Ag stats – Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending May 26, 2019
Cool and wet weather pushed planting and spring fieldwork back again last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. A late spring snowstorm brought snow to the high country and several lower-elevation counties.
Localities in some east central counties reported over a foot of snow. Severe weather late in the week produced isolated yet damaging hail in areas across the State.
In northwestern counties, rangeland grass growth was inhibited by cold, wet weather. In northeastern counties, measurable precipitation improved pasture condition and soil moisture supplies, but kept producers out of the field.
In east central counties, a reporter noted freeze damage to wheat from early week cold weather was a concern. Needed moisture was received in developing dry pockets within the district.
In the San Luis Valley, potato planting continued on pace with the average, but emergence remained behind. A reporter noted heat units are greatly needed to help potato emergence.
In southeastern counties, alfalfa harvest was delayed due to wet conditions. A primary concern was expected freeze damage to winter wheat due to last week’s cold snap.
As of May 23, 2019, snowpack in Colorado was 240 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 374 and 323 percent of median snowfall, respectively.
Stored feed supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 82 percent average, and 17 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 90 percent average, and 9 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
1st cutting harvested | 14 | 9 | 3 | 7 |
Barley | ||||
Emerged | 95 | 85 | 94 | 90 |
Corn | ||||
Planted | 71 | 63 | 82 | 83 |
Emerged | 25 | 12 | 54 | 54 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Planted | 4 | 2 | 7 | 13 |
Emerged | 1 | NA | NA | NA |
Onions | ||||
Planted | 90 | 80 | NA | NA |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Planted | 93 | 77 | 92 | 91 |
Emerged | 6 | 1 | 1 | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Planted | 91 | 79 | 87 | 92 |
Emerged | 42 | 29 | 49 | 67 |
Proso millet | ||||
Planted | 27 | 17 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Planted | 12 | 2 | 24 | 20 |
Emerged | 3 | NA | NA | NA |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Emerged | 81 | 54 | 81 | 86 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Jointed | 94 | 89 | 95 | 94 |
Headed | 47 | 18 | 56 | 58 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 4.2 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 4.9 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 |
Short | 7 | 12 | 23 | 15 |
Adequate | 87 | 82 | 61 | 70 |
Surplus | 5 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 2 | 2 | 14 | 9 |
Short | 13 | 13 | 20 | 16 |
Adequate | 81 | 82 | 65 | 70 |
Surplus | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
Very poor | 3 | 1 | 9 | NA |
Poor | 7 | 7 | 10 | NA |
Fair | 12 | 13 | 27 | NA |
Good | 63 | 66 | 42 | NA |
Excellent | 15 | 13 | 12 | NA |
Barley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 1 | -- | 2 | 1 |
Fair | 16 | 21 | 32 | 21 |
Good | 63 | 57 | 45 | 54 |
Excellent | 20 | 22 | 20 | 23 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | NA | -- | 1 |
Poor | 2 | NA | 3 | 3 |
Fair | 9 | NA | 16 | 11 |
Good | 86 | NA | 70 | 71 |
Excellent | 3 | NA | 11 | 14 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 17 | 8 |
Poor | 3 | 6 | 20 | 14 |
Fair | 16 | 24 | 27 | 24 |
Good | 68 | 60 | 31 | 45 |
Excellent | 12 | 9 | 5 | 9 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | NA | -- | -- |
Poor | 2 | NA | 5 | 2 |
Fair | 25 | NA | 20 | 19 |
Good | 54 | NA | 70 | 69 |
Excellent | 19 | NA | 5 | 10 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 4 | -- | 6 | 4 |
Fair | 21 | 27 | 24 | 25 |
Good | 59 | 50 | 54 | 60 |
Excellent | 16 | 23 | 15 | 10 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 14 | 13 |
Fair | 21 | 22 | 25 | 29 |
Good | 62 | 58 | 49 | 42 |
Excellent | 13 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | 1 | 1 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Fair | 16 | 21 | 19 | 16 |
Good | 72 | 62 | 64 | 71 |
Excellent | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 |
