Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 1, 2019
Hot, windy, and dry weather last week decreased soil moisture supplies but conditions were largely ideal for fieldwork, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
In northeastern counties, limited harvest was underway for a few spring crops including corn silage, onions, and proso millet. A reporter mentioned some producers were waiting to begin corn silage harvest due to slow development earlier in the summer. Rangeland conditions deteriorated in dry areas due to lack of moisture and hot weather. Concerns were also noted for non-irrigated crops that haven’t received consistent moisture recently.
East central county reporters noted limited winter wheat seeding began last week. Moisture received varied widely in the district; some areas received precipitation while others remained very dry.
Western counties also remained hot and dry last week. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, moderate drought conditions spread in southwestern counties.
In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest progressed significantly last week. Minimal moisture was received, and temperatures were hot. A reporter also noted producers started harvesting seed potatoes.
In southeastern counties, a reporter noted areas already short on moisture were suffering from the hot and dry weather. Crops and pasture in areas with sufficient moisture were still in good condition. Limited winter wheat seeding was noted.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 75 percent average and 25 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 64 percent average and 36 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 | 51 | 41 | 64 | 60 |
4th cutting harvested | 10 | 6 | 3 | NA |
Barley | ||||
Harvested | 82 | 45 | 85 | 73 |
Corn | ||||
Doughed | 72 | 56 | 92 | 85 |
Dented | 22 | 10 | 42 | 44 |
Mature | 1 | NA | 2 | 2 |
Harvested for silage | 10 | 8 | 31 | 15 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 1 | -- | 49 | 14 |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 2 | -- | 41 | 21 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 8 | -- | 8 | 4 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 15 | 9 | 32 | 29 |
Proso Millet | ||||
Harvested | 2 | NA | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed | 93 | 89 | 94 | 91 |
Turning color | 19 | 7 | 57 | 44 |
Mature | 1 | -- | -- | 3 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 4 | 5 | 10 | 6 |
Short | 24 | 17 | 29 | 27 |
Adequate | 68 | 74 | 60 | 65 |
Surplus. | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 4 | 2 | 13 | 9 |
Short | 22 | 18 | 22 | 25 |
Adequate | 70 | 77 | 63 | 65 |
Surplus. | 4 | 3 | 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 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
Poor | 5 | 5 | 12 | 8 |
Fair | 7 | 10 | 24 | 23 |
Good | 76 | 60 | 50 | 55 |
Excellent | 9 | 21 | 8 | 12 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor | 8 | 2 | NA | NA |
Poor | 12 | 5 | NA | NA |
Fair | 22 | 23 | NA | NA |
Good | 47 | 50 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 11 | 20 | NA | NA |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Fair | 15 | 14 | 20 | 23 |
Good | 64 | 59 | 66 | 58 |
Excellent | 19 | 25 | 6 | 12 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Poor | 5 | 3 | 24 | 7 |
Fair | 19 | 29 | 25 | 28 |
Good | 63 | 58 | 38 | 55 |
Excellent | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 6 | 2 |
Poor | -- | -- | 7 | 5 |
Fair | 1 | 4 | 11 | 14 |
Good | 98 | 95 | 71 | 66 |
Excellent | 1 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 3 | 2 | 22 | 7 |
Poor | 5 | 4 | 26 | 16 |
Fair | 18 | 20 | 20 | 24 |
Good | 66 | 64 | 30 | 45 |
Excellent | 8 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Fair | 30 | 30 | 11 | 16 |
Good | 47 | 47 | 60 | 56 |
Excellent | 20 | 20 | 24 | 21 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Fair | 16 | 17 | 13 | 10 |
Good | 69 | 67 | 61 | 77 |
Excellent | 13 | 14 | 21 | 12 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
Fair | 14 | 24 | 26 | 30 |
Good | 69 | 59 | 62 | 56 |
Excellent | 13 | 13 | 2 | 4 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Fair | 10 | 11 | 25 | 14 |
Good | 82 | 82 | 50 | 64 |
Excellent | 7 | 6 | 21 | 18 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 1 | -- | 1 | 6 |
Fair | 11 | 20 | 27 | 26 |
Good | 76 | 66 | 67 | 60 |
Excellent | 12 | 14 | 4 | 7 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Fair | 6 | 5 | 15 | 14 |
Good | 82 | 78 | 75 | 75 |
Excellent | 10 | 14 | 7 | 10 |
