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Arkansas farmer says it’s been a strong start to planting despite replants

It’s been a solid start to planting season for Arkansas farmer Derek Haigwood, but recent rains have forced him to replant.  “The river got out of its banks and I’ve been replanting,” he says. “We’ve had two planters running full time planting soybeans and I wrapped up corn.  I’ve been spot planting after the overflows.  It’s still May.  I’m still hopeful.”

Haigwood says he’s prepared to replant well into the summer months.  “Anytime it doesn’t look good, instead of worrying about prevented plant or anything like that, we’ll be planting,” he says.  “Even if it’s a late crop – because these prices call for it.”

He says that also means putting a little bit more into keeping the crop healthy. “If you need to put an extra shot of fungicide out, farmers know at these prices it will pay for it,” he says.  “But so does everyone else.  The prices will be higher and the pressure will be higher.  What we want to do is stick with what we’ve done in the past.”

Haigwood farms in northeast Arkansas.