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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 23, 2022

© iStock - William_Potter

Harvest activities continued to advance across the State last week where conditions allowed and precipitation was mostly limited to western counties, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for October 18, just over 43 percent of the State was categorized in moderate drought or worse, unchanged from the previous week. Over 14 percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, up slightly from last week. The exceptional drought conditions noted across portions of Phillips and Sedgwick Counties remain unchanged from last week, accounting for less than one percent of the State.

Limited moisture was received across the State last week, but western counties reported significant snowfall at higher elevations.

Above average temperatures across the State were observed early in the week before cold and freezing temperatures moved in over the weekend.

Sunflower harvest picked up last week in eastern Colorado and was nearly complete in southwestern counties.

Potato harvest in the San Luis Valley was nearly complete by week’s end. Reporters noted freezing temperatures stopped potato harvest and remaining alfalfa growth. Livestock producers in the area were bringing stock home from summer pasture and beginning to wean calves.

Fourth cutting of alfalfa advanced last week across the State and was just behind the 5-year average of 73 percent.

Statewide, emergence of the 2023 winter wheat crop was 65 percent complete, compared with last year at 67 percent and the 5-year average of 72 percent.

Corn for grain harvest continued to progress, but still fell short of the previous year at 56 percent and the 5-year average of 46 percent.

Livestock remained in mostly good condition.

Stored feed supplies were rated 9 percent very short, 29 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 86 percent average and 14 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 3 percent heavy, 75 percent average, and 22 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa Hay 

    

4th cutting harvested 

70 

66 

84 

73 

Corn 

    

Harvested for grain 

32 

27 

56 

46 

Dry edible beans 

    

Harvested 

95 

89 

80 

NA 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Harvested 

95 

88 

NA 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Mature 

86 

80 

97 

94 

Harvested 

47 

39 

58 

44 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

48 

45 

86 

65 

Sunflowers 

    

Harvested 

27 

21 

40 

43 

Winter wheat 

    

Emerged 

65 

60 

67 

72 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.4 

6.7 

6.8 

6.2 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

32 

30 

35 

21 

Short 

45 

44 

37 

29 

Adequate 

22 

26 

28 

48 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

36 

33 

37 

21 

Short 

37 

41 

28 

30 

Adequate 

26 

26 

35 

48 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Corn 

    

Very poor 

18 

18 

NA 

Poor 

22 

25 

17 

NA 

Fair 

35 

34 

25 

NA 

Good 

23 

21 

40 

NA 

Excellent 

11 

NA 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

13 

13 

21 

19 

Poor 

23 

24 

28 

21 

Fair 

27 

29 

20 

24 

Good 

33 

30 

24 

30 

Excellent 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

NA 

Poor 

12 

14 

12 

NA 

Fair 

38 

38 

17 

NA 

Good 

36 

34 

48 

NA 

Excellent 

14 

NA 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

NA 

NA 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

NA 

NA 

Fair 

50 

55 

NA 

NA 

Good 

50 

45 

NA 

NA 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

NA 

NA 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

11 

16 

NA 

Poor 

18 

17 

12 

NA 

Fair 

44 

46 

35 

NA 

Good 

26 

21 

47 

NA 

Excellent 

-- 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

16 

NA 

Poor 

19 

NA 

15 

11 

Fair 

40 

NA 

33 

33 

Good 

24 

NA 

41 

41 

Excellent 

NA 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

11 

23 

22 

Good 

63 

62 

52 

61 

Excellent 

25 

24 

16 

11