of salty water. 
•    Work the soil off the roots and look for larvae to float to the top of the bucket. 
•    Check for feeding damage on the roots. 
•    Document the amount of larvae you find and take pictures of the feeding. Compare them to pictures you have from last year to determine whether damage is worsening.

“For sure check your non-GMO corn. It’s a good idea to check your traited corn as well – especially if you suspect some resistance is happening,” Ferrie says. “And while there's nothing we can do about the feeding this year, you can make plans to change your routine for the following year if you're dealing with resistance.” 

Japanese Beetle: Ferrie says he is seeing more of the beetle in corn now than in soybeans. 

“We can't let them clip silks, but I would not make a preventive strike on them,” he says. “You just need to be on top of them when pollination starts; it’s a good idea to have a plan ready to go. If you're relying on a custom applicator, give them a head’s up that you might have a problem brewing. If they're clipping silks, you can't wait three weeks to get an application made."

Boost Your Skills at Farm Journal Corn & Soybean College  

The annual event is coming up and is just a few weeks away – July 26-27. This marks the 15-year anniversary for the event, and Ferrie’s crew is putting together some extra activities to celebrate. 

All the corn and soybean content is new, as it is every year. Ferrie says this is an unsponsored event, making more time for him and his agronomists to spend with you in the field, looking at crops and answering questions.

You can register at CropTechInc.com. Look for the Corn & Soybean College tab at the top of the website page.

Check out the full Boots in the Field podcast here: