Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 6, 2019
Warm and windy weather continued last week, allowing fall harvest activities to move forward, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Northeastern county reporters noted more producers began harvesting corn for grain, but high moisture content slowed overall progress and most attempts were limited to non-irrigated acreage. Winter wheat seeding continued, but concerns remained regarding dry conditions and lack of precipitation.
In east central counties, harvest of corn for grain, sorghum, and sunflowers was underway. Dryland corn yields were reportedly favorable thus far. A reporter mentioned some winter wheat may need reseeded due to recent high winds.
In the San Luis Valley, third cutting of alfalfa was virtually complete and fall potato harvest made good gains. The weather was very favorable for harvesting activities last week, but reporters noted soil moisture supplies decreased due to no received moisture.
In southeastern counties, corn was reportedly drying down well, but sorghum for grain still needed more time.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 77 percent average, and 21 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 75 percent average and 25 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 | 95 | 91 | 96 | 95 |
4th cutting harvested | 48 | 42 | 51 | 43 |
Corn | ||||
Dented | 99 | 93 | 97 | 98 |
Mature | 65 | 41 | 71 | 69 |
Harvested for grain | 17 | 12 | 19 | 13 |
Harvested for silage | 91 | 77 | NA | NA |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 74 | 61 | 96 | 88 |
Harvested | 42 | 33 | 86 | 64 |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 75 | 60 | 95 | 81 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 79 | 55 | 75 | 67 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 82 | 67 | 81 | NA |
Proso Millet | ||||
Harvested | 85 | 73 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Turning color | 97 | 94 | 97 | 96 |
Mature | 59 | 39 | 52 | 53 |
Harvested | 17 | 3 | 12 | 10 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested | 31 | 16 | 13 | 22 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Harvested | 8 | 1 | -- | 3 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 79 | 67 | 76 | 79 |
Emerged | 50 | 39 | 54 | 47 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.5 | 6.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 10 | 7 | 12 | 7 |
Short | 36 | 38 | 33 | 30 |
Adequate | 53 | 54 | 54 | 60 |
Surplus | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 8 | 5 | 14 | 10 |
Short | 30 | 26 | 28 | 29 |
Adequate | 60 | 67 | 57 | 60 |
Surplus | 2 | 2 | 1 | 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 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
Poor | 4 | 4 | 16 | 9 |
Fair | 10 | 10 | 29 | 25 |
Good | 76 | 72 | 39 | 51 |
Excellent | 8 | 11 | 7 | 12 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Fair | 22 | 18 | 21 | 24 |
Good | 61 | 66 | 69 | 57 |
Excellent | 11 | 13 | 4 | 13 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Poor | 11 | 5 | NA | NA |
Fair | 42 | 47 | NA | NA |
Good | 46 | 43 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 1 | 5 | NA | NA |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 2 | 31 | 9 |
Poor | 10 | 6 | 31 | 18 |
Fair | 28 | 29 | 19 | 26 |
Good | 51 | 58 | 17 | 39 |
Excellent | 9 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Poor | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
Fair | 26 | 23 | 26 | 31 |
Good | 62 | 61 | 60 | 52 |
Excellent | 9 | 12 | 4 | 6 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 5 | 3 |
Fair | 15 | 11 | 18 | 16 |
Good | 76 | 83 | 53 | 62 |
Excellent | 9 | 6 | 23 | 18 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Poor | -- | -- | 2 | 7 |
Fair | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 |
Good | 66 | 59 | 67 | 55 |
Excellent | 10 | 16 | 4 | 10 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Fair | 8 | 6 | 16 | 16 |
Good | 75 | 78 | 71 | 72 |
Excellent | 15 | 14 | 9 | 11 |
