Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending November 4, 2018
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 ......................................................... | 8 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
Short ................................................................. | 20 | 23 | 15 | 29 |
Adequate ........................................................... | 67 | 66 | 83 | 62 |
Surplus .............................................................. | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 12 | 11 | 3 | 13 |
Short ................................................................. | 31 | 31 | 16 | 31 |
Adequate ........................................................... | 54 | 55 | 80 | 55 |
Surplus .............................................................. | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
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 | 2 | 7 |
Poor ................................................................... | 30 | 28 | 17 | 17 |
Fair .................................................................... | 15 | 16 | 23 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 20 | 23 | 44 | 40 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 3 | 3 | 14 | 7 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 15 | 9 | 3 | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 15 | 8 | 4 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 24 | 27 | 10 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 31 | 48 | 61 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 15 | 8 | 22 | NA |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 3 | 2 | 1 | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 7 | 6 | 2 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 26 | 19 | 12 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 59 | 65 | 60 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 5 | 8 | 25 | NA |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 7 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
Fair .................................................................... | 32 | 31 | 29 | 36 |
Good ................................................................. | 49 | 54 | 48 | 46 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 11 | 10 | 17 | 10 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 2 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 16 | 11 | 17 |
Good ................................................................. | 69 | 71 | 80 | 71 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
