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Recrop Options For Hail Damage
6/18/2004
Ron F. Meyer
Area
Extension Agent (Agronomy)
Colorado State University
Extension
Golden Plains Area |
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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 (not 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 exits 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 ½ 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 it’s 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.
For more information regarding replant
crop options, contact Ron Meyer, (719) 346-5571., at the Golden Plains Area
Extension office in Burlington. |
Page Created and Maintained by: Perry D. Brewer, Area
Extension Agent (Technology Education/Youth)
6/18/2004 |
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Colorado
State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kit Carson, Phillips,
Washington and Yuma counties cooperating. Extension programs are
available to all without discrimination. Where trade names are used, no
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Extension is implied. |
