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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending July 3, 2022

© iStock - William_Potter

Winter wheat maturity advanced quickly, and harvest began sporadically and slowly across 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, 86 percent of the State is under drought conditions, up 4 percentage points from the previous week. Forty-five percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, up 2 percentage points from last week. Extreme drought conditions are affecting 6 percent of the State, down 7 percentage points from last week.

Northeastern and east central counties continue to face strong winds, higher than average temperatures, and little moisture. In northeastern counties, precipitation was scattered with some areas receiving good moisture, while others remained dry. Areas of Logan and Sedgwick Counties received over an inch of rain last week. Non-irrigated crops and rangeland conditions continue to feel the effects of dry, windy conditions. Winter wheat was maturing, and county reports noted extremely limited harvest began in the far eastern part of the State.

East central counties received little to no moisture across the area, as drought conditions worsened.

In southwestern counties, cooler than average temperatures and needed moisture provided some reprieve.

In the San Luis Valley, recent rains have delayed alfalfa harvest. Potato emergence is almost complete, with fields appearing mottled due to high winds during planting. First cutting of alfalfa was nearly complete. Received moisture benefitted rangeland conditions and livestock are doing well, according to county reports.

In southeastern counties, recent moisture has greatly improved crops and rangeland. Winter wheat harvest is almost complete in the area. County reports noted most of the dryland wheat was abandoned, and irrigated yields were affected by growing season conditions. Producers have moved cattle to CRP land for grazing, giving rangelands a much-needed recovery period.

Stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 23 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 93 percent average, and 6 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 80 percent average and 20 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa Hay 

    

1st cutting harvested 

85 

67 

96 

93 

2nd cutting harvested 

-- 

11 

Barley 

    

Headed 

57 

31 

77 

75 

Turning color 

Corn 

    

Silked 

-- 

Dry edible beans 

    

Planted 

95 

79 

NA 

NA 

Emerged 

69 

49 

92 

85 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Emerged 

97 

93 

NA 

NA 

Proso millet 

    

Planted 

90 

73 

96 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Planted 

95 

86 

95 

97 

Emerged 

83 

58 

93 

88 

Sunflowers 

    

Planted 

84 

76 

96 

94 

Winter wheat 

    

Turning color 

90 

65 

95 

92 

Mature 

42 

47 

56 

Harvested 

-- 

18 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.6 

6.4 

6.7 

6.4 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

39 

36 

10 

13 

Short 

44 

42 

21 

25 

Adequate 

15 

22 

66 

60 

Surplus 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

35 

38 

12 

Short 

44 

41 

28 

27 

Adequate 

20 

21 

62 

60 

Surplus 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

11 

Fair 

38 

35 

26 

23 

Good 

41 

43 

44 

51 

Excellent 

20 

12 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

13 

16 

10 

Fair 

35 

34 

29 

27 

Good 

33 

31 

40 

48 

Excellent 

11 

11 

15 

18 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

50 

41 

17 

20 

Good 

27 

32 

51 

58 

Excellent 

15 

15 

31 

14 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

13 

11 

13 

Fair 

17 

17 

32 

28 

Good 

40 

48 

39 

43 

Excellent 

21 

30 

18 

10 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

29 

29 

40 

26 

Good 

60 

60 

46 

66 

Excellent 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

18 

21 

-- 

10 

Poor 

24 

23 

16 

14 

Fair 

25 

27 

35 

27 

Good 

28 

26 

31 

40 

Excellent 

18 

Potatoes inside the San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

10 

10 

10 

Fair 

20 

20 

25 

20 

Good 

45 

45 

42 

49 

Excellent 

20 

20 

21 

25 

Potatoes outside the San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

15 

15 

32 

18 

Good 

72 

72 

58 

69 

Excellent 

10 

10 

11 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

Fair 

61 

63 

33 

25 

Good 

27 

32 

42 

55 

Excellent 

10 

-- 

25 

10 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

36 

36 

25 

21 

Good 

29 

36 

53 

57 

Excellent 

35 

28 

22 

17 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

Fair 

69 

71 

40 

NA 

Good 

23 

21 

42 

NA 

Excellent 

10 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

23 

31 

Poor 

26 

27 

11 

13 

Fair 

34 

29 

26 

28 

Good 

17 

13 

44 

39 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

16 

13 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

23 

23 

20 

16 

Good 

53 

58 

55 

67 

Excellent 

17 

19 

14