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Person standing in a wheat field using a tablet device with agriculture icons imposed

Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 6, 2020

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Extremely hot and dry weather persisted last week, pushing crop maturity and harvest progress, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

In northeastern counties, producers began corn silage harvest and harvest of millet. County reports continued to note failure of non-irrigated crops due to drought. Livestock producers continued to remove stock from native grass and provide supplemental feed. A county report noted producers were utilizing emergency CRP grazing in addition to aggressively culling their herds and weaning calves in response to drought.

East central counties received spotty moisture early last week, but overall conditions remained very dry. Millet harvest advanced quickly and seeding of winter wheat was noted.

Southwestern counties received minimal moisture last week and producers began corn silage harvest. Extreme drought conditions persisted.

In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest, ahead of the average, was virtually complete. Potato harvest also picked up last week. Cooler weather was noted, but pastures and rangeland remained very dry.

In southeastern counties, dry conditions allowed corn silage and alfalfa hay harvest to make good progress. Limited seeding of winter wheat also began.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 29 percent short, 60 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 69 percent average and 31 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 82 percent average and 18 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 

64 

54 

58 

65 

4th cutting harvested 

11 

16 

Barley 

    

Harvested 

95 

84 

90 

86 

Corn 

    

Doughed 

95 

86 

85 

90 

Dented 

62 

39 

38 

55 

Mature 

10 

Harvested for silage 

27 

14 

14 

24 

Dry edible beans 

    

Cut 

16 

21 

Harvested 

-- 

NA 

Onions 

    

Harvested 

15 

28 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

15 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

30 

13 

24 

35 

Proso Millet 

    

Harvested 

32 

17 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Headed 

92 

91 

95 

95 

Turning color 

56 

39 

28 

52 

Mature 

15 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted 

17 

-- 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.9 

6.6 

6.6 

6.6 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

44 

46 

Short 

36 

36 

27 

27 

Adequate 

20 

18 

67 

66 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

41 

43 

Short 

40 

39 

22 

25 

Adequate 

19 

18 

70 

66 

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 

10 

Poor 

10 

12 

Fair 

24 

28 

20 

Good 

51 

43 

77 

59 

Excellent 

10 

11 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

21 

26 

-- 

Poor 

18 

18 

Fair 

25 

25 

18 

22 

Good 

32 

27 

65 

60 

Excellent 

15 

12 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

25 

23 

Fair 

42 

41 

38 

25 

Good 

29 

32 

51 

59 

Excellent 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

Fair 

24 

24 

11 

Good 

62 

62 

92 

72 

Excellent 

10 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

25 

26 

Poor 

32 

31 

12 

Fair 

32 

36 

22 

25 

Good 

11 

64 

49 

Excellent 

-- 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

15 

10 

Fair 

24 

20 

30 

18 

Good 

41 

50 

40 

54 

Excellent 

15 

22 

20 

22 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

20 

20 

18 

Good 

59 

60 

72 

79 

Excellent 

15 

15 

11 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

19 

20 

Poor 

23 

23 

Fair 

43 

40 

23 

23 

Good 

13 

15 

64 

65 

Excellent 

10 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

11 

-- 

Fair 

25 

24 

12 

14 

Good 

55 

48 

75 

68 

Excellent 

13 

16 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

33 

33 

-- 

Fair 

42 

43 

17 

23 

Good 

16 

16 

69 

65 

Excellent 

14 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

30 

32 

11 

Good 

54 

47 

78 

78 

Excellent 

12 

10