In the early start of summer weather, hail events have already brought damage to areas of the central U.S. Several of those events have produced hail more than 2 inches in diameter. Hail can wreak havoc on young crops, particularly corn and leaves the value of your crops at risk. Soybeans tend to endure the hail better due to added growing points at the axillary buds but still can be vulnerable to damage.

For fields impacted by hail, usually four to ten days is needed, depending upon growth stage, to discern how much damage the hail brought. Many fields can recover if given the chance. Producers concerned about crop hail damage are encouraged to stay in close contact with your crop insurance agent, be proactive to obtain coverage before a storm hits and report any possible hail damage as soon as possible. You can learn more about flexible Crop Hail coverage and view resources here.

Taking stand counts early can also help establish a baseline for interpreting damage. Photos can be used to document the event, as well. Understanding the growth stages of your crops is also a critical component in understanding how damaging a hail event has been.

Read more on hail crop damage here.