We Were Hailed Out

Thursday, July 9, 2009
All of you who have any knowledge of farming know those words. Yes, last night we had 70+ mph winds, hail (anything from marble side to ping pong ball size) and almost 3 inches of rain. Here are a few pictures--

these beans USED to be 18" tall, now they are sticks


A cornfield that used to be almost 6 foot tall, now it is broken off about 12" tall


Another one of our cornfields, same story


The wind blew this hay bale uphill, over the fence, across a deep ditch and into the road


Same spot, this bale was taken up the hill, across two deep ditches, the road, and into the next field!


My garden didn't fair any better, most of it is pounded into the ground. Broke a couple of windows on our house, and we need to get up on the roof and check the shingles as it looks like they might be damaged also.

my squash, pumpkins, and tomatoes


My rhubarb--it looks rather ill!


It blew so hard that the electric poles are leaning!


Lots of water over the roads, the culverts and cricks are running.

This storms came through early this morning, I was awake and watched it out the door. I took a few pictures as it got light out.


In 30 years we have not seen hail this bad. But, I will remind myself these are just THINGS, no one was hurt (that I know of) and we do carry crop insurance. But I remember all those hours we put in this spring, Ken said this was the best he's ever seen crops look, and I still feel rather ill.


23 comments:

Sue H said...

Oh, Lori, I'm so sorry! When I read your title, I knew what that meant! Wow, the pictures are pretty sobering. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darling Jill Quilts said...

I'm so sorry to hear about this! I hope that there is something that can be salvaged!

Vicki W said...

Holy cow! I'm glad no one was hurt!

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

So sad for the loss of your crops! I know that you and Ken worked so very hard to do the planting. I only hope that some thing good remains for you.

Moneik said...

So sorry to hear this! You are the first person I thought of when I heard Parkston was hit by the hail. Sounds like a storm is going to hit us tonight.

MightyMom said...

well that sucks.


matter of fact, I would have to say it sucks so hard it farts.

time to get out the paperwork.



our crops are withering....still got some green to them...but not much at this point...our corn/maize farmers may end up in the same boat by the end of August

Stephanie D said...

Oh, MAN, Lori!! How awful to see all that hard work wiped out overnight. Is it still early enough in the season to salvage much? Surely all that good compost you have will re-grow good strong plants!

Anonymous said...

my goodness! i've never seen damage like that either. I'm so glad that you have crop insurance for times like this. prayers going up for you and for the town.

Becky said...

Oh, Lori! How disappointing for you and DH. So glad to hear that you were not hurt. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

Nancy said...

Yes, I understand the devastation that you described and your pictures illustrate, and it is exactly why I love farmers. They are the strongest people I know because of the daily struggles to survive - struggles with rising expenses, falling crop prices, and natural disasters. Despite all the forces pulling on them, they endure.

QuiltinLibraryLady said...

Wow, words fail me. I saw lightning off to the north & east night before last and my thought was, "Maybe my brother's getting some rain." He lives northeast of Creighton. I so rarely listen to news or weather that I didn't know Parkston had been hit. Even though no one was hurt, and you have crop insurance, there's still that sinking feeling in your stomach at the thought of all the work put in that you won't see any results from. Just looking at the devastation is heart breaking. Is there anything you can plant this late that can at least be used for cattle feed this winter? Why, oh why, can't we get rain in the upper Midwest in the summer without crazy wind and hail?

Mary-Kay said...

I'm so sorry for your bad weather. All your plants and crops are ruined. Thank God no one was hurt and that you have crop insurance. Does that cover the time it took to ready the fields and plant them ? Too bad it doesn't cover your garden too. I hope all goes well in the next few days. God bless.

Brenda said...

Well, the only plant that is going to ask like nothing happened is the rhubarb!!
I can not believe the bales got blown uphill or that far!!! eeekkk!!! That was some wicked weather you got last night. I am so glad you are safe. Those poles don't look to healthy though, please don't try to climb them!!
I am sorry to see the crops looking like they do though - you were working hard this spring on them and the tomatotoes and pumkins - it's heartbreaking when that happens. We thought we would have frost last night, so everyone got moved into the garadge for the night - and we have been having tons of rain..... we need it, but not the frost.... I am so sorry this has happened to you. But I am very happy that no one was hurt in this storm. ((huge hugs))

Unknown said...

When I heard on the news last night about Parkston I was worring about you. I grew up on a farm and I know how weather can be. Thank goodness you have crop Ins. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll be thinking of you.

Ann said...

Wow - scary and frustrating. I'm glad the damage was only to things, and not people.

Unknown said...

I definitely feel for you and your family. I hope that you will be able to save some of your crops. My thoughts and prayers are definitley with you and your family.

Jay in Nebraska said...

Oh Lori I am sorry about this, being from a farming family, and having to do this many times, I remember at least four times we lost everything due to hail and high winds in western Nebraska, I know exactly how you feel! We used to get hail so bad that they used snow plows to push it off the roads! My prayers will be with you, and I hope things start looking better.

Jay in Nebraska

Howdy said...

Oh my... good to hear nobody got hurt in the weather - but sure sorry to hear y'all suffered so much damage. Hope your roof faired better than your crops - but that hail is wicked stuff. Thank goodness for insurance!

Henrietta said...

I hope Mrs R's basement did not get flooded. Looks like that stream is pointed right at her. Please tell her I was thinking about her today.

Katie Z. said...

We had hail too, but not nearly so bad! I was rocking the Screamer to sleep, and nearly jumped out of my chair when I heard the hail hit. It was nickel-sized here, but not very long - otherwise I would have garden pictures like yours. I'm so sorry.

ytsmom said...

Lori, so, so sorry about your hail damage. It is tough, even with crop insurance. As you said, all that time and effort is just gone. Thankfully, these things don't happen every year. Hopefully good things are heading your way. I think you deserve them!

Tins and Treasures said...

Hi, Lori,
I was in North Dakota during this time, so did not hear the news of your big storm. I, too, am so very sorry...farming has to be one of the riskiest of all occupations. I'm glad you are OK...but I'll bet that was scarey listening to the wind and hail.
Take care ~Natalie

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

My Nana was a chicken farmer and she had 2 sayings... don't count your chickens before the eggs hatch... and - never buy anything on credit - always pay cash. I am from a family of farmers AND fishermen - the fishermen make out worse some years because if there are no fish - well, there are no fish - and no insurance will cover the lack of fish/scallops/lobster/shellfish - whatever it is that they are going for. I'm sorry - of course it is heartbreaking so watch your "babies" grow and grow and then see them trampled down in a matter of 1 storm. In these storm cases - I always feel very badly for the families that really depend upon their gardens to supplement their family food too. My Nana was a great canner!
Cheers! Evelyn