Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending November 18, 2018
Harvest and fieldwork activities continued last week where conditions allowed, but was delayed in areas due to continued adverse weather and field conditions, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
In northeastern counties, warmer midweek weather allowed harvest to advance and corn harvest was noted as nearing completion. Sugarbeet harvest was virtually complete. Sorghum and sunflower harvest also picked up last week. A reporter noted cattle were being moved to corn stalks or other winter pasture.
Reporters in east central counties noted recent moisture improved soil moisture supplies, but continued to delay fall harvest.
In southwestern counties, a reporter noted snow last week was beneficial, but the area remains extremely dry.
In southeastern counties, a reporter noted wet conditions continued to delay harvest. Producers were waiting for drier weather in order to finish harvest.
Statewide, pasture and range condition was rated 29 percent good to excellent, compared with 65 percent rated good to excellent last year. Stored feed supplies were rated 4 percent very short, 17 percent short, 76 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 71 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 | ||||
4th cutting harvested .......................................... | 90 | 83 | 94 | NA |
Corn | ||||
Harvested for grain ........................................... | 87 | 77 | 84 | 90 |
Sorghum | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 65 | 55 | 85 | 87 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 99 | 94 | 96 | 96 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 72 | 56 | 86 | 88 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | NA |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 3 | 3 | 1 | NA |
Short ................................................................. | 11 | 16 | 16 | NA |
Adequate .......................................................... | 82 | 76 | 82 | NA |
Surplus.............................................................. | 4 | 5 | 1 | NA |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 6 | 8 | 3 | NA |
Short ................................................................. | 20 | 26 | 18 | NA |
Adequate .......................................................... | 72 | 63 | 78 | NA |
Surplus.............................................................. | 2 | 3 | 1 | NA |
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 .......................................................... | 22 | 28 | 2 | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 26 | 25 | 9 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 23 | 19 | 24 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 27 | 23 | 52 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 2 | 5 | 13 | NA |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 1 | 1 | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | 5 | 3 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 30 | 31 | 23 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 53 | 54 | 53 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 9 | 20 | NA |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 4 | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 4 | 1 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 13 | 17 | 12 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 75 | 66 | 80 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 8 | 9 | 7 | NA |
