Smart Decisions Help with Crop Replant Choices

By Blake Jackson

When crop stands fail or appear sparse, farmers often face a difficult question: should they replant? The decision is not easy, as it involves extra work, money, and risk. To help producers navigate this challenge, the University of Missouri (MU) Extension has released an updated Corn and Soybean Replant Decisions guide.

This free tool is designed to help farmers assess if replanting is worth it. “Poor stands are not a happy sight, and replant decisions come with a lot of second thoughts and lost sleep,” said Drew Kientzy, University of Missouri Extension research analyst.

The guide includes a detailed spreadsheet that allows farmers to input specific field data. It helps them understand whether replanting will pay off financially. Timing is a key factor—later planting dates reduce the crop’s yield potential, making replanting less useful.

“As we get later into the planting date, reduced yield potential is an issue, and even poorer stands are necessary to justify replanting,” said Andre Reis, state soybean specialist and co-author. “Poor stands result from a combination of reduced population and uneven plant distribution. If the population is low but the plants are relatively well-spaced across the field, replanting may not be worthwhile, especially at later planting dates.”

The guide outlines seven clear steps:

• Find the cause of the sparse stand.
• Measure plant population and spacing.
• Estimate yield with the current stand.
• Calculate expected revenue from the current stand.
• Estimate yield and revenue from replanting.
• Figure out replanting costs.
• Decide if replanting is cost-effective.

Localized yield data from Missouri regions like north, central, southwestern, and southeastern areas help make the guide accurate and useful. “Producers have to look at what the economics and their own operational realities can support,” said MU specialist Ben Brown. “By drilling down on replanting costs, factoring in insurance and comparing potential returns, our tools can help farm operators come to the right decision for their unique situation.”

Farmers can download the guide and spreadsheet online to make informed, confident decisions.

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