While assessing potential crop damage from recent torrential rains and flooding in parts of the Midwest will take time, Purdue extension experts say farmers should be prepared for possible losses.
Some northern Indiana counties have received twice their normal rainfall for the entire month in just the past few days. In Fort Wayne, the National Weather Service recorded 6.65 inches of rain for the first two weeks of June. The average rainfall in the city for the entire month is 4.2 inches.
Corn specialist Bob Nielsen says there are a lot of acres suffering excessive moisture, and it is deteriorating by the day."
the downpour has caused flooding in some low-lying farm fields and left standing water in poorly drained areas, hindering development of newly planted corn and soybean crops.
Nielsen said young corn can likely survive up to about four days in standing water if temperatures are relatively cool. The risk increases the longer the plant is under water.
Poor field conditions have also made it difficult for some farmers to adequately fertilize their crops, leaving young plants starved of vital nutrients, said Jim Camberato, soil fertility specialist.
"Excessive rainfall and flooding can result in the loss of some spring-applied nitrogen," he said. "It
Soybeans, which are typically planted later than corn, could be especially vulnerable to flooding since plants are less developed at this time.
While it is too late in the season to replant damaged corn crops, soybean growers could still decide to start over without losing any federal crop insurance coverage, but only if they act quickly, said Michael Langemeier, an agricultural economist specializing in crop systems.
The final date for planting soybeans with full insurance coverage is June 20. After that there is a 25-day late planting period where coverage drops 1 percent per day. Langemeier said farmers can't just write off flood-damaged fields.
"For insurance purposes, you need to make a good-faith effort to save the crop," Langemeier said.
Some northern Indiana counties have received twice their normal rainfall for the entire month in just the past few days. In Fort Wayne, the National Weather Service recorded 6.65 inches of rain for the first two weeks of June. The average rainfall in the city for the entire month is 4.2 inches.
Corn specialist Bob Nielsen says there are a lot of acres suffering excessive moisture, and it is deteriorating by the day."
the downpour has caused flooding in some low-lying farm fields and left standing water in poorly drained areas, hindering development of newly planted corn and soybean crops.
Nielsen said young corn can likely survive up to about four days in standing water if temperatures are relatively cool. The risk increases the longer the plant is under water.
Poor field conditions have also made it difficult for some farmers to adequately fertilize their crops, leaving young plants starved of vital nutrients, said Jim Camberato, soil fertility specialist.
"Excessive rainfall and flooding can result in the loss of some spring-applied nitrogen," he said. "It
Soybeans, which are typically planted later than corn, could be especially vulnerable to flooding since plants are less developed at this time.
While it is too late in the season to replant damaged corn crops, soybean growers could still decide to start over without losing any federal crop insurance coverage, but only if they act quickly, said Michael Langemeier, an agricultural economist specializing in crop systems.
The final date for planting soybeans with full insurance coverage is June 20. After that there is a 25-day late planting period where coverage drops 1 percent per day. Langemeier said farmers can't just write off flood-damaged fields.
"For insurance purposes, you need to make a good-faith effort to save the crop," Langemeier said.
