| Translate this page: | En Espanol |
Recrop Options For Hail Damage
Ron Meyer, Area
Extension Agent - Golden Plains Area
Date: 5/16/2011
Questions?
Contact Me
Summer hail storms can
cause considerable damage to area crops. Management decisions for severely
hail-damaged fields will include the following; abandon cropping for this
summer and fallow, or replant with a crop that will mature before the first
fall frost. Available soil moisture, previous herbicides applied, and
government farm programs and crop insurance can all influence replanting
decisions.
For dryland crop production, soil moisture is a critical
factor when deciding to replant. A general rule of thumb (non scientific) is: 2
feet of available soil moisture is the minimum needed to begin a crop, with 4
feet being ideal. But, even with a 2-foot soil profile near saturation,
adequate rainfall is essential for the remainder of the growing season to
provide average yields. Soil samples from 4-foot profiles throughout fields in
question will determine whether adequate soil moisture exists for replanting
success.
Previously applied herbicides also are important to consider.
Fields with some sulfonylurea herbicides such as Ally have strict crop rotation
restrictions. These restrictions are printed on the label and must be
followed.
In addition, federal farm program benefits and requirements
can be affected by hail storms. A weather variance can be obtained for
weather-damaged fields, which releases a damaged field from compliance
requirements. Documentation is the Key! District Soil Conservationists will
need anything including pictures, videos, testimonials from neighbors, a farm
diary, or even a newspaper clipping to apply for a weather variance for a
particular event on your farm. The greater the detail the better (4 inches of
rain fell in 1/2 hour accompanied with hail). And report the weather incident
to your local NRCS office and crop insurance agent as soon as
possible.
When hail damage occurs after June 1, recrop options become
somewhat limited due to a limited growing season, however, there are a few
acceptable crops that will mature. Irrigated fields can be re-planted with
dry-beans, sunflower, millet, corn or a feed crop. If corn is the crop desired
for replanting before June 15, consider varieties of 85 days or less in
maturity. Corn is not an option later than mid-June. For dryland fields
replanted after mid-June, millet, sunflower, or a feed crop, become the best
options. Millet has been grown in the High Plains for quite some time and its
short maturity makes it a viable option using existing wheat equipment.
Sunflower has also shown promise in University testing. Current Colorado State
University Extension studies suggest sunflower planted as late as July 6 has
matured satisfactory (Meyer, Pilcher, and Peairs). Although somewhat lower in
yield and quality, late planted sunflowers can still produce quite well,
offering a salvage crop to a farm with weather-destroyed crops. If a feed crop
is the choice, have markets in place or be able to use the production in your
own operation.