Nebraska farmers who sustained heavy damage in last week's severe weather will face some tough decisions in the days ahead.

Farming and crop insurance experts tell the Fremont Tribune farmers will have to consider a number of factors when deciding whether to replant.

Dodge County Extension Educator Nathan Mueller said deciding to replant will depend on what insurance coverage farmers have, what herbicides they used this spring and how bad the damage is.

"Most of the fields between north of Scribner and Uehling, you can hardly tell that anything was planted," he said. "It cut the corn and soybean plants straight to the ground, and then covered up what was left with mud."

Significant crop damage is common in Burt, Cuming, Dodge and Washington counties after Tuesday's large hail and strong winds.

Farmers can attend a meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Uehling Auditorium to get advice from experts. The speakers will include crop insurance agents, and plant and soil experts.

Mueller said even if farmers decide not to replant a cash crop, like corn or soybeans, it may make sense to plant a cover crop to limit erosion and improve soil health.

Most farmers in the area carry crop insurance, but they probably don't all have specific coverage for hail damage, so that might affect their decisions about whether to replant.

Source - http://fremonttribune.com/