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Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – Week Ending August 5, 2018

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Producers were still assessing damage last week from tornadoes and hail that occurred July 29, 2018, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Northeastern and east central county reporters noted storm damage from the prior week’s severe weather ranged from significant to total crop loss in areas. Corn, dry beans, millet, sorghum, sunflowers, and forage crops were noted as affected. Livestock losses and damage to rangeland grass were also mentioned. For crops not affected by severe weather, reporters noted conditions were very favorable due to continued moisture. Hay quality was noted to be down due to rain during cutting. Concerns remained in drier areas regarding crop yields and fall planting conditions.

Northwestern counties received moisture last week that helped improve range conditions. A reporter noted that some hay was lost as a result of rain after being cut. In southwestern counties, little moisture was received last week, and exceptional drought conditions continued to adversely impact the region. See more about statewide drought conditions here.

Barley harvest started in the San Luis Valley last week and a reporter noted potato vines were being killed. Second cutting of alfalfa was progressing, but a reporter noted some rain delayed baling.

Southeastern county reporters noted recent rains benefitted pasture and crop conditions. 

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 14 percent very short, 17 percent short, 66 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 72 percent average and 28 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 71 percent average and 29 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 ......................................... 

78 

71 

77 

78 

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

16 

10 

18 

15 

Barley 

    

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

89 

77 

84 

80 

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

16 

Corn 

    

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

83 

73 

84 

81 

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

23 

Dry edible beans 

    

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

79 

70 

72 

72 

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

NA 

NA 

NA 

Onions 

    

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

NA 

NA 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

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

NA 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

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

62 

39 

46 

39 

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

-- 

Spring wheat 

    

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

96 

88 

NA 

NA 

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

60 

40 

76 

70 

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

-- 

10 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

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

6.0 

4.9 

5.4 

5.7 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

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

15 

11 

10 

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

25 

24 

22 

26 

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

56 

61 

70 

60 

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

Subsoil moisture 

    

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

22 

13 

14 

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

21 

19 

24 

27 

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

53 

66 

70 

57 

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 

14 

12 

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

29 

29 

25 

25 

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

37 

39 

52 

50 

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

11 

13 

Barley 

    

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

-- 

-- 

-- 

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

-- 

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

27 

27 

26 

22 

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

52 

48 

54 

53 

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

19 

25 

11 

22 

Corn 

    

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

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

13 

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

18 

28 

25 

22 

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

66 

49 

50 

56 

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

13 

12 

Dry edible beans 

    

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

12 

-- 

-- 

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

21 

28 

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

15 

11 

30 

38 

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

45 

31 

58 

50 

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

10 

18 

Onions 

    

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

-- 

-- 

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

-- 

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

30 

17 

44 

21 

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

55 

62 

50 

62 

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

11 

20 

13 

Pasture and range 

    

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

33 

24 

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

24 

22 

15 

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

20 

24 

33 

29 

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

20 

28 

50 

41 

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

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

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

-- 

-- 

-- 

NA 

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

NA 

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

16 

12 

19 

NA 

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

53 

61 

49 

NA 

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

27 

23 

25 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

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

-- 

NA 

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

-- 

NA 

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

12 

12 

NA 

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

60 

52 

89 

NA 

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

23 

32 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

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

14 

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

13 

11 

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

16 

26 

33 

34 

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

57 

55 

53 

46 

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

Spring wheat 

    

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

10 

19 

-- 

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

-- 

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

15 

12 

26 

30 

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

60 

57 

62 

57 

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

14 

12 

Sugarbeets 

    

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

-- 

-- 

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

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

21 

22 

12 

14 

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

51 

44 

73 

68 

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

20 

27 

13 

16 

Sunflowers 

    

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

-- 

-- 

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

-- 

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

18 

21 

34 

32 

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

65 

74 

59 

48 

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

10 

Livestock 

    

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

-- 

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

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

19 

18 

14 

17 

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

61 

69 

75 

69 

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

10 

10 

11