Reports of corn lodging have been coming from multiple locations across southern New Jersey (NJ) since last Sunday (July 5, 2026). We had a period of extreme heat across much of central and southern NJ from July 2 to 4, witnessing daytime temperatures reached 95 to 100°F and heat index values ranged between 105 and 115°F. Right after that, we had weekend thunderstorms that caused locally heavy rainfall and strong winds, resulting in saturated soil and decreased root grip/anchorage in corn fields. The rapid transition from extended heat-induced stress to wet soil conditions and strong winds led to conditions conducive for root lodging, particularly in early planted (rapidly growing) corn with compromised root systems.

Figure 1: Severe lodging observed in taller, early planted corn following strong winds and heavy rainfall. Taller plants are more prone to wind-related lodging due to larger canopy size and increased leverage on the root system. (Photo Credit: Andrew Wyenandt, 2026)

Figure 2: Less severe lodging observed in a comparatively shorter corn field after the same storm event. Decreased plant height and canopy development likely contributed to higher resistance to wind-induced root lodging. ((Photo Credit: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, 2026)

Assessing the Type of Lodging

Farmers are advised to wait for three to seven days (or until the field conditions allow) after the lodging event to check their fields to determine the type and extent of injury. Two types of wind injury are commonly seen in corn:

• Root lodging: Plants get displaced from the vertical, but the stalk remains intact. Roots are partially displaced/lifted while staying attached to the ground. Generally, these plants recover naturally by bending upward over the following several days through normal gravitropic (against the direction of gravity) growth.
• Green or Stalk Snap (breaking of stalk): Stalks are broken from below or near the ear. In this case, affected plants cannot recover so they directly contribute to the yield loss, which is generally in proportion to the percentage of broken plants.

Management Recommendations

There is no direct management practice that can reinstate corn to its pre-lodged position. Instead, management is mainly focused on minimizing additional stress, allowing the crop time to recover, and evaluating potential impacts on yield.

• Farmers are advised to allow time (three to seven days) for recovery before making final evaluations on root-lodged corn fields. Corn expresses negative gravitropism, by which the plants that have their root systems still intact, will naturally stand back upright, often developing the characteristic “gooseneck” appearance.
• It is not suggested to manually straighten lodged plants. Attempting to unbend or stand plants upright can damage root systems and increase plant stress, often causing more injury than benefit.
• It is advised to delay non-essential field traffic/operations until soil is sufficiently dry to reduce additional root injury, soil compaction, and mechanical damage to lodged plants. Bringing equipment in lodged corn fields causes more yield loss than the lodging itself.
• Farmers are encouraged to continue scouting their fields for foliar diseases and stalk rots. Lodged plants usually stay wetter for long durations, providing conditions conducive for diseases such as gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and tar spot (where present). Plants injured by wind are more prone to stalk rots later in the season. Routine disease scouting should continue. Fungicide applications should not be justified by lodging alone. However, fungicide decisions should be guided by i) what the growth stage of crops is, ii) how much the disease pressure is, iii) how vulnerable the hybrid is, iv) what the weather conditions are, and v) what is the expected yield goal.
• Farmers are advised to evaluate the potential for nitrogen loss. For example, if heavy rainfall resulted in prolonged soil saturation, the likelihood of nitrogen loss should be assessed taking denitrification or leaching into account, which is very notable on southern NJ’s coarse-textured or poorly drained soils. Supplemental nitrogen should only be applied if field conditions, crop growth stage, and expected yield response justify additional applications.
• Fields should be reassessed after one week. Fields that stay severely lodged even after five to seven days may have suffered more substantial root injury and should be monitored closely throughout the rest of the growing season.
• It is advised to keep monitoring the stalk quality to help prioritize harvest (if and where needed). Wind-damaged fields should be scouted later in the season for stalk deterioration and increased lodging potential. Fields with decline in stalk quality should be prioritized for harvest to minimize additional yield losses.
• Affected farmers are advised to document and report affected acreage and estimated losses to their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Accurate reporting will be helpful in documenting the extent of damage and in supporting the evaluation of potential disaster assistance (if applicable).
• In case of suspected significant damage and if insured, it is suggested to make timely communication with the crop insurance provider (if warranted) and to follow policy requirements before making management decisions that could affect claim evaluation.

References

GovOneStop. (2026, July 2). New Jersey severe extreme heat warning effective 07/02/2026. https://govonestop.com/nws/new-jersey-severe-extreme-heat-warning-effective-07022026-0051-0

Merchantville. (2026). Dangerous heat through Saturday. Merchantville News. https://www.merchantville.com/index.php/news/local/new-jersey/10067-dangerous-heat-through-saturday

Quinn, D. (2024, July 11). “Flattened” or “Root Lodged” corn caused by heavy rain and wind – Now what? Purdue Extension Pest&Crop Newsletter, 2024(16). Purdue University. https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/newsletters/pestandcrop/article/flattened-or-root-lodged-corn-caused-by-heavy-rain-and-wind-now-what/

University of Kentucky, Department of Plant Pathology. (n.d.). Wind damage/lodging. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. https://veggiescout.mgcafe.uky.edu/wind-damagelodging