Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 27, 2020
Overall, conditions were once again warm and dry in the state during the past week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Minor amounts of precipitation were received in some areas, but on average, there were seven days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending September 27, 2020.
In northeastern counties, corn silage harvest continued at a rapid pace. Sugarbeet harvest made a significant increase while proso millet and sorghum harvest showed little increase from last week. Farmers actively planted wheat but remained concerned over the dry conditions. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued with the worsening of range conditions.
Harvest continued in east central counties, although fewer acres were being harvested because of the drought. Ranchers faced the dilemma of poor winter forage as dry conditions continued. There was no improvement in drought conditions in the southwestern portion of the state.
In the San Luis Valley, alfalfa harvest continued while the potato harvest progressed ahead of the average with the cooperative weather.
Corn harvest began in southeastern counties as corn was drying down quickly with the above average temperatures and wind.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 36 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 74 percent average and 26 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 89 percent average and 11 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 | 85 | 76 | 88 | 89 |
4th cutting harvested | 28 | 22 | 39 | 35 |
Corn | ||||
Dented | 97 | 93 | 88 | 93 |
Mature | 55 | 42 | 36 | 46 |
Harvested for grain | 13 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
Harvested for silage | 85 | 68 | 69 | 80 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 59 | 56 | 56 | 69 |
Harvested | 13 | 12 | 29 | 41 |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 60 | 53 | 55 | 69 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 59 | 30 | 50 | 41 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 69 | 67 | 64 | 69 |
Proso Millet | ||||
Harvested | 69 | 66 | 68 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Turning color | 92 | 87 | 92 | 93 |
Mature | 53 | 47 | 36 | 36 |
Harvested | 16 | 15 | 2 | 3 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested | 35 | 21 | 13 | 11 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 66 | 45 | 60 | 57 |
Emerged | 19 | 13 | 33 | 27 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 33 | 25 | 7 | 9 |
Short | 44 | 43 | 38 | 33 |
Adequate | 22 | 31 | 54 | 55 |
Surplus. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 33 | 32 | 5 | 8 |
Short | 46 | 43 | 26 | 29 |
Adequate | 21 | 25 | 67 | 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 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
Poor | 17 | 17 | 4 | 8 |
Fair | 22 | 22 | 10 | 22 |
Good | 50 | 49 | 72 | 56 |
Excellent | 4 | 5 | 11 | 11 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | 10 | 16 | -- | 1 |
Poor | 25 | 19 | 3 | 6 |
Fair | 29 | 26 | 18 | 21 |
Good | 32 | 34 | 66 | 59 |
Excellent | 4 | 5 | 13 | 13 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | 4 | 1 | -- | NA |
Poor | 18 | 27 | 5 | NA |
Fair | 38 | 36 | 47 | NA |
Good | 38 | 35 | 43 | NA |
Excellent | 2 | 1 | 5 | NA |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 19 | 21 | 2 | 7 |
Poor | 38 | 30 | 6 | 14 |
Fair | 30 | 32 | 29 | 26 |
Good | 13 | 17 | 58 | 45 |
Excellent | -- | -- | 5 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | 4 | 3 | -- | -- |
Poor | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Fair | 20 | 18 | 33 | 19 |
Good | 51 | 53 | 43 | 55 |
Excellent | 18 | 19 | 18 | 21 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 16 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
Poor | 22 | 21 | 3 | 7 |
Fair | 45 | 48 | 23 | 25 |
Good | 14 | 17 | 61 | 59 |
Excellent | 3 | 3 | 12 | 7 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | 5 | 3 | -- | -- |
Poor | 10 | 8 | -- | 3 |
Fair | 33 | 27 | 11 | 16 |
Good | 44 | 53 | 83 | 67 |
Excellent | 8 | 9 | 6 | 14 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | 8 | 11 | -- | -- |
Poor | 24 | 25 | -- | 4 |
Fair | 48 | 39 | 25 | 25 |
Good | 19 | 23 | 59 | 61 |
Excellent | 1 | 2 | 16 | 10 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 2 | -- | -- |
Poor | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Fair | 34 | 32 | 6 | 15 |
Good | 49 | 50 | 78 | 73 |
Excellent | 7 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
