Replant or roll with it? MU guide weighs costs, payoffs

COLUMBIA, Mo. — When faced with a sparse or failed stand, crop producers have to ask themselves a difficult question: Should I replant?

In a press release, Drew Kientzy, University of Missouri Extension research analyst, said, “Poor stands are not a happy sight, and replant decisions come with a lot of second thoughts and lost sleep.” Replanting could mean more time in the tractor, more cost and more risk. A major challenge is weighing the cost and benefits while predicting how a replanted crop could be affected by the new planting date and changing weather.

To help crop producers protect profits and maximize potential returns, MU Extension has updated its Corn and Soybean Replant Decisions guide. This free resource is designed to help growers decide if replanting is the right decision for their operation, said Kientzy, who is lead author of the guide.

“This guide and spreadsheet help crop producers get the full economic picture to put emotional decisions at bay and understand if replanting will pay,” Kientzy said.

While understanding the economics of replanting is crucial, timing also plays a role. As the planting season progresses, replanting is less likely to be a good option, said Andre Reis, MU Extension state soybean specialist and co-author of the guide. “As we get later into the planting date, reduced yield potential is an issue, and even poorer stands are necessary to justify replanting,” Reis said. “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.”

Given these factors, producers need a reliable way to weigh the costs and benefits of replanting. The guide includes a customizable spreadsheet that lets producers input data and costs. The guide walks through seven key steps when considering a replant scenario:

• Determine the cause of the sparse stand.
• Determine the stand density and uniformity.
• Estimate the crop’s attainable yield with the sparse stand.
• Estimate the expected gross revenue of the crop with the current sparse stand.
• Estimate the attainable yield and gross revenue from a replanted stand.
• Estimate the cost to replant.
• Determine whether replanting will be cost-effective.

Kientzy said yield estimates are based on Missouri-specific data available at the time of publication. Tables with localized information for north and central, southwestern and southeastern Missouri were developed to reflect how planting timing affects expected yields in these regions.

Understanding yield potential is only part of the decision-making process, notes MU Extension specialist Ben Brown. Producers must also weigh the financial trade-offs that come with replanting.

“Producers have to look at what the economics and their own operational realities can support,” said 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.”

Kientzy said the guide is meant to support planning, not guarantee results. Weather and other variables can still shift outcomes, but having a structured framework can help producers feel more confident about their decisions.

Download the Corn and Soybean Replant Decisions guide and access the customizable spreadsheet at http://muext.us/G4091.