In a rare and brutal turn of late-season weather, a supercell thunderstorm unleashed baseball-sized hail, high winds, and torrential rains over McCook, Nebraska on September 16. The storm lingered for nearly 90 minutes, delivering catastrophic damage to corn and soybean fields, destroying infrastructure, and injuring livestock. The event has emerged as one of the most impactful localized weather disasters of the season, prompting urgent responses from producers, insurers, and ag advisors.

According to Eric Hunt, Nebraska Extension's agricultural meteorology expert, the storm developed as a slow-moving upper-level low tapped deep moisture across the High Plains, with relatively weak upper-level winds preventing its rapid dispersal. That slow movement was, in his words, the "real killer." Areas near McCook saw up to 5 inches of rainfall, with some local gauges recording nearly 6 inches, setting records and contributing to flash flooding near Frenchman Creek.

Ruby Collins, Extension educator in Red Willow County, reported widespread field devastation, especially in a 5- to 10-mile radius around McCook. Cornfields at early dent stage were shredded to stalks. Soybean fields, many already in leaf drop, were stripped of foliage, with pods scattered across the ground. Hailstones measuring up to 3 inches combined with 70 mph winds, flattening crops and stripping trees bare. She noted, "The storm hovered too losome fields have no standing biomass left."

Beyond field damage, rooftops, barns, windows, and even vehicles were smashed. Most trees in McCook were defoliated, and livestock exposed to the weather sustained injuries. Community cleanup efforts began quickly, but financial recovery will require longer-term coordination.

For producers, the aftermath is more than physical. The focus now turns to crop insurance, salvage opportunities, and rotation planning for 2026. Collins recommends producers immediately contact their insurance agents, as policy terms may limit what can be done with hailed acres. Many farmers are opting to plant rye or winter wheat to stabilize soil and provide forage or biomass. With reduced residue, soil protection becomes critical.

Diseases such as Goss's wilt may emerge in damaged corn, and unharvested ears could increase volunteer pressure next spring. Rotating out of corn and soil sampling are encouraged to manage disease risk and optimize nutrient input decisions. Additionally, some forages stressed by hail can develop prussic acid, posing a threat to livestock. Testing new growth before grazing is advised.

Harvesting will be difficult in lodged fields, with altered combine settings and possible early cutting due to faster dry-down in damaged plants. Where corn ears remain, fall grazing strategies must be adjusted to avoid rumen acidosis from excess starch. Moving electric fences daily may help regulate intake.

There's also concern about hail-damaged cattle. Data from Texas research suggests that cattle slaughtered within 15 days of a hail event show higher carcass bruising, though this effect normalizes by day 49. Producers are urged to monitor and manage herd recovery closely.

From a policy standpoint, the storm underscores the need to reassess insurance structures amid climate volatility. Nebraska's ag sector is already experimenting with catastrophe-linked models and parametric insurance, though adoption remains limited. Previous disasters in the region have qualified for USDA assistance or SBA low-interest loans, tools that may again prove vital.

As farmers rebuild from this storm, they face a familiar yet intensifying pattern: weather extremes, input risk, and pressure to adapt faster. The McCook hailstorm is a reminder that while crop insurance offers a financial lifeline, strategic agronomic decisions will define loterm resilience.