Corn producers in northeastern and east-central Arkansas were assessing potential losses after strong storms caused greensnap – breaking of stems by high winds.

The National Weather Service at Little Rock issued severe thunderstorm warnings the evening of June 15 for several counties in eastern Arkansas.

“We are getting several reports of greensnap in corn in the Cross, St. Francis and Poinsett counties from the storms that went through yesterday evening,” Jason Kelley, Extension wheat and feed grains agronomist, said the following day. “Unfortunately, with rain comes wind this time of year.”

Cody Griffin, St. Francis County Extension agent, said greensnap was also seen in his county.

Kelley said that while some corn hybrids may be more prone to greensnap, “under very high winds, they can all snap. Unfortunately, greensnap can be very detrimental to yield.”

Corn that’s pushed over by wind – a condition called lodging – may have a limited ability to stand back up depending on growth state. However, at this point in the season a broken stem is beyond recovery.

“The crop has little capacity to compensate for losing plants and whatever percentage of the plants snapped generally equates to about that much yield loss,” he said. “If the stem snapped below where the ear would be, then yes, the plant is done.”

Kelley said planting hybrids that are less prone to greensnap and having insurance to cover losses due to greensnap are ways ways reduce losses.

For more information about corn production, visit www.uaex.edu or contact your county Extension office.