Northeast Ohio Crop Progress Report

The big story this week is the weather. After several weeks of dry weather with below average rainfall NE Ohio got caught up in a big way. On June 25th storms moved in off of Lake Erie and brought sporadic rain to the area. In some cases several inches fell within a half hour. Along with rain a 3 by 10 mile area of Ashtabula County received severe hail. Golf ball size hail was reported and corn, soybean, wheat and alfalfa crops were damaged. Here are some pictures of the damage that occurred.

Experts on sight, including David Marrison Ashtabula Agricultural Extension Educator, the day after the damage occurred made these observations. David reported that the corn leaves were shredded but the growing points on most plants appeared to be intact. This means that the plants will suffer a setback but mortality is not eminent. This much we do know from past experience. Plants from growth stage V-6 down should suffer little damage as the growing point is just above the ground. The more advanced stages of growth will suffer mortality if the growing point is damaged or the stalk is cut off below the growing point. Defoliation can have varying affects on yield. It takes a trained eye to assess the amount of defoliation. Purdue University has several good fact sheets on Recovery from Hail Damage in Corn www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/timeless/haildamageyoungcorn.html

Other crops have similar guidelines to go by. Iowa State University has a publication Hail Damage Assessment to Soybeans at www.extensio.iastate.edu/nwcrops/hail_soybean.htm
If you have crops in the damaged area you should wait a week to ten days to assess the final damage. Hail damage is not common in this area but as witnessed last week it does happen.

Here is how the crops are progressing in Northeast Ohio:

Corn: V-3 to V-12, The crop looks very good to excellent.

Soybeans: V-E to V-5 Stands are very good and the rain should help this crop. Some weed problems need to be taken care of.

Oats: Are heading and look very good.

Wheat: Is turning and the potential for an excellent crop is there. Harvest should start in the next week.

Forages: First cutting is 70% complete. A lot of good quality hay was made last week. With the forecast for five dry days starting on Sunday the rest of the crop should get into the barn. Drying will slow due to wet ground conditions. Second cutting is ready in many fields and the dry weather will see some of this crop being harvested.

Pest Alert: Scout for Soybean Aphids now. At the recent field night at WI Millers in Northern Trumbull County OSU Extension Entomologist Ron Hammond was able to find soybean aphids on the Miller Farm and on a farm to the south and east of Farmdale. They are in the area but not in numbers great enough to treat. The threat will come from the north and Ron is encouraging producers to read newsletter updates from Michigan and Ontario Canada. Updates will be posted as needed. If you spot aphids contact your local extension office.