Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 14, 2018
Rain and snowfall in several areas of the state delayed fieldwork and harvest activities last week. Soil moisture supplies improved from received moisture.
In northeastern and east central counties, reporters mentioned snow and rain delayed fieldwork but harvest of several crops continued as conditions allowed. Crops still to be harvested will dry down fast after the freezing temperatures last week, a reporter noted. Received moisture improved conditions for seeding winter wheat, as well as helping pasture conditions going forward.
In southwestern counties, significant moisture was received that helped boost soil moisture supplies. A reporter noted the moisture was enough to help perennial grasses green up after drought-induced dormancy, but a lot more moisture is needed for further recovery. Winter wheat planting was delayed due to wet field conditions.
In the San Luis Valley, little moisture was received last week and potato harvest continued to make progress. A reporter noted pasture grass was still short and producers were investigating ways to stretch their fall and winter hay supplies.
In southeastern counties, a reporter noted up to 3 inches of moisture were received in areas, improving the outlook for pasture grass and fall seeded crops. Fieldwork stopped due to adverse conditions.
Statewide, corn was rated 68 percent good to excellent, compared with 84 percent rated good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 9 percent very short, 17 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 70 percent average and 30 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 78 percent average, and 20 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 .......................................... | 59 | 52 | 44 | 56 |
Corn | ||||
Mature ............................................................... | 85 | 73 | 71 | 83 |
Harvested for grain ........................................... | 29 | 20 | 11 | 22 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 92 | 88 | 82 | 75 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 83 | 78 | 87 | 83 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 94 | 82 | 77 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Mature ............................................................... | 70 | 53 | 61 | 70 |
Harvested .......................................................... | 19 | 13 | 4 | 16 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 26 | 14 | 20 | 34 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 8 | -- | 2 | 16 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 86 | 78 | 82 | 89 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 66 | 56 | 51 | 61 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 3.8 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 6.3 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 6 | 12 | -- | 6 |
Short ................................................................. | 23 | 33 | 9 | 27 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 70 | 54 | 87 | 64 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 11 | 14 | 1 | 11 |
Short ................................................................. | 28 | 28 | 13 | 29 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 60 | 57 | 83 | 59 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | 3 |
Poor ................................................................... | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
Fair .................................................................... | 24 | 21 | 13 | 23 |
Good ................................................................. | 62 | 69 | 60 | 54 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 6 | 4 | 24 | 15 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 29 | 31 | -- | 5 |
Poor ................................................................... | 25 | 31 | 5 | 14 |
Fair .................................................................... | 20 | 19 | 23 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 24 | 17 | 58 | 43 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 2 | 2 | 14 | 9 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Poor ................................................................... | 6 | 6 | 4 | 13 |
Fair .................................................................... | 25 | 26 | 11 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 61 | 60 | 60 | 44 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 4 | 4 | 22 | 7 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 24 | 18 | 12 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 51 | 53 | 62 | 65 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 16 | 23 | 22 | 16 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | -- | 1 | 6 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
Fair .................................................................... | 26 | 27 | 12 | 27 |
Good ................................................................. | 66 | 67 | 62 | 48 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 5 | 4 | 24 | 11 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | NA | NA | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 8 | NA | NA | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 32 | NA | NA | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 51 | NA | NA | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | NA | NA | NA |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | 2 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 16 | 11 | 15 |
Good ................................................................. | 69 | 71 | 80 | 74 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
