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Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – Week Ending August 12, 2018

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Warn and mostly dry conditions were ideal for fieldwork activities last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Northeastern county reporters noted moisture supplies held steady in areas despite a hot week. Producers affected by the storm on July 29th continued to assess damages. A reporter noted loss of contracted feed crops due to the storm had livestock producers looking for feed in alternative areas. Non-irrigated crops and pasture in areas that have not received recent moisture were showing drought stress with some producers reporting crop failure.

In east central counties, crops were noted to be doing well in those areas that benefitted from recent rains. A reporter in Kiowa county noted CRP opened for grazing helped relieve pressure on native pastures; recent moisture helped grass recover and gain some late growth.

In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest was in full swing last week and producers were preparing for potato harvest. Reporters noted there were some scattered showers, but pasture and rangeland continued to be very short.

Southwestern counties received little moisture last week and exceptional drought conditions persisted. Monsoon moisture has yet to provide projected relief.

Southeastern counties received spotty precipitation in areas, but drought conditions continued. Hay harvest progressed well, and crops were noted to be improving where moisture was received.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 17 percent short, 74 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 59 percent average, and 39 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 2 percent heavy, 67 percent average, and 31 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 ......................................... 

87 

78 

85 

86 

3rd cutting harvested .......................................... 

29 

16 

27 

24 

Barley 

    

Turning color .................................................... 

93 

89 

92 

90 

Harvested .......................................................... 

21 

10 

24 

Corn 

    

Silked ................................................................ 

93 

83 

95 

92 

Doughed ............................................................ 

42 

23 

22 

26 

Dented ............................................................... 

-- 

Harvested for silage .......................................... 

-- 

-- 

Dry edible beans 

    

Blooming .......................................................... 

88 

79 

85 

87 

Cut .................................................................... 

11 

NA 

NA 

Onions 

    

Harvested .......................................................... 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested .......................................................... 

Sorghum 

    

Headed .............................................................. 

76 

62 

65 

56 

Turning color .................................................... 

10 

14 

Spring wheat 

    

Turning color .................................................... 

76 

60 

89 

82 

Harvested ...............

13 

15 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... 

6.5 

6.0 

4.2 

5.9 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short ......................................................... 

12 

15 

Short ................................................................. 

30 

25 

14 

25 

Adequate .......................................................... 

54 

56 

78 

63 

Surplus.............................................................. 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short ......................................................... 

18 

22 

13 

Short ................................................................. 

25 

21 

16 

26 

Adequate .......................................................... 

53 

53 

80 

59 

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 ................................................................... 

17 

16 

13 

Fair .................................................................... 

30 

29 

25 

25 

Good ................................................................. 

37 

37 

52 

50 

Excellent ........................................................... 

12 

Barley 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

-- 

Fair .................................................................... 

34 

27 

27 

22 

Good ................................................................. 

47 

52 

56 

54 

Excellent ........................................................... 

19 

19 

12 

22 

Corn 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

26 

18 

19 

21 

Good ................................................................. 

58 

66 

57 

58 

Excellent ........................................................... 

15 

13 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

11 

-- 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

19 

21 

Fair .................................................................... 

17 

15 

25 

35 

Good ................................................................. 

47 

45 

67 

56 

Excellent ........................................................... 

10 

Onions 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

32 

30 

35 

19 

Good ................................................................. 

52 

55 

59 

66 

Excellent ........................................................... 

11 

11 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

30 

33 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

29 

24 

15 

Fair .................................................................... 

24 

20 

24 

26 

Good ................................................................. 

15 

20 

59 

44 

Excellent ........................................................... 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Poor ................................................................... 

NA 

Fair .................................................................... 

16 

16 

15 

NA 

Good ................................................................. 

53 

53 

54 

NA 

Excellent ........................................................... 

26 

27 

23 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

NA 

Poor ................................................................... 

-- 

NA 

Fair .................................................................... 

13 

12 

NA 

Good ................................................................. 

59 

60 

88 

NA 

Excellent ........................................................... 

23 

23 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

14 

Poor ................................................................... 

13 

11 

Fair .................................................................... 

23 

16 

13 

30 

Good ................................................................. 

53 

57 

71 

50 

Excellent ........................................................... 

10 

Spring wheat 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

15 

10 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

14 

15 

27 

29 

Good ................................................................. 

56 

60 

62 

58 

Excellent ........................................................... 

14 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

18 

21 

10 

15 

Good ................................................................. 

53 

51 

77 

69 

Excellent ........................................................... 

22 

20 

11 

14 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

25 

18 

15 

28 

Good ................................................................. 

61 

65 

76 

51 

Excellent ........................................................... 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor .......................................................... 

-- 

-- 

Poor ................................................................... 

Fair .................................................................... 

21 

19 

14 

18 

Good ................................................................. 

66 

61 

77 

70 

Excellent ........................................................... 

10 

10