Ag statistics: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 1, 2018

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Fieldwork activities continued on pace last week in Colorado amidst minimal precipitation, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Northeastern county reporters noted winter wheat continued to be seeded despite dry conditions. Limited corn for grain harvest began last week, but most producers were waiting for the crop to dry down. Livestock remained in good condition, but a reporter noted a good deal of baled hay was hauled out as fast as it was harvested, a reflection of short forage supplies and regional drought conditions.

In east central counties, producers were harvesting corn for grain but saw a late start because of morning dew. Most winter wheat was noted to be planted and the emerged crop looked good thus far. Lack of precipitation remained a concern, especially for pasture conditions in east central counties.

Southwestern counties stayed warm and dry last week with no relief from exceptional drought conditions.

In the San Luis Valley, potato harvest and third cutting of alfalfa progressed quickly last week and minimal moisture was received. A reporter noted livestock were being moved off mountain pasture about two weeks early. In southeastern counties, a reporter noted precipitation was minimal and corn for grain harvest began last week. Hay harvest was noted as slow because of heavy dew. Calves were noted as being weaned a little earlier than normal to save grass and allow cows to regain body condition.

Statewide, corn was rated 68 percent good to excellent, compared with 65 percent good to excellent last year.

Stored feed supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 28 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 77 percent average and 23 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 84 percent average, and 15 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Alfalfa hay
3rd cutting harvested ..........................................	94	90	89	90
4th cutting harvested ..........................................	45	32	28	33
Corn
Dented ...............................................................	95	92	93	97
Mature ...............................................................	59	39	40	52
Harvested for grain ...........................................	11	1	5	8
Harvested for silage ..........................................	96	88	84	86
Dry edible beans
Cut ....................................................................	92	87	76	75
Harvested ..........................................................	72	56	52	47
Onions
Harvested ..........................................................	94	85	78	67
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley
Harvested ..........................................................	54	25	50	48
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley
Harvested ..........................................................	72	65	49	82
Sorghum
Mature ...............................................................	43	27	25	39
Harvested ..........................................................	9	1	1	5
Spring wheat
Harvested ..........................................................	95	91	86	92
Sugarbeets
Harvested ..........................................................	9	6	6	16
Winter wheat
Planted ..............................................................	67	47	54	65
Emerged ............................................................	39	21	27	31
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION
	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
Days suitable for fieldwork ....................................	6.6	6.6	3.2	NA
Topsoil moisture	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Very short .........................................................	18	14	1	7
Short .................................................................	41	34	13	28
Adequate ..........................................................	41	51	74	61
Surplus..............................................................	--	1	12	4
Subsoil moisture
Very short .........................................................	19	15	2	12
Short .................................................................	33	27	23	30
Adequate ..........................................................	47	57	74	57
Surplus..............................................................	1	1	1	1
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Alfalfa hay
Very poor ..........................................................	10	9	--	4
Poor ...................................................................	19	19	8	9
Fair ....................................................................	30	26	24	25
Good .................................................................	33	38	61	51
Excellent ...........................................................	8	8	7	11
Corn
Very poor ..........................................................	2	2	1	3
Poor ...................................................................	11	10	10	7
Fair ....................................................................	19	18	24	25
Good .................................................................	59	62	48	50
Excellent ...........................................................	9	8	17	15
Pasture and range
Very poor ..........................................................	28	28	1	6
Poor ...................................................................	29	23	13	16
Fair ....................................................................	17	23	25	29
Good .................................................................	23	24	46	41
Excellent ...........................................................	3	2	15	8
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley
Very poor ..........................................................	--	--	--	NA
Poor ...................................................................	4	5	10	NA
Fair ....................................................................	15	15	15	NA
Good .................................................................	56	50	55	NA
Excellent ...........................................................	25	30	20	NA
Sorghum
Very poor ..........................................................	6	3	4	5
Poor ...................................................................	8	8	9	13
Fair ....................................................................	26	28	20	33
Good .................................................................	55	57	58	45
Excellent ...........................................................	5	4	9	4
Sugarbeets
Very poor ..........................................................	1	3	1	--
Poor ...................................................................	9	6	4	3
Fair ....................................................................	34	22	14	16
Good .................................................................	45	49	59	64
Excellent ...........................................................	11	20	22	17
Sunflowers
Very poor ..........................................................	1	1	1	5
Poor ...................................................................	4	3	4	8
Fair ....................................................................	29	28	17	28
Good .................................................................	62	64	68	50
Excellent ...........................................................	4	4	10	9
Livestock
Very poor ..........................................................	2	2	--	--
Poor ...................................................................	4	2	1	2
Fair ....................................................................	25	19	23	19
Good .................................................................	62	68	71	68
Excellent ...........................................................	7	9	5	11