In corn and soybean fields, the first step will be to determine the remaining plant population. Calculate the plant population in several "random" areas in the affected part of the field to help estimate the potential yield. (This is assuming that everything else goes right during the remaining growing season.) Random does not mean that you go to the worst area and start counting, ignoring the better parts of the affected area. The idea is to characterize the field as well as you can.
To estimate surviving plant stands, you will want to count plants in at least three places in the affected field. In corn fields, count plants in at least 1/100 of an acre. To get to the tables for the number of plants per linear ft. of row, go to: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/archives/2005/crop05-11.htm#replant
That is a complicated web address to type, so go to the Platte County web page at: http://www.platte.unl.edu and look for the news link – we’ll have the hotlink to the crop watch page there.
To work on soybean replant decisions, go to the Platte County web page listed in the last paragraph, and the link to that information will be listed on the web page.
In addition, Iowa State has a good publication on soybean replant decisions at: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1851.pdf - that publication will also be linked from the Platte County web site.
The UNL site also has information about how long plants can typically be underwater before they are flooded out.
If you don’t have a computer, or don’t have Internet access, please contact the office and we’ll provide this information to you.
For more information or assistance, please contact Allan Vyhnalek, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Extension in Platte County. Phone: 402-563-4901 or e-mail AVYHNALEK2@unl.edu .
