The Associated Press

ABERDEEN - After the heavy rains early this month, experts urged farmers to get out into their fields to check for damage to newly seeded plants.

"You can't be an armchair agronomist. You've got to get out there and look it over," said Bob Hall, South Dakota State University Extension educator.

If crops have been inundated since the rains, don't bother - they're dead, Hall said.

But if they were under water for only up to several days, samples should be uprooted and checked for color, he said.

The tissue of most plants should be bright green, bright white or a duller shade of either color. If the tissue is tan or black, the plant has had too much water and not enough oxygen, according to Hall.

Once standing water surpasses 77 degrees, it can kill a submerged plant in less than a day, according to information from SDSU Extension. And Hall said the amount of rain is less important than how long seeds and plants are under water.

Hall also said that farmers who have lost planted crops but have crop insurance might want to replant. Farmers should need to check with their insurance agents and work some numbers before deciding, he said.

The Extension expert said there's still plenty of time to plant soybeans and corn - but that it's not necessary if it doesn't make sense financially.

Low-lying areas that often hold water might not dry out all summer, Hall said, adding that there's no use planting there.

Crusting also could be a problem, Hall said. That occurs when the soil dries and gets so hard that plants cannot push their way through it.