Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending August 4, 2019
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 | 1 | 15 | 15 |
Barley | ||||
Turning color | 88 | 62 | 87 | 82 |
Harvested | 5 | 4 | 8 | 14 |
Corn | ||||
Silked | 77 | 53 | 82 | 79 |
Doughed | 5 | 1 | 21 | 10 |
Dented | 1 | NA | -- | -- |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Blooming | 62 | 41 | 78 | 73 |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed | 40 | 18 | 59 | 41 |
Turning color | 1 | -- | 5 | 4 |
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 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 7 |
Short | 23 | 18 | 25 | 24 |
Adequate | 66 | 74 | 56 | 64 |
Surplus. | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 5 | 3 | 22 | 11 |
Short | 22 | 17 | 21 | 23 |
Adequate | 67 | 76 | 53 | 63 |
Surplus. | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
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 | 10 | 3 |
Poor | 5 | 4 | 16 | 9 |
Fair | 11 | 7 | 29 | 24 |
Good | 69 | 67 | 37 | 51 |
Excellent | 13 | 19 | 8 | 13 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
Fair | 15 | 17 | 27 | 19 |
Good | 54 | 51 | 52 | 53 |
Excellent | 25 | 25 | 19 | 24 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 6 | 2 |
Poor | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
Fair | 22 | 19 | 18 | 21 |
Good | 63 | 70 | 66 | 59 |
Excellent | 11 | 10 | 5 | 12 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 9 | 2 |
Poor | 4 | 2 | 21 | 6 |
Fair | 35 | 19 | 15 | 31 |
Good | 55 | 74 | 45 | 53 |
Excellent | 6 | 5 | 10 | 8 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 2 | 3 |
Fair | 8 | 11 | 30 | 22 |
Good | 89 | 85 | 55 | 61 |
Excellent | 3 | 4 | 11 | 13 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 33 | 9 |
Poor | 5 | 4 | 24 | 15 |
Fair | 17 | 21 | 20 | 26 |
Good | 65 | 64 | 20 | 42 |
Excellent | 12 | 10 | 3 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
Poor | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Fair | 27 | 34 | 16 | 19 |
Good | 51 | 44 | 53 | 52 |
Excellent | 19 | 18 | 27 | 21 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | -- |
Poor | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Fair | 17 | 17 | 12 | 9 |
Good | 67 | 68 | 60 | 78 |
Excellent | 14 | 14 | 23 | 12 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 14 | 4 |
Poor | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 |
Fair | 33 | 24 | 16 | 32 |
Good | 54 | 69 | 57 | 51 |
Excellent | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 6 | 3 |
Fair | 13 | 14 | 21 | 14 |
Good | 75 | 78 | 51 | 64 |
Excellent | 12 | 8 | 20 | 18 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 3 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 4 | 7 |
Fair | 23 | 20 | 18 | 27 |
Good | 68 | 76 | 65 | 56 |
Excellent | 9 | 4 | 10 | 9 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 5 | 1 |
Poor | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Fair | 8 | 11 | 19 | 15 |
Good | 76 | 72 | 61 | 70 |
Excellent | 13 | 15 | 10 | 12 |
