Hail
Click on pictures to enlarge. You may use these photos but please indicate: © Joachim Herbold
Hail causes a direct impact on plants, either by destruction of entire plants, defoliation, stem bruising, loss of kernels or damage on fruits. Therefore hail damage is relatively easy to detect and to distinguish from other causes of damage. In the last decades in various countries good guidelines to assess hail losses on a percentage basis were elaborated. Assessment tables showing for the respective growth stage the percentage loss according to e.g. level of defoliation or stem bruising are an important tool. Loss percentages: 1 to 100%.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
Cereal crops (Germany) | Wheat | Barley |
Left undamaged crop, middle and right damaged crop. Damage in early growing stage
left plant undamaged, right plant damaged (in early growth stage)
Loss assessed as 26% Hail exposed side
Opposite side (not so exposed)
Fruits and vegetables can sustain considerable quality losses even with only a moderate loss of quantity.
Apple (Italy): loss adjustment for quality loss