Corn Blown Down in Western Kentucky

Chad Lee, Extension Agronomist, University of Kentucky

Corn broken at the nodes. These plants will not recover.
Photo credit: Nikki Bell.

Corn in western Kentucky was blown down from strong winds and storms the past few days. Corn that is broken at a node is not going to recover. If the roots are attached to the soil and the nodes are not broken, then the corn has a very good chance to recover. The following images are from Nikki Bell, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent in Marshall County, Kentucky.



Replanting corn at this point is a very risky proposition. Planting to other crops may be limited by what herbicides were already applied. Here is a link to the herbicide replanting restrictions.

If the herbicides applied prevent planting to anther crop, there are few options. At this point, we need to get good assessments of the damage and most likely look to crop insurance claims.

We were off to a great start this spring. This is a disappointing event.

Corn broken at the nodes. These plants will not recover.
Photo credit: Nikki Bell.

Corn nearly flat in the field. Photo credit: Nikki Bell.

Corn roots removed from the soil. These plants are done.
Photo credit: Nikki Bell.

Corn roots removed from the soil. No recovery.
Photo credit: Nikki Bell.

This field has some corn lodged and some upright.
We need to wait about a week to see how the  lodged plants recover.
Photo credit: Nikki Bell.

Corn at the edge of the field is lodged, but corn in the middle is upright.
 Photo credit: Nikki Bell.