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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 24, 2019

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Wet conditions kept producers out of the field last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Northeastern county reporters noted calving and lambing were in full swing and fieldwork was delayed due to moisture. A reporter noted some fertilizer and chemical applications were made on non-irrigated cropland where conditions allowed. Winter wheat and rangeland conditions were favorable due to recent moisture.

In east central counties, late week precipitation brought over an inch of moisture to areas. Producers were notably behind and unable to begin field preparation due to the moisture.

In southwestern counties, a reporter noted snow cover was receding fast due to warmer temperatures. Soil moisture conditions were noted as excellent. Late spring storms and cold conditions continued to negatively impact calving.

San Luis Valley reporters noted fieldwork was minimal due to wet conditions.

In southeastern counties, reporters noted late week precipitation kept conditions wet but temperatures were not cold. Calving losses decreased due to more moderate temperatures. Fieldwork was notably slow due to wet weather. A reporter mentioned pastures were beginning to green up earlier than last year due to moisture.

Statewide, winter wheat condition was rated 68 percent good to excellent, compared to 39 percent rated good to excellent last year.

\As of March 21, 2019, snowpack in Colorado was 140 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 157 and 150 percent, respectively.

Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 22 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus. Sheep death loss was 7 percent heavy, 57 percent average, and 36 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 13 percent heavy, 75 percent average, and 12 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

    

Planted 

-- 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Pastured 

16 

16 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved 

47 

30 

39 

NA 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed 

42 

26 

37 

NA 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

3.3 

2.0 

6.3 

5.6 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

24 

14 

Short 

39 

30 

Adequate 

82 

85 

37 

54 

Surplus. 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

14 

15 

Short 

15 

17 

29 

30 

Adequate 

80 

79 

57 

54 

Surplus. 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

15 

Poor 

10 

13 

16 

25 

Fair 

50 

45 

37 

33 

Good 

34 

34 

30 

30 

Excellent 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

16 

18 

Fair 

27 

30 

40 

33 

Good 

55 

52 

31 

37 

Excellent 

13 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

26 

28 

24 

22 

Good 

65 

62 

68 

67 

Excellent