LEAF LOSS AND GRAIN YIELD
Once you have decided that you still have a sufficient number of live plants, determine the amount of leaf loss. The amount of defoliation and the stage of development at the time of a hailstorm will determine the effect on grain yield. Complete defoliation of young corn plants up to the 7-leaf stage will usually result in little or no reduction in yield. As the plant gets older, the loss of leaf area will more greatly affect yield. This has been determined by extensive research on a number of hybrids and locations in the U.S. The results were used to establish the loss from leaf removal for hail insurance adjustment (Table 3.).