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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 3, 2021

© iStock - William_Potter

Precipitation was mostly confined to western counties last week as fieldwork and harvest continued, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, moderate and severe drought expanded in eastern districts over the prior week.

In northwestern counties, soil moisture supplies remained very short to short according to county reports. Light moisture was received in areas. Pasture and rangeland were rated mostly poor to fair in the district. Harvest and fieldwork continued in northeastern and east central counties last week. Overnight lows were colder with some temperatures reported below freezing. Minimal precipitation was received. Grain corn harvest remained limited to non-irrigated corn while producers waited for irrigated acreage to dry down. Sugarbeet harvest picked up where conditions allowed last week. County reports noted sorghum maturity was spotty with some not expected to mature in time. Sorghum harvest was slow in areas. Dry conditions remained a primary concern as areas continued to see no precipitation. Winter wheat seeding continued, but emergence was delayed and inconsistent because of poor topsoil moisture. Livestock producers continued weaning activities and were providing supplemental feed in areas.

In southwestern counties, isolated moisture was received and the third cutting of alfalfa was nearly complete. Dry bean harvest continued.

In the San Luis Valley, late-week rain delayed fall potato harvest. Prior to the wet weather producers made good progress.

Southeastern counties remained mostly dry with some moisture received in the northern and western parts of the district. Winter wheat seeding continued and sorghum harvest made good progress in areas.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 83 percent average and 17 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 60 percent average and 40 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

3rd cutting harvested 

92 

87 

95 

94 

4th cutting harvested 

40 

29 

43 

44 

Corn 

    

Mature 

67 

53 

67 

59 

Harvested for grain 

22 

16 

28 

15 

Harvested for silage 

99 

93 

96 

NA 

Dry edible beans 

    

Cut 

86 

74 

76 

80 

Harvested 

42 

34 

33 

54 

Onions 

    

Harvested 

93 

81 

69 

78 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Harvested 

59 

39 

80 

68 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

    

Harvested 

88 

75 

83 

NA 

Proso millet 

    

Harvested 

88 

87 

76 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Mature 

73 

53 

56 

47 

Harvested for grain 

14 

10 

18 

10 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

40 

29 

42 

19 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted 

77 

57 

83 

73 

Emerged 

37 

25 

33 

40 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.7 

6.9 

7.0 

6.1 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

29 

19 

40 

14 

Short 

41 

46 

45 

32 

Adequate 

30 

35 

15 

52 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

33 

30 

38 

14 

Short 

35 

40 

48 

31 

Adequate 

32 

30 

14 

54 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

10 

11 

17 

10 

Fair 

24 

21 

22 

21 

Good 

54 

52 

50 

56 

Excellent 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

13 

14 

10 

Poor 

17 

20 

28 

10 

Fair 

20 

25 

35 

25 

Good 

42 

33 

23 

52 

Excellent 

10 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

10 

10 

28 

NA 

Fair 

40 

39 

38 

NA 

Good 

33 

34 

31 

NA 

Excellent 

17 

17 

NA 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

15 

15 

19 

11 

Poor 

23 

20 

39 

20 

Fair 

26 

22 

32 

28 

Good 

24 

30 

10 

35 

Excellent 

12 

13 

-- 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

NA 

NA 

Poor 

16 

20 

NA 

NA 

Fair 

28 

33 

NA 

NA 

Good 

37 

31 

NA 

NA 

Excellent 

15 

10 

NA 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

11 

10 

20 

Fair 

19 

19 

54 

31 

Good 

47 

48 

16 

50 

Excellent 

15 

14 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

25 

25 

37 

21 

Good 

50 

50 

43 

60 

Excellent 

25 

25 

14 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

15 

Fair 

33 

35 

72 

34 

Good 

50 

49 

10 

52 

Excellent 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

24 

27 

35 

19 

Good 

53 

48 

54 

68 

Excellent 

13 

12 

10