Cutworms eat through the stem of newly sprouted plants effectively cutting the plant off at the base which kills the new sprout.

Management

Seeds can be planted inside collars that are buried 2 inches in the soil and stand 2 inches above the soil. Remove collars after the plant is too tough for cutworms to bother. Collars may be toilet paper tubes, or aluminum cans with the top and bottom cut off. This works because cutworms crawl along the ground looking for food. The collar blocks the worm from getting to the plant.

Another option is to spray with BT every week and after every rain.