The Effects Of The August Derecho Could Stick Around In Planting Season

Apr 13, 2021

By Katie Peikes

Farmers will soon head out to plant in their fields. The August derecho that swept across the Midwest will be something many are still thinking about.

The powerful wind storm flattened corn and crumpled grain bins. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates Iowa farmers were unable to harvest hundreds of thousands of acres of crops.

Iowa State University extension agronomist Mark Licht said the downed corn left kernels and ears remaining on or near the soils’ surface, so some kernels won’t be as productive. The leftover seeds could create open-pollinated corn called “volunteer corn," which competes for sunlight and nutrients.

“For all practical purposes, we consider them a weed because they are taking water, they're taking nutrients away from the intended corn or the intended soybean crop,” Licht said.

Licht expects many derecho-affected areas where corn was planted to be switched to soybeans.

“Our thought process is if we can move those acres where we have a lot of grain on the ground into soybeans, overall, it’s just going to be easier to manage that volunteer corn crop and have minimal impact on soybeans,” Licht said.

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.