Image
Person standing in a wheat field using a tablet device with agriculture icons imposed

Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending November 10, 2019

© iStock - monkeybusinessimpages

Mostly dry weather last week aided harvest of fall crops, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

In northeastern counties, a reporter noted higher humidity and precipitation delayed fieldwork slightly for producers, but was expected to improve winter wheat emergence in bare areas if temperatures warmed.

East central counties experienced very warm and dry weather last week. Fall harvest continued to progress and neared completion for some crops in the area.

In the San Luis Valley, minimal moisture was received. A reporter noted some fall fieldwork was underway last week.

In southeastern counties, mostly dry weather was observed. A reporter noted some corn for grain was not yet dried down and producers were waiting to harvest. Alfalfa harvest progressed, but there was still some left to bale.

Statewide, livestock producers continued weaning and winter preparation activities. Stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 14 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 87 percent average, and 11 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 88 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 

    

4th cutting harvested 

81 

71 

82 

NA 

Corn 

    

Harvested for grain 

83 

66 

75 

76 

Sorghum 

    

Harvested 

90 

80 

54 

71 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

96 

88 

93 

88 

Sunflowers 

    

Harvested 

84 

78 

54 

73 

Winter wheat 

    

Emerged 

88 

85 

94 

96 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

4.9 

3.7 

5.7 

5.8 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

12 

16 

Short 

30 

31 

16 

28 

Adequate 

58 

52 

76 

62 

Surplus. 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

11 

15 

11 

Short 

28 

32 

26 

30 

Adequate 

60 

52 

63 

58 

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 

28 

Poor 

11 

12 

25 

17 

Fair 

37 

31 

19 

27 

Good 

44 

49 

23 

40 

Excellent 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

21 

23 

31 

34 

Good 

50 

48 

54 

47 

Excellent 

21 

17 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

10 

17 

16 

Good 

73 

74 

66 

71 

Excellent 

14 

12 

10