Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 29, 2019
Hot and dry weather continued last week, allowing producers plenty of days in the field for planting and harvesting activities, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Corn for grain harvest picked up as limited harvest began in more counties.
Northeastern county reporters noted winter wheat seeding was slightly delayed in areas due to high winds, but continued despite dry conditions.
East central counties remained dry with no moisture received last week. Winter wheat seeding progressed quickly where conditions allowed.
In southwestern counties, reporters noted adverse drought conditions worsened and no measurable precipitation was received last week. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions expanded in several western and southern counties.
San Luis Valley reporters noted alfalfa harvest progressed quickly and producers worked to cut their hay prior to damage from nighttime frost. Potato harvest progressed well, and quality was noted as good.
In southeastern counties, minimal moisture was received last week. Crops were drying down well and harvest of both sorghum for forage and silage progressed.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent short, 87 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 86 percent average, and 12 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 76 percent average and 24 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 | 91 | 82 | 93 | 91 |
4th cutting harvested | 42 | 30 | 43 | 35 |
Corn | ||||
Dented | 93 | 77 | 95 | 96 |
Mature | 41 | 23 | 56 | 51 |
Harvested for grain | 12 | 4 | 10 | 7 |
Harvested for silage | 77 | 50 | 95 | 86 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 61 | 45 | 91 | 76 |
Harvested | 33 | 18 | 70 | 48 |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 60 | 42 | 93 | 72 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 55 | 36 | 50 | 45 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 67 | 58 | 71 | 77 |
Proso Millet | ||||
Harvested | 73 | 56 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Turning color | 94 | 87 | 96 | 93 |
Mature | 39 | 29 | 41 | 40 |
Harvested | 3 | -- | 8 | 5 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested | 16 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Harvested | 1 | NA | -- | 2 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 67 | 43 | 64 | 64 |
Emerged | 39 | 18 | 36 | 31 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 5.6 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 7 | 6 | 18 | 9 |
Short | 38 | 30 | 41 | 32 |
Adequate | 54 | 63 | 41 | 56 |
Surplus. | 1 | 1 | -- | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 5 | 4 | 19 | 11 |
Short | 26 | 30 | 33 | 30 |
Adequate | 67 | 64 | 47 | 58 |
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 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3 |
Poor | 4 | 5 | 19 | 9 |
Fair | 10 | 9 | 30 | 25 |
Good | 72 | 71 | 33 | 51 |
Excellent | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | 3 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
Fair | 18 | 19 | 19 | 23 |
Good | 66 | 65 | 59 | 55 |
Excellent | 13 | 13 | 9 | 14 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | 1 | NA | NA |
Poor | 5 | 7 | NA | NA |
Fair | 47 | 32 | NA | NA |
Good | 43 | 50 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 5 | 10 | NA | NA |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Poor | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Fair | 7 | 8 | NA | NA |
Good | 90 | 89 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 3 | 3 | NA | NA |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 4 | 28 | 8 |
Poor | 6 | 7 | 29 | 17 |
Fair | 29 | 25 | 17 | 25 |
Good | 58 | 57 | 23 | 41 |
Excellent | 5 | 7 | 3 | 9 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | 6 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Fair | 33 | 33 | 15 | 18 |
Good | 43 | 44 | 56 | 56 |
Excellent | 18 | 20 | 25 | 19 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Poor | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
Fair | 23 | 25 | 26 | 31 |
Good | 61 | 62 | 55 | 52 |
Excellent | 12 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | -- | 1 | 9 | 4 |
Fair | 11 | 12 | 34 | 18 |
Good | 83 | 75 | 45 | 60 |
Excellent | 6 | 12 | 11 | 17 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 4 | 6 |
Fair | 25 | 22 | 29 | 28 |
Good | 59 | 67 | 62 | 56 |
Excellent | 16 | 11 | 4 | 9 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Fair | 6 | 7 | 25 | 18 |
Good | 78 | 77 | 62 | 71 |
Excellent | 14 | 13 | 7 | 10 |
