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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending July 4, 2021

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Winter wheat maturity advanced quickly, and harvest progressed in southeastern counties last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Statewide, winter wheat harvest was behind last year and the average.

In northeastern counties, precipitation delayed fieldwork in some localities. Areas in Weld County received very heavy rain. Irrigated crops were growing quickly according to county reports. Non-irrigated crops and rangeland conditions continued to benefit from precipitation. Winter wheat was maturing, and county reports noted extremely limited harvest began in areas. Most producers were not yet harvesting.

East central counties received isolated moisture and hail was reported in areas.

Southern counties in the district noted winter wheat harvest was moving forward.

In southwestern counties, high fire activity continued, and temperatures were very hot. Precipitation was limited except at higher elevations, which improved mountain pasture conditions. County reports noted irrigation water in areas was cut off early, adversely affecting irrigated hay producers who expect fewer cuttings this year as well as livestock producers with irrigated pasture. Winter wheat harvest began in the district.

In the San Luis Valley, producers continued to evaluate hail damage received several weeks ago. Some potatoes were recovering from the damage while other fields were lost. More hail recently damaged barley and alfalfa as well. First cutting of alfalfa was nearly complete. A county report noted rain was enough to reduce hay quality in areas after it was cut and on the ground. Received moisture benefitted rangeland conditions and producers expected grazing lands to support full livestock numbers during the season.

In southeastern counties, winter wheat harvest proceeded around precipitation events. Second cutting of alfalfa began.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 4 percent very short, 19 percent short, 54 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 83 percent average and 17 percent light. Cattle death loss was 58 percent average and 42 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 

97 

88 

92 

93 

2nd cutting harvested 

10 

12 

15 

Barley 

    

Headed 

79 

62 

80 

77 

Turning color 

-- 

Corn 

    

Silked 

-- 

Dry edible beans 

    

Emerged 

95 

77 

90 

NA 

Blooming 

-- 

NA 

NA 

Proso millet 

    

Planted 

97 

92 

NA 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Emerged 

97 

69 

87 

NA 

Sunflowers 

    

Planted 

97 

92 

97 

94 

Winter wheat 

    

Turning color 

97 

85 

96 

NA 

Mature 

52 

17 

70 

62 

Harvested 

33 

21 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.7 

5.8 

6.1 

6.2 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

10 

23 

12 

Short 

21 

21 

33 

24 

Adequate 

66 

72 

44 

61 

Surplus. 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

27 

11 

Short 

28 

26 

39 

23 

Adequate 

62 

67 

34 

64 

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 

26 

22 

28 

20 

Good 

44 

47 

46 

55 

Excellent 

20 

22 

13 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

10 

11 

Fair 

29 

36 

23 

24 

Good 

40 

33 

50 

50 

Excellent 

15 

17 

24 

22 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

11 

Fair 

17 

13 

29 

19 

Good 

51 

53 

48 

61 

Excellent 

31 

33 

11 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

17 

Poor 

11 

19 

11 

Fair 

32 

37 

29 

26 

Good 

39 

30 

29 

48 

Excellent 

18 

24 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

40 

42 

29 

19 

Good 

46 

46 

60 

72 

Excellent 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

-- 

24 

10 

Poor 

16 

14 

17 

12 

Fair 

35 

33 

33 

24 

Good 

31 

34 

26 

46 

Excellent 

18 

18 

-- 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

10 

10 

Fair 

25 

24 

12 

18 

Good 

42 

43 

59 

53 

Excellent 

21 

23 

27 

25 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

32 

33 

20 

12 

Good 

58 

55 

63 

72 

Excellent 

10 

12 

14 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

16 

Fair 

33 

48 

34 

25 

Good 

42 

30 

39 

59 

Excellent 

25 

22 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

10 

Fair 

25 

25 

26 

19 

Good 

53 

53 

48 

61 

Excellent 

22 

22 

13 

15 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

NA 

Poor 

12 

NA 

Fair 

40 

40 

47 

NA 

Good 

42 

48 

35 

NA 

Excellent 

10 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

19 

Poor 

11 

12 

20 

12 

Fair 

26 

27 

38 

29 

Good 

44 

44 

20 

40 

Excellent 

16 

15 

13 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

20 

18 

20 

14 

Good 

55 

62 

65 

71 

Excellent 

19 

14 

13