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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 25, 2022

© iStock - William_Potter

Cooler temperatures and scattered storms provided some relief across the State last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Portions of the mountains recorded overnight lows that dipped into the teens, while the eastern plains recorded lows in the 40’s last week. 

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for September 20, just under 48 percent of the State was categorized in moderate drought or worse, up from the previous week. Eighteen percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, up one percentage point from last week. The exceptional drought conditions noted across portions of Phillips and Sedgwick Counties accounted for less than one percent of the State, unchanged from last week.

The northeast corner of the State received good moisture last week, with portions of Phillips, Sedgwick and Yuma Counties receiving almost two inches of moisture.

Southwestern counties also received helpful moisture, with the southern portion of La Plata County getting over two inches of rain last week. Reporters in the district noted that corn silage harvest was delayed due to the moisture.

Proso millet harvest continues in the northeastern portion of the state, with 60 percent of the crop harvested, significantly behind the previous year at 86 percent.

Elsewhere, potato harvest in the San Luis Valley was reported to be going well. Reports from the area show third cutting of alfalfa is progressing slowly compared to the rest of the State.

Fourth cutting of alfalfa is progressing well in the northeastern and southwestern portions of the State, tracking with the 5-year average.

Statewide, growers had sown 48 percent of the 2023 winter wheat crop, compared with 56 percent last year and a 5-year average of 53 percent.

Corn for silage harvest continued to progress quickly, with 22 percent of the crop cut during the week. The corn crop matured quickly and corn for grain harvest started last week, behind the previous year of 14 percent and the 5-year average of 8 percent. County reports note that rainstorms delayed harvest activities last week.

Livestock were reported in mostly good condition. Stored feed supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 27 percent short, 62 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 90 percent average and 10 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 84 percent average and 16 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 

86 

80 

86 

86 

4th cutting harvested 

30 

24 

28 

30 

Corn 

    

Dented 

85 

65 

95 

91 

Mature 

40 

20 

51 

42 

Harvested for grain 

-- 

14 

Harvested for silage 

82 

60 

90 

80 

Dry edible beans 

    

Cut 

70 

50 

72 

68 

Harvested 

30 

10 

33 

34 

Onions 

    

Harvested 

69 

50 

80 

69 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Harvested 

31 

20 

36 

39 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

    

Harvested 

70 

55 

74 

63 

Proso millet 

    

Harvested 

60 

40 

86 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Mature 

42 

28 

51 

38 

Harvested 

-- 

10 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

18 

10 

28 

16 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted 

48 

31 

56 

53 

Emerged 

20 

24 

22 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

5.3 

6.5 

6.9 

6.1 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

25 

30 

19 

16 

Short 

42 

42 

46 

36 

Adequate 

32 

26 

35 

45 

Surplus 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

41 

36 

30 

18 

Short 

33 

36 

40 

33 

Adequate 

26 

28 

30 

48 

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 

11 

12 

Fair 

34 

29 

21 

21 

Good 

49 

60 

52 

53 

Excellent 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

22 

20 

14 

Poor 

23 

28 

20 

14 

Fair 

30 

30 

25 

23 

Good 

22 

20 

33 

48 

Excellent 

10 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

10 

10 

10 

NA 

Fair 

19 

18 

39 

NA 

Good 

34 

36 

34 

NA 

Excellent 

31 

33 

17 

NA 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

14 

22 

15 

13 

Poor 

35 

28 

20 

21 

Fair 

25 

13 

22 

25 

Good 

22 

26 

30 

34 

Excellent 

11 

13 

Potatoes inside the San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

10 

10 

20 

Fair 

25 

25 

33 

23 

Good 

45 

45 

31 

48 

Excellent 

15 

15 

10 

18 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

10 

15 

10 

10 

Fair 

36 

36 

19 

27 

Good 

48 

45 

48 

47 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

14 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

55 

50 

25 

23 

Good 

40 

50 

50 

57 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

25 

14 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

15 

-- 

Poor 

10 

15 

Fair 

45 

45 

35 

31 

Good 

34 

25 

49 

51 

Excellent 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

18 

16 

27 

23 

Good 

42 

57 

48 

61 

Excellent 

36 

26 

12