Colorado Highlights

Based on October 1 conditions, corn production in Colorado is forecast at 171.45 million bushels, down 8 percent from last year’s 185.90 million bushels, according to the October 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. The 1.35 million acres expected to be harvested for grain this year are up 10,000 acres from the September forecast and 50,000 acres above the 1.30 million acres harvested a year ago. Corn yield is estimated at 127.0 bushels per acre, down 3.0 bushels from the September 1 forecast and 16.0 bushels below last year’s final yield. As of September 30, Colorado’s corn crop condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 19 percent fair, 59 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Corn harvested for grain was 11 percent complete, compared with 5 percent last year and the 5-year average of 8 percent. 

Sorghum production in 2018 is forecast at 13.95 million bushels, down 32 percent from the 20.52 million bushels harvested last year. Growers expect to harvest 310,000 acres this year, down 40,000 acres from the September forecast and down from the 360,000 acres harvested last year. Average yield is forecast at 45.0 bushels per acre, up 6.0 bushels from the September 1 forecast, but down 12.0 bushels from last year. As of September 30, Colorado’s sorghum crop condition was rated 6 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 26 percent fair, 55 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Sorghum harvested for grain was estimated at 9 percent complete, compared with 1 percent last year and the 5-year average of 5 percent. 

The initial forecast of all sunflower production is estimated at 53.70 million pounds, down 41 percent from the 2017 crop of 90.52 million pounds. All sunflower yield is expected to average 880 pounds per acre, down 185 pounds per acre from last year. Harvested area is estimated at 61,000 acres, down from the 85,000 acres harvested last year. As of September 30, Colorado’s sunflower crop condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 62 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. 

Alfalfa hay production in Colorado is forecast at 2.85 million tons, up from the 2.81 million tons produced in 2017. Colorado farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 730,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year, up 10,000 acres from 2017. Alfalfa hay yield is expected to average 3.90 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 3.90 tons per acre and the August 1 forecast of 3.70 tons per acre. Producers expect to harvest 690,000 acres of other hay in 2018, down 30,000 acres from last year. Other hay production is forecast at 1.24 million tons, down 4 percent from the 1.30 million tons a year ago. Other hay yield is expected to average 1.80 tons per acre, compared with last year’s yield of 1.80 tons per acre and the August 1 forecast of 1.80 tons per acre. 

Sugarbeet production in Colorado is forecast at 892,000 tons, down 14 percent from the 1.04 million tons produced in 2017. Growers expect to harvest 25,700 acres this year, compared with 29,000 acres a year ago. Yields are expected to average 34.7 tons per acre, down 0.4 ton per acre from the September 1 forecast and down from last year’s yield of 35.7 tons per acre. As of September 30, Colorado’s sugarbeet crop condition was rated 1 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 45 percent good, and 11 percent excellent. Harvest of sugarbeets was estimated at 9 percent complete, compared with 6 percent last year and the 5-year average of 16 percent. 

Dry bean production for 2018 is forecast at 774,000 hundredweight, down 29 percent from the 1.09 million hundredweight produced a year earlier. Yields are expected to average 2,150 pounds per acre, up 50 pounds per acre from the August 1 forecast and up from 2,000 pounds per acre last year. Growers expect to harvest 36,000 acres this year, down 18,500 acres from the 54,500 acres harvested last year. As of September 30, Colorado’s dry bean harvest was estimated to be 72 percent complete, compared with 52 percent last year and the 5-year average of 47 percent.

UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS 

Corn production is forecast at 14.8 billion bushels, down slightly from the September forecast but up 1 percent from last year. Based on conditions as of October 1, yields are expected to average 180.7 bushels per acre, down 0.6 bushel from the September forecast but up 4.1 bushels from 2017. If realized, this will be the highest yield and second highest production on record for the United States. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 81.8 million acres, down slightly from the previous estimate and down 1 percent from 2017. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data. 

Sorghum production is forecast at 382 million bushels, up 1 percent from the September forecast and up 5 percent from last year. Acreage updates were made in several States following a thorough review of all available data. Planted area, at 5.79 million acres, is down 4 percent from the previous estimate but is up 3 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 5.09 million acres, down 4 percent from the previous forecast but up 1 percent from last year. Based on October 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 75.0 bushels per acre, 3.9 bushels higher than the September forecast and 2.9 bushels higher than the 2017 yield of 72.1 bushels per acre. The average yield for the Nation will be the third highest on record, if realized. 

The first sunflower production forecast for 2018 is 1.93 billion pounds, down 10 percent from the revised 2017 production of 2.16 billion pounds. If realized, production for the Nation will be the lowest since 1989. Area planted, at 1.30 million acres, is down 11 percent from the June estimate and down 7 percent from last year. Sunflower growers expect to harvest 1.24 million acres, down 12 percent from June and down 7 percent from the 2017 acreage. If realized, both planted and harvested area for the Nation will be the lowest since 1976. The October yield forecast, at 1,560 pounds per acre, is 56 pounds lower than last year’s yield but will be the fourth highest on record, if realized. 

Production of alfalfa and alfalfa mixture dry hay for 2018 is forecast at 59.5 million tons, up 3 percent from the August forecast and up 8 percent from 2017. Based on October 1 conditions, yields are expected to average 3.43 tons per acre, up 0.10 ton from the August forecast and up 0.11 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 17.4 million acres up 5 percent from 2017. 

Production of other hay is forecast at 74.9 million tons, up 6 percent from the August forecast but down 2 percent from 2017. Based on October 1 conditions, the United States yield is expected to average 1.98 tons per acre, up 0.10 ton from the August forecast but down 0.07 ton from last year. Harvested area is forecast at 37.7 million acres up 1 percent from 2017. 

Production of sugarbeets, for the 2018 crop year, is forecast at 35.2 million tons, down slightly from last year. Producers expect to harvest 1.10 million acres, down 1 percent from last year. Expected yield is forecast at 32.0 tons per acre, an increase of 0.3 ton from last year. 

United States dry edible bean production is forecast at 37.8 million cwt for 2018, up 6 percent from last year. If realized, this will be a record high production. Planted area is estimated at 2.08 million acres, down 1 percent from 2017. Harvested area is forecast at 2.01 million acres, down less than 1 percent from the previous year. The average United States yield is forecast at 1,884 pounds per acre, an increase of 103 pounds from 2017.