Some farmers are considering replanting their crops because of recent heavy rains.
Hans Schmitz, a conservation agronomist with Purdue Extension, said that even with these drowning rains, it’s important that farms take the time to thoroughly assess their crops before deciding to replant.
“You wouldn't expect to see too many entire fields be drowned out just from the rains that we've been receiving,” he said. “So evaluation of plant stands is going to be important, making sure that there is enough damage to consider replanting.”
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It’s been an abnormally chilly spring so some farmers might also be considering replanting because they got their seeds in the ground and then the temperature dipped.
Seeding costs are one of the top four variable farming expenses, meaning the decision to replant a portion or an entire field isn’t taken lightly. Schmitz said that replant insurance can help soften the blow, but there are still other considerations to be made and costs to factor in.
“If a farmer has taken that option for replant insurance, that certainly is going to lessen the financial impact of that,” he said. “You also have the increased time that it takes to get out into the fields with the equipment, get the replanting done, etc.”
Most importantly, Schmitz said that there’s no need to panic yet.
“I don't think that where we sit today, anyone should be having undue stress with the potential situation or be thinking about replanting into conditions that are not appropriate for planting where re-replanting may be evaluated,” he said. “So we still have time.”
Schmitz also said it’s a fairly common occurrence for farmers to have to evaluate at least a portion of their acres every year.
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