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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending April 10, 2022

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Warm temperatures and extreme wind were experienced across most of the State last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 83 percent of the State is under drought conditions, unchanged from last week. Thirty-two percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, down two percentage points from last week. Extreme drought conditions are affecting 4 percent of the State, down 3 percentage points from the previous week.

In northeastern and east central counties, extremely windy conditions decreased soil moisture and prevented significant fieldwork. A reporter noted the extreme winds eroded the soil and likely damaged the winter wheat crop.

Southwestern counties received minimal moisture last week, but freezing temperatures may have affected the fruit crop in bloom. Grazing pastures are starting to green up, and a reporter noted producers are starting to prepare fields for planting.

In the San Luis Valley, cool temperatures and windy conditions minimally affected barley planting. A reporter noted that livestock are in good condition as pastures begin to green up for the grazing season.

The southeastern counties remained primarily dry, and windy conditions persisted.

Overall, calving and lambing continued with few issues, with 73 percent of cows calved and 65 percent of ewes lambed, both behind the previous year and the 5-year average.

As of April 10, 2022, snowpack in Colorado was 88 percent measured as percent of median snowfall, down 3 percentage point from the previous week. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 85 and 89 percent, respectively.

Stored feed supplies were rated 11 percent very short, 35 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 64 percent average and 36 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 73 percent average, and 26 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

    

Planted 

10 

29 

24 

Winter wheat 

    

Pastured 

14 

16 

Jointed 

15 

18 

10 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved 

73 

68 

83 

75 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed 

65 

53 

69 

70 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

4.9 

5.2 

6.4 

5.8 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

20 

15 

15 

13 

Short 

43 

38 

38 

25 

Adequate 

36 

46 

47 

60 

Surplus 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

28 

31 

31 

15 

Short 

50 

41 

35 

27 

Adequate 

22 

28 

34 

57 

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 

21 

18 

23 

11 

Poor 

24 

22 

30 

20 

Fair 

23 

27 

37 

34 

Good 

31 

23 

10 

33 

Excellent 

10 

-- 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

12 

14 

13 

Poor 

31 

25 

21 

15 

Fair 

37 

42 

40 

35 

Good 

19 

18 

23 

37 

Excellent 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

32 

24 

27 

21 

Good 

47 

51 

55 

67 

Excellent 

14 

18