Storms roll through Northwest Missouri

Strong winds have hit several counties in Northwest Missouri. The corn crop is especially vulnerable to injury during the rapid growth phase prior to pollination or during pollination. Plant symptoms may be leaning, root lodging, and green snap of corn.

Corn is rapidly increasing its stalk growth and elongation in some fields, whereas other fields have already pollinated across the region. Those corn fields where rapid elongation is occurring has not developed the toughness of the stalk or the lignins that give the stalk strength. Therefore, corn injury to wind is more susceptible during this time.

First, wait at least four to five days for corn plants to recover. At that point, you will have a better idea of whether they will recover or not.

Leaning plants should recover. However, if plants are severely lodged, there can be an impact on pollen shed and silking. The exposed silks may not be pollinated adequately if leaves cover the silks preventing pollen from reaching the silks.

Root lodged plants often recover and become “goose necked” as they try to upright themselves. Again, if lodged plants cover other plants, pollination problems can occur.

Last of all, if green plants are snapped off below the harvestable ear, there will not be an ear to harvest. Yield loss is direct response to number of plants damaged. Plants will not compensate much when damage occurs so late.

For more information, contact Wayne Flanary at 660-446-3724 or Kurt Nagel at 816-776-6961, Extension Agronomists, University of Missouri Extension.