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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending November 4, 2018

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Fall harvest and fieldwork made gains over the previous week where conditions allowed, but received moisture continued to hamper progress in areas.

Some western counties received significant snowfall at week’s end. In northeastern counties, corn harvest was in full swing, but moisture content was still high for many producers. Calves continued to be weaned but livestock producers were waiting to move cows off grass until corn stalks were available. In east central counties, welcome moisture was received, but wet conditions continued to delay harvest of sorghum, sunflowers, and corn last week.

In the San Luis Valley, fall fieldwork continued and a reporter noted rain and snow improved soil moisture supplies. Hay supplies were still noted to be very short and some producers were bringing in hay from outside the area.

In southeastern counties, more rain delayed grain and hay harvest last week, according to a county reporter. Field conditions were noted as very wet. Harvested corn quality was noted as varying between very poor in some areas to better in others.

Statewide, pasture and range condition was rated 23 percent good to excellent, compared with 58 percent rated good to excellent last year.

Stored feed supplies were rated 15 percent very short, 25 percent short, 56 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 67 percent average and 33 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 4 percent heavy, 74 percent average, and 22 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 .......................................... 

77 

70 

76 

90 

Corn 

    

Harvested for grain ........................................... 

65 

50 

47 

66 

Sorghum 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

48 

35 

57 

62 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

84 

68 

77 

78 

Sunflowers 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

44 

31 

63 

67 

Winter wheat 

    

Emerged ............................................................ 

91 

85 

88 

94 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 
 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... 

5.8 

5.4 

6.3 

6.2 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short ......................................................... 

Short ................................................................. 

20 

23 

15 

29 

Adequate ........................................................... 

67 

66 

83 

62 

Surplus .............................................................. 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short ......................................................... 

12 

11 

13 

Short ................................................................. 

31 

31 

16 

31 

Adequate ........................................................... 

54 

55 

80 

55 

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 .......................................................... 

32 

30 

Poor ................................................................... 

30 

28 

17 

17 

Fair .................................................................... 

15 

16 

23 

29 

Good ................................................................. 

20 

23 

44 

40 

Excellent ........................................................... 

14 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

15 

NA 

Poor ................................................................... 

15 

NA 

Fair .................................................................... 

24 

27 

10 

NA 

Good ................................................................. 

31 

48 

61 

NA 

Excellent ........................................................... 

15 

22 

NA 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

NA 

Poor ................................................................... 

NA 

Fair .................................................................... 

26 

19 

12 

NA 

Good ................................................................. 

59 

65 

60 

NA 

Excellent ........................................................... 

25 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

32 

31 

29 

36 

Good ................................................................. 

49 

54 

48 

46 

Excellent ........................................................... 

11 

10 

17 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

18 

16 

11 

17 

Good ................................................................. 

69 

71 

80 

71 

Excellent ...........................................................