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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending November 28, 2021

© iStock - William_Potter

Note: This report concludes the weekly crop progress report for 2021. Next year’s Colorado weekly report will begin in March 2022. 

Monthly reports will be released for December on January 3, 2022; for January on January 24, 2022; and for February on February 22, 2022.

Extremely dry weather and warmer than normal temperatures continued to deplete soil moisture supplies, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, 100 percent of the state is experiencing abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions.

Sunflower harvest was virtually complete by week’s end. Most of the state received little moisture and snow was limited to higher elevations.

County reports noted spotty winter wheat stands remained a concern and portions are not expected to emerge without more moisture.

Pasture and range conditions moving forward were a primary concern for livestock producers. County reports noted dusty conditions continued to adversely affect livestock health.

Snowpack in the state was also below average for this time of year.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 25 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

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

Cattle death loss was 57 percent average and 43 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Sunflowers 

    

Harvested 

97 

94 

100 

96 

Winter wheat 

    

Emerged 

94 

92 

95 

97 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

7.0 

6.6 

5.7 

NA 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

50 

35 

42 

NA 

Short 

34 

44 

41 

NA 

Adequate 

16 

21 

17 

NA 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

51 

39 

36 

NA 

Short 

22 

35 

46 

NA 

Adequate 

27 

26 

18 

NA 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

-- 

NA 

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 

22 

25 

29 

NA 

Poor 

18 

19 

42 

NA 

Fair 

25 

18 

23 

NA 

Good 

28 

26 

NA 

Excellent 

12 

-- 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

10 

17 

NA 

Poor 

23 

22 

21 

NA 

Fair 

29 

30 

42 

NA 

Good 

35 

33 

20 

NA 

Excellent 

-- 

NA 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

Fair 

26 

23 

31 

NA 

Good 

43 

50 

53 

NA 

Excellent 

18 

18 

NA