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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending June 12, 2022

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Alfalfa hay harvest, crop emergence, and planting of late spring crops made quick gains last week amidst hot and dry weather, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 84 percent of the State is under drought conditions, down 4 percentage points from last week. Forty-three percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, down 14 percentage points from last week, a significant improvement. Extreme drought conditions are affecting 12 percent of the State, down 3 percentage points from last week, and 1 percent of the State is facing exceptional drought conditions.

Northeastern and east central counties received minimal moisture last week. Warmer than average temperatures were recognized, and windy conditions persisted across much of the area.

In Southwestern counties, dry conditions continued as no measurable moisture was received. A reporter noted that crops are progressing despite unfavorable conditions and first cutting of alfalfa is almost complete.

In the San Luis Valley, warm temperatures improved plant growth, but soil moisture remains low. Potato emergence made significant progress last week with warm, dry weather and overall, the crop is developing well. County reports noted livestock are in good condition and rangeland conditions improved slightly from recent rain but will dry out quickly without more moisture.

The southeastern counties received some notable moisture last week, improving drought conditions in the region. Exceptional drought conditions continued to lessen in Baca County, while Bent and Prowers County saw noteworthy improvement from a few inches of recent rain last week.

As of June 12, 2022, snowpack in Colorado was 58 percent measured as percent of median snowfall, down 29 percentage points from the previous week. The Southwest and San Luis Valley measured at 17 percent and 16 percent of median snowfall, respectively.

Stored feed supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 22 percent short, and 72 percent adequate.

Sheep death loss was 75 percent average and 25 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 87 percent average, and 12 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 

32 

15 

48 

48 

Barley 

    

Headed 

-- 

Corn 

    

Emerged 

84 

70 

84 

88 

Dry edible beans 

    

Planted 

40 

20 

69 

54 

Emerged 

10 

-- 

27 

23 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Emerged 

64 

26 

59 

66 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

    

Emerged 

85 

60 

85 

90 

Proso millet 

    

Planted 

43 

24 

46 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Planted 

53 

31 

65 

63 

Emerged 

12 

25 

31 

Sugarbeets 

    

Emerged 

98 

85 

NA 

NA 

Sunflowers 

    

Planted 

47 

25 

61 

51 

Winter wheat 

    

Headed 

90 

78 

89 

91 

Turning color 

18 

14 

22 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

5.9 

5.7 

6.8 

6.5 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

21 

32 

11 

Short 

34 

25 

18 

27 

Adequate 

45 

43 

74 

61 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

37 

48 

Short 

39 

31 

27 

25 

Adequate 

24 

21 

65 

65 

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 

10 

Fair 

36 

42 

24 

23 

Good 

48 

41 

49 

50 

Excellent 

18 

12 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

11 

Fair 

31 

30 

41 

26 

Good 

41 

43 

32 

46 

Excellent 

18 

18 

16 

23 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

40 

46 

17 

26 

Good 

40 

36 

61 

59 

Excellent 

20 

11 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

Fair 

30 

25 

42 

23 

Good 

60 

65 

53 

70 

Excellent 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

23 

25 

10 

Poor 

24 

25 

18 

13 

Fair 

21 

24 

34 

24 

Good 

30 

25 

31 

44 

Excellent 

16 

Potatoes inside the San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

NA 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

NA 

Fair 

21 

NA 

11 

NA 

Good 

53 

NA 

66 

NA 

Excellent 

18 

NA 

20 

NA 

Potatoes inside the San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

NA 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

NA 

Fair 

15 

NA 

31 

20 

Good 

70 

NA 

59 

66 

Excellent 

13 

NA 

13 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

-- 

NA 

Fair 

40 

19 

32 

NA 

Good 

59 

62 

57 

NA 

Excellent 

-- 

11 

NA 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

36 

36 

28 

26 

Good 

43 

43 

64 

58 

Excellent 

21 

21 

12 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

28 

31 

Poor 

22 

24 

11 

13 

Fair 

29 

26 

26 

27 

Good 

20 

19 

44 

41 

Excellent 

-- 

11 

11 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

24 

25 

12 

16 

Good 

59 

51 

64 

66 

Excellent 

13 

18 

14