Areas of the Corn Belt in need of moisture are finally seeing rain this week, but it came with severe crop damage to portions of Iowa.
Hail damage to corn and soybean in Warren, Polk, and Dallas Counties was quite evident this morning in my travels. The coming days will be important to assess potential recovery on these plants. #ISUCrops pic.twitter.com/X7rKeZkLwW
— Meaghan Anderson (@mjanders1) June 23, 2021
Rain fell Thursday across areas of Iowa, which could help improve the parched crop. The rain followed another storm system that passed through Tuesday. However, the Tuesday storm system also brought hail and damage to some Iowa fields.
What the hail? @NWSDesMoines pic.twitter.com/XPRgFKIYqN
— TheFullMonte (@thefullmonte) June 23, 2021
Video from Monte Goodyk on Twitter shows the storm dropped so much hail that it piled up several inches high, and at first glance, it even looked like a blanket of snow.
There are reports in the northwestern part of the state of heavy crop damage. Farm Journal spoke to a seed dealer in Linn County, Iowa. He reported the heavy hail hit fields in a one-mile wide, 30-miles long stretch. He says some fields are a total loss, with farmers already sourcing the seed to replant this week, if weather cooperated. He said the damaged fields are just 8 miles north of the derecho damage zone from last year.
Toured some hailed fields today. Don't have to wait long to assess this V10 corn. Or those beans. Hail meeting in less damaged crops 1N & 1/2 east of C44 & K64 intersection, Friday morning, ten a.m. pic.twitter.com/a7IIWyTxsa
— The Old Crop Guy (@joel_dejong) June 24, 2021
The hail was reported to be nickel-sized, but the National Weather Service also had reports of half-dollar sized stones in Linn County.
While the hail damage was limited, the recent rains could help crop conditions across Iowa. USDA’s weekly Crop Progress Report Monday showed Iowa’s corn condition ratings fell 7 points in the good to excellent category. That followed a week where corn growing conditions crumbled 14 points in just seven days.
