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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 26, 2021

© iStock - William_Potter

Conditions were once again ideal for fieldwork and harvest activities last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

In northwestern counties, the fourth cutting of alfalfa moved ahead.

In the northeast, dry conditions remained, and cooler temperatures brought some relief. Corn silage harvest was wrapping up. Corn was drying down and some non-irrigated corn was being harvested. Topsoil conditions were dry. Winter wheat was planted, and some fields were irrigated to assist emergence of fall plantings. Sugar beet harvest picked up speed and the weaning of calves continued.

The hot temperatures broke in southwestern counties, but areas remained dry as corn silage harvest continued. In the San Luis Valley, the potato harvest moved forward. The third cutting of alfalfa was ending and a limited number of barley acres remained to be harvested. Range and pastures remained dry, but livestock were in good condition.

Southeastern counties remained dry allowing ideal conditions for harvests in progress.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 22 percent short, 55 percent adequate, and 15 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 80 percent average and 20 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 

87 

81 

84 

88 

4th cutting harvested 

29 

25 

27 

33 

Corn 

    

Dented 

96 

91 

96 

92 

Mature 

53 

36 

53 

42 

Harvested for grain 

16 

12 

Harvested for silage 

93 

69 

83 

80 

Dry edible beans 

    

Cut 

74 

63 

59 

66 

Harvested 

34 

25 

13 

35 

Onions 

    

Harvested 

81 

76 

59 

68 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Harvested 

39 

19 

55 

42 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

75 

68 

69 

67 

Proso millet 

    

Harvested 

87 

82 

69 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Turning color 

98 

96 

91 

92 

Mature 

53 

39 

52 

36 

Harvested for grain 

10 

16 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

29 

24 

33 

12 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted 

57 

48 

63 

55 

Emerged 

25 

15 

18 

23 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.9 

6.5 

7.0 

6.1 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

19 

19 

33 

14 

Short 

46 

40 

44 

34 

Adequate 

35 

41 

22 

49 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

30 

28 

33 

13 

Short 

40 

37 

46 

32 

Adequate 

30 

35 

21 

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 

11 

10 

17 

10 

Fair 

21 

22 

22 

21 

Good 

52 

51 

50 

56 

Excellent 

10 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

14 

10 

10 

Poor 

20 

18 

25 

10 

Fair 

25 

28 

29 

22 

Good 

33 

36 

32 

53 

Excellent 

12 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

10 

13 

18 

NA 

Fair 

39 

36 

38 

NA 

Good 

34 

35 

38 

NA 

Excellent 

17 

16 

NA 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

15 

12 

19 

11 

Poor 

20 

21 

38 

18 

Fair 

22 

31 

30 

29 

Good 

30 

27 

13 

39 

Excellent 

13 

-- 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

20 

20 

Fair 

33 

32 

20 

20 

Good 

31 

37 

51 

54 

Excellent 

10 

18 

20 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

16 

Poor 

10 

22 

Fair 

19 

24 

45 

29 

Good 

48 

56 

14 

50 

Excellent 

14 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

10 

Fair 

25 

25 

33 

21 

Good 

50 

50 

44 

61 

Excellent 

25 

25 

12 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

10 

24 

Fair 

35 

31 

48 

29 

Good 

49 

54 

19 

54 

Excellent 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

27 

24 

34 

19 

Good 

48 

56 

49 

68 

Excellent 

12 

11