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

Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending August 4, 2019

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Colorado experienced variable weather last week that brought heavy rain, localized flooding, and damaging hail to some areas while others remained hot and dry, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 

Winter wheat harvest finished up in several counties last week. Western counties received monsoonal moisture last week and flash flooding was observed in some localities. 

In northeastern counties, barley harvest was fully underway, and, for some producers, harvest was complete. A reporter noted isolated precipitation, heavy in areas, was enough to delay fieldwork slightly. Damaging hail was also noted. Spring crops continued to benefit from additional heat units and were advancing toward maturity. Declines in rangeland and dryland crop conditions in some areas were still a concern due to lack of received moisture. 

In east central counties, received moisture varied greatly. Monday, a large storm generated severe hail in areas of Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties. Heavy crop damage and losses were noted. 

In the San Luis Valley, second cutting of alfalfa was finishing up, but slight delays were noted due to scattered rain showers. Isolated flash flooding from heavy rain was also observed. A reporter noted barley was turning color fast and producers began turning off irrigation water to some fields last week. Barley harvest was still a couple weeks away, according to county reporters. Potatoes were also noted as starting to bloom. Rangeland benefited from received moisture and livestock conditions were improving from available summer grass. 

In southeastern counties, hay harvest progressed last week but a reporter noted field conditions varied throughout the area. Topsoil was notably turning very dry in areas that did not receive moisture. 

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 8 percent surplus. 

Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 33 percent average, and 66 percent light. 

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 65 percent average, and 34 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

2nd cutting harvested 

77 

58 

77 

77 

3rd cutting harvested 

11 

15 

15 

Barley 

    

Turning color 

88 

62 

87 

82 

Harvested 

14 

Corn 

    

Silked 

77 

53 

82 

79 

Doughed 

21 

10 

Dented 

NA 

-- 

-- 

Dry edible beans 

    

Blooming 

62 

41 

78 

73 

Sorghum 

    

Headed 

40 

18 

59 

41 

Turning color 

-- 

Winter wheat 

    

Harvested 

92 

80 

99 

97 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.2 

6.3 

6.0 

5.8 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

15 

Short 

23 

18 

25 

24 

Adequate 

66 

74 

56 

64 

Surplus. 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

22 

11 

Short 

22 

17 

21 

23 

Adequate 

67 

76 

53 

63 

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 

16 

Fair 

11 

29 

24 

Good 

69 

67 

37 

51 

Excellent 

13 

19 

13 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

15 

17 

27 

19 

Good 

54 

51 

52 

53 

Excellent 

25 

25 

19 

24 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

22 

19 

18 

21 

Good 

63 

70 

66 

59 

Excellent 

11 

10 

12 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

21 

Fair 

35 

19 

15 

31 

Good 

55 

74 

45 

53 

Excellent 

10 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

11 

30 

22 

Good 

89 

85 

55 

61 

Excellent 

11 

13 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

33 

Poor 

24 

15 

Fair 

17 

21 

20 

26 

Good 

65 

64 

20 

42 

Excellent 

12 

10 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

27 

34 

16 

19 

Good 

51 

44 

53 

52 

Excellent 

19 

18 

27 

21 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

17 

17 

12 

Good 

67 

68 

60 

78 

Excellent 

14 

14 

23 

12 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

14 

Poor 

Fair 

33 

24 

16 

32 

Good 

54 

69 

57 

51 

Excellent 

10 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

13 

14 

21 

14 

Good 

75 

78 

51 

64 

Excellent 

12 

20 

18 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

23 

20 

18 

27 

Good 

68 

76 

65 

56 

Excellent 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

11 

19 

15 

Good 

76 

72 

61 

70 

Excellent 

13 

15 

10 

12