Indiana farmers are assessing damage after a powerful round of severe weather swept across the state Tuesday into Wednesday.
The National Weather Service says multiple rounds of storms moved through Indiana, including a strong system that brought damaging winds, heavy rain and reports of significant crop and property damage.
“Structurally, it was extremely sound. That’s why I’m so shocked to see it go. But it was just a little strip. It took trees in a line right through there in a narrow line, probably one of those downburst, heavy gusts of wind.” Says Roger Wenning, who farms in 3 counties in Southeastern Indiana, talking about a solid built barn that was severely damaged in the storm.
For corn growers, the timing is especially concerning. With the crop entering a critical late-summer period, winds that flatten or lodge corn could reduce harvestable yields and make harvest more difficult and expensive.
Wenning says “If the corn has blown over some or pushed over, it makes it more difficult to combine. And if it gets pushed, it’s going to hurt the yield because it’s not growing straight up into the sun.”
And the weather threat isn’t over. Flood watches remain in effect in parts of Indiana, with additional rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms possible. Forecasters say damaging winds and flooding will remain concerns through at least Thursday, with more storm chances into the weekend.
That means farmers may have limited time to assess Tuesday’s damage before more rain moves across already saturated fields.
“Check your crops. I mean, there’s not a whole lot at this point we’re going to do for them, but you need to know what’s there to make plans for harvest and fall. And then at harvest you’re going to have to watch for limbs laying out in the field so you don’t run them into the combine.” Concluded Wenning.
For Indiana growers, the focus now is on how much corn can recover, what additional damage may occur, and how the storms will affect harvest and crop insurance claims.
