Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending August 18, 2019
Severe weather continued in eastern Colorado last week, with multiple days of damaging hail, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Northeastern county reporters noted crops were doing well where precipitation continued to fall. Producers in areas that have not received consistent moisture were concerned regarding declining dryland crop and rangeland conditions. Reporters also noted elevated fire danger was a concern. Limited corn silage harvest was also underway in a few northeastern counties.
Localities in several east central counties hit hard by hail and severe weather were assessing crop damage last week after the storms. Precipitation received throughout the east central district was very spotty, with some areas receiving more than others.
In western counties, minimal moisture was received last week. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, abnormally dry conditions expanded in southwestern Colorado due to insufficient monsoonal moisture.
In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest began last week. Reporters noted alfalfa harvest was also moving along and potatoes were doing well. A reporter noted that potato vines were showing maturity with a few fields killed in preparation for harvest.
In southeastern counties, rain was received last week. Hay harvest progressed as conditions allowed. A reporter also noted areas in central Prowers county received heavy hail damage from the storms.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 61 percent average and 39 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 60 percent average and 40 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
2nd cutting harvested | 97 | 90 | 95 | 93 |
3rd cutting harvested | 35 | 22 | 39 | 36 |
Barley | ||||
Harvested | 15 | 7 | 48 | 37 |
Corn | ||||
Silked | 96 | 91 | 96 | 96 |
Doughed | 34 | 15 | 61 | 50 |
Dented | 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Harvested for silage | 7 | -- | 5 | 2 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Blooming | 89 | 79 | 91 | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 5 | -- | 11 | 9 |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed | 81 | 64 | 84 | 75 |
Turning color | 4 | 3 | 16 | 20 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 1 | NA | -- | -- |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.1 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 6.1 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 3 | 3 | 11 | 6 |
Short | 15 | 15 | 24 | 24 |
Adequate | 78 | 77 | 62 | 67 |
Surplus. | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 3 | 3 | 17 | 9 |
Short | 16 | 16 | 25 | 24 |
Adequate | 77 | 77 | 56 | 65 |
Surplus. | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 15 | 9 |
Fair | 9 | 8 | 26 | 23 |
Good | 70 | 73 | 42 | 52 |
Excellent | 16 | 14 | 9 | 13 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
Fair | 19 | 20 | 27 | 21 |
Good | 52 | 49 | 52 | 52 |
Excellent | 22 | 23 | 19 | 23 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 3 | 1 |
Poor | 5 | 4 | 16 | 6 |
Fair | 17 | 19 | 24 | 20 |
Good | 62 | 64 | 50 | 60 |
Excellent | 16 | 13 | 7 | 13 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 12 | 2 |
Poor | 2 | 4 | 22 | 6 |
Fair | 27 | 35 | 32 | 29 |
Good | 70 | 56 | 28 | 54 |
Excellent | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 3 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 2 | 3 |
Fair | 2 | 8 | 18 | 18 |
Good | 98 | 89 | 67 | 63 |
Excellent | -- | 3 | 10 | 15 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 28 | 8 |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 24 | 15 |
Fair | 17 | 15 | 27 | 25 |
Good | 71 | 71 | 19 | 44 |
Excellent | 8 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Fair | 33 | 30 | 9 | 17 |
Good | 44 | 47 | 66 | 57 |
Excellent | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Fair | 16 | 15 | 13 | 9 |
Good | 70 | 70 | 59 | 78 |
Excellent | 12 | 13 | 23 | 12 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Poor | 2 | 1 | 17 | 10 |
Fair | 21 | 24 | 31 | 29 |
Good | 65 | 64 | 46 | 55 |
Excellent | 11 | 10 | 2 | 4 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | -- |
Poor | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Fair | 7 | 13 | 25 | 13 |
Good | 86 | 74 | 49 | 67 |
Excellent | 4 | 12 | 22 | 18 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 6 | 7 |
Fair | 18 | 19 | 28 | 25 |
Good | 69 | 70 | 61 | 59 |
Excellent | 13 | 11 | 4 | 8 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Fair | 10 | 9 | 21 | 15 |
Good | 74 | 74 | 63 | 71 |
Excellent | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 |
