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Ag statistics: Colorado crop progress and condition summary – week ending September 23, 2018

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AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Hot and dry weather was widespread with reported isolated precipitation throughout the state last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

In northeastern counties, winter wheat planting progressed well despite dry soil conditions. Livestock were reportedly in good condition, with producers marketing calves to alleviate using forage.

Northeastern and east central counties noted winter wheat being seeded into dry topsoil.

In southwestern counties, hot and dry temperatures provided no relief from exceptional drought conditions, and very little winter wheat has been planted.

In the San Luis Valley, potato harvest picked up last week as well as producers starting the third cutting of alfalfa.

Stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 18 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 70 percent average and 30 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 75 percent average and 25 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 .......................................... 

90 

84 

83 

83 

4th cutting harvested .......................................... 

32 

23 

20 

24 

Corn 

    

Dented ............................................................... 

92 

86 

84 

92 

Mature ............................................................... 

39 

22 

29 

35 

Harvested for grain ........................................... 

-- 

Harvested for silage .......................................... 

88 

77 

73 

73 

Dry edible beans 

    

Cut .................................................................... 

87 

81 

64 

56 

Harvested .......................................................... 

56 

48 

33 

30 

Onions 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

85 

77 

64 

55 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested .......................................................... 

25 

20 

23 

28 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested .......................................................... 

65 

58 

43 

74 

Sorghum 

    

Turning color .................................................... 

95 

88 

89 

85 

Mature ............................................................... 

27 

13 

19 

28 

Harvested .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

Spring wheat 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

91 

89 

84 

87 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted .............................................................. 

47 

24 

37 

45 

Emerged ............................................................ 

21 

11 

12 

15 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... 

6.6 

6.9 

5.6 

6.1 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short ......................................................... 

14 

12 

Short ................................................................. 

34 

35 

23 

30 

Adequate .......................................................... 

51 

52 

72 

60 

Surplus.............................................................. 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short ......................................................... 

15 

13 

12 

Short ................................................................. 

27 

29 

28 

31 

Adequate .......................................................... 

57 

57 

69 

56 

Surplus.............................................................. 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Alfalfa hay 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

Poor ................................................................... 

19 

15 

14 

10 

Fair .................................................................... 

26 

25 

26 

25 

Good ................................................................. 

38 

45 

53 

50 

Excellent ........................................................... 

11 

Corn 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

Poor ................................................................... 

10 

Fair .................................................................... 

18 

14 

29 

27 

Good ................................................................. 

62 

70 

48 

50 

Excellent ........................................................... 

13 

14 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

16 

11 

Poor ................................................................... 

16 

19 

Fair .................................................................... 

11 

13 

27 

33 

Good ................................................................. 

55 

53 

55 

50 

Excellent ........................................................... 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

28 

26 

Poor ................................................................... 

23 

21 

13 

16 

Fair .................................................................... 

23 

22 

25 

28 

Good ................................................................. 

24 

29 

48 

42 

Excellent ........................................................... 

13 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Poor ................................................................... 

14 

NA 

Fair .................................................................... 

15 

13 

19 

NA 

Good ................................................................. 

50 

59 

51 

NA 

Excellent ........................................................... 

30 

24 

16 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

Poor ................................................................... 

12 

Fair .................................................................... 

28 

25 

16 

32 

Good ................................................................. 

57 

62 

65 

47 

Excellent ........................................................... 

11 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

22 

20 

15 

Good ................................................................. 

49 

52 

70 

67 

Excellent ........................................................... 

20 

22 

18 

16 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

28 

24 

19 

30 

Good ................................................................. 

64 

69 

62 

48 

Excellent ........................................................... 

14 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

19 

14 

12 

16 

Good ................................................................. 

68 

74 

81 

71 

Excellent ........................................................... 

11