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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition summary – week ending March 22, 2020

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A spring snowstorm brought needed moisture to areas of the state last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

In northeastern and east central counties, received moisture benefitted rangeland conditions and winter wheat. Reports noted calving and lambing was adversely affected by storm conditions.

In the San Luis Valley, minimal moisture was received and conditions remained dry. Barley planting and spring tillage continued in limited fashion. Producers noted the ground was still frozen in areas.

Southeastern counties received isolated rain last week. Reports noted high winds continued to deplete soil moisture supplies. Rangeland and non-irrigated crop conditions declined in areas that have consistently gone without moisture. Alfalfa growth started to pick up and some irrigation canals began delivering water.

As of March 20, 2020, snowpack in Colorado was 107 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 98 and 99 percent, respectively.

Stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 56 percent average, and 42 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 79 percent average, and 19 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

    

Planted  

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Pastured  

16 

12 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved  

49 

32 

42 

NA 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed  

42 

22 

37 

NA 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork  

46 

49 

33 

50 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short  

11 

11 

Short  

24 

41 

25 

Adequate  

66 

48 

82 

61 

Surplus 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short  

11 

Short  

26 

30 

15 

27 

Adequate  

66 

61 

80 

60 

Surplus 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor  

10 

Poor  

12 

12 

10 

22 

Fair  

34 

47 

50 

36 

Good  

41 

28 

34 

31 

Excellent  

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor  

10 

-- 

Poor  

12 

11 

15 

Fair  

26 

33 

27 

34 

Good  

46 

43 

55 

42 

Excellent  

13 

Livestock 

    

Very poor  

-- 

Poor  

Fair  

35 

32 

26 

21 

Good  

53 

52 

65 

69 

Excellent