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Weekend storms damage Minnesota corn, soybean fields

Some crop farmers in the Upper Midwest are assessing their options after severe thunderstorms caused extensive damage last weekend.

University of Minnesota Extension educator Dave Nicolai says heavy rains, strong winds and hail moved at an angle from the southern border of South Dakota up to the Twin Cities.

“We had some areas in west-central Minnesota, particularly the Kandiyohi and Chippewa County areas that experienced extremely high winds (causing) building damage.  But (there was) also severe damage to corn and soybeans in those particular areas.”

He tells Brownfield many cornfields affected by Sunday’s storm were far enough along that the plant’s growing point had emerged.

“You’re prone to damage (in the form of) bruising from hail stones, but (the stones) can also cut off (the plant) below the growing point.  So the delayed planting in some areas actually may end up being a benefit if the soybeans and corn were very small at the time the hail came through.”

Nicolai talked with Farm Service Agency officials in Minnesota earlier this week, who indicated federal disaster assistance for affected producers would be limited to low interest loans available later in the season.