The Relevance of Replanting and how to Recover

Abnormal storm activity and flooding conditions lead producers to reevaluate the planting season and look into replanting options. Flooding and heavy rainfall have not only affected the Midwest region but have also influenced decisions nation-wide.

Helena Seed Managers Matt Scuffman, from Iowa and Kurt Nienhueser, from Nebraska provide valuable insight into current crop conditions after receiving immense amount of seasonal weather hardships.

Rain has been a necessity after a few years of dry conditions, but the excess has caused some issues for farmers.

“We need some sunlight and dry weather, but after the past few years we really don’t want to knock the rain we are getting,” says Nienhueser.

Regions in southwest Iowa have received six to seven inches in one night.

“The rainfall has created 40 to 50-acre lakes,” says Scuffman.

Nitrogen that was sprayed during early spring planting season is bound to be washed away by heavy rainfall. Coron Metra® has the capability to offset that loss from a sustainability standpoint and increase yield in the harvest months.

“This is a big year for Coron Metra. Anytime we can add just a little bit of nitrogen throughout the growing season, that is going to help that plant survive longer in the fall,” says Nienhueser.

So, the question is how to reevaluate and pivot to replanting options?

Making the decision to replant can be challenging.

According to Scuffman, “When it comes to your replant decision it is more of an art than a science.”  It is important to assess current conditions and plan ahead.

When faced with a replanting decision it is wise to look at your seed treatment strategy.

“When we run into wet soil conditions that is going to be conducive to all kinds of diseases. If you are going to replant and you used seed treatment the first time. I would strongly encourage you to use a seed treatment the second time,” says Nienhueser.

A seed treatment option to consider in this case is Quickshot™. Quickshot benefits growers by increasing nutrient uptake in seedlings and yield potential. It offers a high return on investment by streamlining a unique blend of macro and micronutrients, including 2% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, 3% potassium, 2% sulfur, 4.5% zinc, 1.6% manganese and 0.6% copper. This dual-purpose planter box treatment allows you to get nutrition to the seed faster and more efficiently.

Eastern Nebraska regions also face the challenges of crusting. Soil crust develops when heavy rain strikes an unprotected soil surface, breaking down the aggregates and turning the top layer of soil into a surface crust.

“Our saving grace here in Nebraska is that we have overhead irrigation,” says Nienhueser. “We are running pivots in order to break up that crust.”

Overall, when considering replanting, it is important to understand that replant crops might need to be treated differently compared to crops around it. “I can’t stress enough to be talking to your seed person at Helena and crop insurance advisor to make level headed decisions that are best for your farm,” says Scuffman.

To hear more from Matt Scuffman and Kurt Nienhueser, check out Episode 62 of The FieldLink® Podcast on YouTube or wherever you listen. Contact your local Helena representative to get started with the best seed treatments to fit your production needs this crop season.