Many corn producers in Missouri are facing damage to their crops from cold, wet soil conditions and hail, as reported in a virtual town hall that took place earlier this month. To address concerns, leading experts from the University of Missouri (MU) Extension have offered insight regarding these weather-related issues.
MU Extension agronomist Bill Wiebold stated that wet, cool soil conditions could potentially cause abnormal growth in corn. Many producers said that they have seen their seedling leaves twist and unfurl underground. Wiebold noted that environmental conditions associated with underground leafing could cause plants to turn yellow and ultimately die.
MU Extension specialist Greg Luce also shed light on hail damage throughout the state, which occurred at the beginning of May. Luce stated that producers should be patient and allow between three and five days to pass before they assess the damage. Time will help regrowth begin, according to Luce.
But it isn’t just corn that is taking a hit, according to MU Extension weed scientist Kevin Bradley. Emerging soybean plants have been at risk of herbicide damage as a result of heavy rainfall, and cool conditions have slowed the normal processes of herbicide metabolism in the plants.
MU Extension plant pathologist Kaitlyn Bissonnette also pointed to the risk of Fusarium head blight in wheat as a result of current weather conditions. She recommends using an SDHI fungicide if at-risk conditions exist in producers’ fields.
For regular updates from agronomy, livestock and horticulture specialists, MU Extension recommends attending its online town hall meetings by visiting ipm.missouri.edu/TownHalls.