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Person standing in a wheat field using a tablet device with agriculture icons imposed

Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – March 17, 2019

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A significant spring storm brought heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions to Colorado last week, halting early fieldwork and causing loss of livestock, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Overall, soil moisture supplies improved due to received precipitation.

In northeastern counties, losses of feeder cattle, newborn calves, and newborn lambs were reported due to the storm. Rain and snow brought needed moisture, but wind was strong enough in areas to blow snow off fields without prior adequate cover. Pasture and range condition was optimistic for the coming year.

In east central counties, winter wheat was noted as starting to green up. Livestock losses were noted due to the earlier cold weather.

In southwestern counties, received moisture was welcome, but resulting mud created difficult calving conditions.

In the San Luis Valley, a reporter mentioned some field work started, but was halted due to rain and snow. Feed supplies were noted as short.

Southeastern county reporters noted received moisture improved the condition of winter wheat, alfalfa, and rangeland. A reporter mentioned rain last week kept farmers out of the field and planting of oats was delayed.

As of March 14, 2019, snowpack in Colorado was 143 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 159 and 154 percent, respectively.

Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 17 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 15 percent heavy, 76 percent average, and 9 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 15 percent heavy, 75 percent average, and 10 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous report

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Winter wheat 

    

Pastured 

16 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved  

30 

13 

NA 

NA 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed 

26 

10 

NA 

NA 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous report

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork  

2.0 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

NA 

NA 

Short 

27 

NA 

NA 

Adequate  

85 

67 

NA 

NA 

Surplus 

NA 

NA 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

NA 

NA 

Short 

17 

30 

NA 

NA 

Adequate  

79 

65 

NA 

NA 

Surplus 

-- 

NA 

NA 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous report

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor  

NA 

NA 

Poor 

13 

16 

NA 

NA 

Fair  

45 

50 

NA 

NA 

Good 

34 

25 

NA 

NA 

Excellent 

NA 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor  

NA 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

NA 

Fair  

30 

40 

NA 

NA 

Good 

52 

47 

NA 

NA 

Excellent 

10 

NA 

NA 

Livestock 

    

Very poor  

NA 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

NA 

Fair  

28 

23 

NA 

NA 

Good 

62 

66 

NA 

NA 

Excellent 

NA 

NA