Posted: 10.26.2010

Fortunately there's not as much crop left standing in Wisconsin to battle against the wind storm that's expected for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Wisconsin Ag Statistical Service says that almost all of the states soybeans have already been harvested - and about 66 percent of the corn crop is already in.  For the remaining corn crop - standing against 60 mile per hour wind could be tough.

Aaron Prestemon, Fond du Lac area Pioneer representative, told Pam Jahnke on her network farm radio show that the corn stalk "is definitely less structually sound then it was two weeks ago."  Prestemon said that its natural - once the plant has reached physiological maturity - it automatically starts to decompose.  That means big winds could tip the crop.

Insurance agent, Ed Kothbauer of the Don-Rick Independent Insurance office in Baraboo, says that now is the time for farmers and land owners to review how well protected they are with their insurance policies.  It's not just about the potential roof and building damage that could be caused by todays wind storms - it's also getting ready for winter.

Kothbauer says last winter many out buildings collapsed under the pressure of heavy, wet snow - and then there were those ice dams. 

Likewise - Kothbauer says now is the time for all rural land owners to review how protected they are if they allow hunters on their property.  Kothbauer says people might be surprised what "exceptions" they'll find in their policies that can leave them vulnerable to personal expense if somebody would become injured while hunting on their land.

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