High Winds Damage Some Eastern Iowa Corn Fields

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Jul 17, 2007 at 4:27 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 17, 2007 at 9:21 PM CST

LINN COUNTY- High winds that rolled in with last night's stormy weather flattened corn in some Eastern Iowa fields.

An area south of Toddville was one of the worst hit spots in Linn County. Several large fields had a majority of corn plants lying on the ground. But farmers say while it looks bad, a lot of the crop will recover.

Linn County farmer Denny Sejkora said, "My road scouting tells me that it's mostly just leaning and that it will straighten back up to the point you can get most of it with a combine."

Still, "lodged" or flattened corn plants will usually mean a loss of some sort for farmers. The big question is whether it will be a big loss, or just a small hit in production.

The most severe problems will come if the roots of the plant were pulled out of the ground when it was toppled by the wind. Those plants won't bounce back. If the plants do stand up again, many will take on twisted shapes that will make harvesting more difficult. Sejkora said in fields last year that saw some flattened corn, he lost about 25 bushels an acre.

The fields still produced a respectable crop, but it wasn't as good as it could have been. If corn is selling for $3 a bushel or more, then every acre of corn flattened by high winds means $75 out of a farmer's pocket.

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