Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending April 18, 2021

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Published Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Snow and rain slowed fieldwork in areas last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Northeastern counties received snow with good moisture content, boosting soil moisture supplies. County reports noted winter wheat development was behind in some areas. More moisture is needed going forward to build soil moisture profiles. Livestock producers noted concerns for availability of summer grass this year.

East central counties also received several inches of snow in areas. Fieldwork and limited planting progressed where conditions allowed. County reports noted native pasture grass growth remained behind due to cool temperatures.

Southwestern counties experienced high winds last week and received isolated precipitation. Drought conditions persisted. County reports noted planting of spring crops continued.

2021-04-15_map_colorado_drought_conditions_-_april_13_2021_-_national_drought_mitigation_center.png

MAP Colorado Drought Conditions - April 13, 2021 - National Drought Mitigation Center
Colorado Drought Conditions - April 13, 2021 - National Drought Mitigation Center

In the San Luis Valley, light snow was received and barley planting continued. Conditions remained dry. Very limited reports of seed potatoes planted were noted last week. A county report noted temperatures remained cool. Feed supplies were notably short.

In southeastern counties, rain and snow was received last week, greatly benefiting area crops. A county report noted irrigation water supplies were limited.

As of April 19, 2021, snowpack in Colorado was 77 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 63 and 81 percent, respectively.

2021-04-15_map_colorado_snow_water_equivalent_as_of_april_15_2021_-_nrcs.png

MAP Colorado snow water equivalent as of April 15, 2021 - NRCS
Colorado snow water equivalent as of April 15, 2021 - NRCS

Stored feed supplies were rated 20 percent very short, 25 percent short, and 55 percent adequate.

Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 61 percent average, and 37 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 6 percent heavy, 67 percent average, and 27 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

       

Planted 

37 

30 

55 

47 

Emerged 

-- 

NA 

Corn 

       

Planted 

Onions 

       

Planted 

15 

15 

35 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

       

Planted 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

       

Planted 

10 

-- 

21 

Sugarbeets 

       

Planted 

-- 

21 

Winter wheat 

       

Pastured 

14 

Jointed 

31 

19 

23 

23 

Cattle and calves 

       

Cows calved 

89 

84 

86 

82 

Sheep and lambs 

       

Ewes lambed 

82 

70 

88 

79 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

4.9 

6.4 

4.3 

4.8 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

13 

15 

14 

Short 

36 

38 

31 

19 

Adequate 

51 

47 

54 

68 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

       

Very short 

32 

31 

12 

Short 

36 

35 

21 

23 

Adequate 

32 

34 

66 

67 

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 

25 

23 

Poor 

28 

30 

12 

15 

Fair 

35 

37 

28 

32 

Good 

12 

10 

52 

41 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

Winter wheat 

       

Very poor 

14 

13 

15 

Poor 

20 

21 

16 

13 

Fair 

40 

40 

27 

29 

Good 

23 

23 

40 

43 

Excellent 

Livestock 

       

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

32 

27 

20 

17 

Good 

49 

55 

66 

72 

Excellent 

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