Risk of ear rot and mycotoxins in hail damaged crops

Since the crop started grain fill, there have been several reports of hail damage to crops. Apart from shredding leaves, hail can bruise ears leaving them at risk for infection by ear mold fungi and consequently mycotoxin contamination.

Past research on the effect of hail damage on ear rot and mycotoxin contamination

Most of Iowa received some amount of rainfall this last week with totals ranging from a trace to over 4.5 inches in parts of southwest Iowa. Unfortunately, with that rain, there were also some strong winds, hail, and tornados. In addition to some crop damage from the storms, concerns about the drier conditions in northwest Iowa, late season weed flushes, corn aphids, rootworm beetles, and crop diseases were other topics of conversation this past week for ISU Extension field agronomists.

The 2026 growing season has presented a wide range of challenges across Iowa. Some areas have received excessive rainfall, while others have struggled with limited precipitation. As the corn crop advances toward maturity, it is important to assess how those environmental conditions may have influenced corn development and yield potential. Most corn fields in Iowa are now in the mid to later reproductive stages of development.