Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – June 3, 2018
Colorado experienced mixed weather again last week with conditions deteriorating in drought-stricken areas and fieldwork delayed in others due to heavy rainfall, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Northeastern counties received good moisture early in the week, with tornadoes and isolated hail also reported. Fieldwork was delayed in areas where rain was heaviest. Reporters noted most crops were doing well. Warm weather and favorable soil moisture promoted emergence and growth of spring crops. Livestock and pasture were reportedly doing well.
East central counties received varying levels of precipitation, with southern areas receiving less. A reporter in Kiowa county noted that winter wheat was beginning to show signs of stress from lack of moisture. They also noted some county producers were not planting corn or sorghum due to no moisture and extreme drought. Pasture conditions also deteriorated last week in this district.
Southwestern county reporters noted drought conditions did not improve last week, and a major fire was burning in La Plata county. Measurable precipitation was extremely limited last week.
In the San Luis Valley, a rain storm at week’s end brought beneficial moisture. Fall potato planting was virtually complete and emergence picked up.
Southeastern counties received minimal moisture last week, and first cutting alfalfa was noted to be lighter than normal.
Statewide, winter wheat was just starting to turn color, with 53 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, compared with 48 percent good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 18 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 47 percent average and 53 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 75 percent average and 25 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
1st cutting harvested .......................................... | 17 | 3 | 21 | 19 |
Barley | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 95 | 94 | 89 | 95 |
Headed .............................................................. | 3 | -- | -- | 1 |
Corn | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 97 | 85 | 92 | 94 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 72 | 58 | 77 | 75 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 27 | 8 | 26 | 28 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 10 | NA | 8 | 7 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 97 | 93 | 90 | 96 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 30 | 1 | 18 | 18 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 99 | 88 | 92 | NA |
Emerged ............................................................ | 75 | 51 | 86 | 82 |
Sorghum | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 47 | 27 | 31 | 30 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 15 | NA | 5 | 9 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 94 | 92 | 90 | 94 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 86 | 79 | 79 | 82 |
Headed .............................................................. | 2 | NA | -- | 3 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 92 | 84 | 95 | 89 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 18 | 9 | 11 | 17 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 76 | 60 | 89 | 74 |
Turning color .................................................... | 7 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 6.3 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 18 | 13 | 1 | 10 |
Short ................................................................. | 27 | 23 | 6 | 18 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 54 | 61 | 83 | 64 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | 3 | 10 | 8 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 14 | 14 | 1 | 14 |
Short ................................................................. | 20 | 20 | 6 | 20 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 66 | 65 | 88 | 62 |
Surplus.............................................................. | -- | 1 | 5 | 4 |
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 8 | 9 | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 11 | 10 | 5 | 6 |
Fair .................................................................... | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Good ................................................................. | 44 | 42 | 59 | 52 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 12 | 12 | 9 | 14 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 1 | 2 | -- | 1 |
Fair .................................................................... | 26 | 32 | 15 | 21 |
Good ................................................................. | 55 | 45 | 64 | 56 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | 1 | -- | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 8 | 7 | 17 | 25 |
Good ................................................................. | 81 | 84 | 71 | 58 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | -- | 3 | -- | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 30 | 16 | 20 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 64 | 70 | 75 | 69 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 6 | 11 | 5 | 11 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 16 | 17 | -- | 10 |
Poor ................................................................... | 24 | 20 | 1 | 15 |
Fair .................................................................... | 24 | 27 | 17 | 22 |
Good ................................................................. | 30 | 31 | 69 | 44 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 6 | 5 | 13 | 9 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | -- | 5 | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 11 | 20 | 13 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 65 | 70 | 74 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 24 | 5 | 13 | NA |
Spring wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 15 | 35 | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 3 | -- | 1 |
Fair .................................................................... | 20 | 9 | 5 | 24 |
Good ................................................................. | 54 | 45 | 94 | 69 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 9 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | -- | 6 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 40 | 24 | 18 | 19 |
Good ................................................................. | 45 | 54 | 71 | 66 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
Poor ................................................................... | 17 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
Fair .................................................................... | 25 | 25 | 34 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 46 | 49 | 42 | 35 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 13 | 19 | 10 | 18 |
Good ................................................................. | 70 | 64 | 75 | 68 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
