For the most part, landing on agricultural land is more akin to a water landing than a ground landing. Rough furrows and ditches, soft surface to grab the gear (how many planes get their gear stuck in soft ground 1 meter off a taxiway?!), etc. Stick one gear in the mud before the other, and you're going for an amusement-park ride.
Operating the gear adds drag - what does that do to your ROD and ability to hold that touch of extra speed for a flare (which may do more to soften the impact than the gear themselves)?
Personally, I think this crew just reverted to basic flight training - Session #2. In case of low-altitude power loss: 1) keep your airspeed safe. 2) land straight ahead. Good for them and good for everyone else.
If you have 10000 meters, or 1000 meters, instead of < 250 meters - then you have time to consider other options and dig out the SOPs.