Person standing in a wheat field using a tablet device with agriculture icons imposed

Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 4, 2020

Dry conditions across the state last week allowed corn for grain harvest to progress quickly, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Virtually no precipitation was received last week.

In northeastern counties, corn silage harvest neared completion and producers continued to seed winter wheat. Sugarbeet harvest slowed due to warm temperatures, but remained ahead of average.

In east central counties, harvest of corn, sorghum, and millet progressed rapidly. Livestock producers continued to provide supplemental feed due to drought. A county report noted fields normally cut for grass hay were too short and dry to make hay this year.

In southwestern counties, dry bean harvest advanced quickly last week. Fourth cutting of alfalfa continued. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, exceptional (D4) drought conditions were introduced in west central counties.

In the San Luis Valley, third cutting of alfalfa neared completion and potato harvest continued to proceed ahead of average.

In southeastern counties, harvest also made good progress last week. Conditions remained very dry.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 74 percent average and 26 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 92 percent average and 8 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	97	85	94	94
4th cutting harvested	46	28	46	43
Corn
Mature	69	55	58	63
Harvested for grain	30	13	16	12
Harvested for silage	98	85	87	NA
Dry edible beans
Cut	79	59	70	83
Harvested	36	13	39	58
Onions
Harvested	70	60	71	81
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley
Harvested	84	59	72	65
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley
Harvested	85	69	78	NA
Proso Millet
Harvested	77	69	82	NA
Sorghum
Turning color	95	92	96	96
Mature	56	53	53	49
Harvested	18	16	13	9
Sugarbeets
Harvested	43	35	27	19
Winter wheat
Planted	86	66	76	73
Emerged	35	19	47	42
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION
	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
Days suitable for fieldwork	7.0	7.0	6.5	5.9
Topsoil moisture	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Very short	40	33	10	8
Short	45	44	36	31
Adequate	15	22	53	59
Surplus.	--	1	1	2
Subsoil moisture
Very short	38	33	8	8
Short	48	46	30	29
Adequate	14	21	60	62
Surplus.	--	--	2	1
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Alfalfa hay
Very poor	6	7	2	3
Poor	17	17	4	8
Fair	22	22	10	21
Good	50	50	76	58
Excellent	5	4	8	10
Corn
Very poor	10	10	--	1
Poor	28	25	6	5
Fair	35	29	22	23
Good	23	32	61	59
Excellent	4	4	11	12
Dry edible beans
Very poor	2	4	--	NA
Poor	28	18	11	NA
Fair	38	38	42	NA
Good	31	38	46	NA
Excellent	1	2	1	NA
Pasture and range
Very poor	19	19	2	8
Poor	39	38	10	16
Fair	32	30	28	26
Good	10	13	51	42
Excellent	--	--	9	8
Sorghum
Very poor	8	16	1	2
Poor	20	22	2	6
Fair	54	45	26	26
Good	16	14	62	59
Excellent	2	3	9	7
Sugarbeets
Very poor	3	5	--	1
Poor	9	10	--	2
Fair	37	33	15	15
Good	43	44	76	66
Excellent	8	8	9	16
Sunflowers
Very poor	3	8	--	--
Poor	15	24	--	4
Fair	72	48	24	26
Good	10	19	66	59
Excellent	--	1	10	11
Livestock
Very poor	1	2	--	--
Poor	4	8	2	1
Fair	35	34	8	14
Good	54	49	75	74
Excellent	6	7	15	11