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Agronomist: crops can pull through in water-logged fields

An agronomist in Arkansas says there could still be good yield potential for flooded crops in the northeast part of the state.

“There was already rice, soybeans and corn up before the flooding. Those are the first things to be evaluated,” says Stephen Leininger of Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC.

“We got planted early and for me, driving around this morning with flood waters still standing on fields, especially on the upper portions, you’re seeing the crop still growing.”

He says crops in the upper portions of several fields can likely pull through leaving only the lower parts of the field to be replanted. And if that’s the case, he says the better yields will come from the early planting window.

“Honestly, we’ve got warmer temperatures coming up so if we can get the water to dry and get off these fields, we can get out there, assess it and take whatever action we need to get replants done.”

Rice seed supplies are short, but he says corn and soybean seed supplies are good. Leininger says replanting isn’t likely this week, due to more rain in the forecast.

Photo credit: Farmer Jeff Rutledge