Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 8, 2019
Record-high heat and dry conditions last week gave way to scattered moisture by week’s end, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Northeastern county reporters noted harvest of some spring crops continued, but many producers were waiting for crops to reach maturity. A reporter mentioned corn maturity was behind average. Weekend rain in the district provided needed moisture for rangeland and dryland acreage. Reporters noted limited seeding of winter wheat began. Livestock producers also began pre-weaning activities in preparation for weaning calves in the fall.
In east central counties, last week was hot and dry and many producers were waiting for moisture to begin seeding winter wheat in earnest. Some localities received moisture on Sunday evening.
Western counties received isolated precipitation last week. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, abnormally dry conditions expanded in western counties and monsoonal moisture continued to disappoint.
In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest was nearing completion and potato harvest moved forward as conditions allowed around weekend precipitation.
Southeastern counties remained hot and dry last week although some localities received moisture on Sunday. Crops were in need of additional moisture and a reporter mentioned irrigation water in canals had slowed.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 12 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 70 percent average, and 29 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 65 percent average and 35 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 | 61 | 51 | 73 | 68 |
4th cutting harvested | 18 | 10 | 12 | 8 |
Barley | ||||
Harvested | 93 | 82 | 91 | 86 |
Corn | ||||
Doughed | 90 | 72 | 95 | 93 |
Dented | 44 | 22 | 68 | 63 |
Mature | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
Harvested for silage | 15 | 10 | 52 | 31 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 7 | 1 | 67 | 28 |
Harvested | 3 | -- | 33 | NA |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 6 | 2 | 63 | 33 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 18 | 8 | 12 | 9 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 28 | 15 | 43 | 44 |
Proso Millet | ||||
Harvested | 23 | 2 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed | 96 | 93 | 97 | 95 |
Turning color | 31 | 19 | 73 | 58 |
Mature | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.0 | 6.3 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 5 | 4 | 10 | 7 |
Short | 27 | 24 | 29 | 29 |
Adequate | 67 | 68 | 59 | 61 |
Surplus. | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 5 | 4 | 14 | 10 |
Short | 22 | 22 | 24 | 27 |
Adequate | 70 | 70 | 60 | 62 |
Surplus. | 3 | 4 | 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 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
Poor | 3 | 5 | 14 | 8 |
Fair | 8 | 7 | 25 | 23 |
Good | 77 | 76 | 44 | 54 |
Excellent | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
Fair | 18 | 15 | 21 | 24 |
Good | 65 | 64 | 63 | 57 |
Excellent | 15 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | 1 | 8 | 2 |
Poor | 6 | 5 | 22 | 6 |
Fair | 38 | 19 | 18 | 26 |
Good | 51 | 63 | 48 | 57 |
Excellent | 5 | 12 | 4 | 9 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 6 | 2 |
Poor | -- | -- | 8 | 5 |
Fair | 6 | 1 | 9 | 13 |
Good | 92 | 98 | 72 | 67 |
Excellent | 2 | 1 | 5 | 13 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 3 | 22 | 7 |
Poor | 4 | 5 | 23 | 15 |
Fair | 22 | 18 | 22 | 25 |
Good | 64 | 66 | 31 | 45 |
Excellent | 8 | 8 | 2 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | 10 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Fair | 30 | 30 | 15 | 17 |
Good | 40 | 47 | 53 | 55 |
Excellent | 20 | 20 | 28 | 21 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Poor | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Fair | 18 | 16 | 6 | 9 |
Good | 72 | 69 | 69 | 79 |
Excellent | 9 | 13 | 20 | 11 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Poor | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
Fair | 23 | 14 | 26 | 29 |
Good | 64 | 69 | 60 | 57 |
Excellent | 10 | 13 | 3 | 5 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Poor | -- | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Fair | 12 | 10 | 31 | 16 |
Good | 75 | 82 | 48 | 64 |
Excellent | 13 | 7 | 19 | 18 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | -- | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Fair | 17 | 11 | 28 | 26 |
Good | 69 | 76 | 67 | 59 |
Excellent | 14 | 12 | 4 | 8 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Fair | 8 | 6 | 13 | 14 |
Good | 78 | 82 | 77 | 75 |
Excellent | 12 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
