Maize under snow: why increase the risk of crop damage?

Long maize harvests are associated with an increased risk of damage. According to the Polish press, in addition to grain quality problems, yields could also be reduced.
Most of the maize has already been harvested, similar to the situation in Lithuania. However, we still cannot say that the maize harvest is complete.

Journalists travelling in different regions of Poland can still see crops left in the fields. This is due to a variety of reasons, including the high humidity of the grain and the field conditions which have prevented access to the fields by machinery other than tracked combines.

The fact is that harvesting will definitely continue until December. And while this year's maize harvest may seem exceptionally long (and this is in fact true), this is not a new phenomenon. We remember years when maize was harvested not only in November, but even right before Christmas. However, the longer the crops remain in the fields, the greater the risk.

Snow can break plants

Mechanical damage to plantations can lead to crop failure. One of the threats is snow cover. The first snow fell in many parts of the country at the end of last weekend. Meanwhile, wet and heavy snow that stays on the ground for a long time can cause maize cobs to fall to the ground. It also happens that the centre of gravity breaks and the plants break – often the plants are damaged where the cob is attached. 

At the same time, strong winds are already a threat because they also cause mechanical damage. Snow and storms have recently appeared, particularly in the south-east of the country. These are particularly dangerous for maize at the moment. This is mainly due to the fact that the plants are already quite woody and fragile and therefore more vulnerable. However, the poor condition of the stalks is sometimes also a consequence of feeding by the European corn borer.

Late harvesting means more damage from wildlife

Wild animals in maize plantations are a separate problem, Polish journalists note. Deer and wild boar are very often found in this crop. At harvest time, wild animals move to other plantations and settle in new areas, causing considerable damage. The longer the maize remains in the field, the greater the risk of damage from wild animals.