Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – Week Ending August 5, 2018
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 .......................................................... | 9 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
Corn | ||||
Silked ................................................................ | 83 | 73 | 84 | 81 |
Doughed ............................................................ | 23 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Blooming .......................................................... | 79 | 70 | 72 | 72 |
Cut .................................................................... | 4 | NA | NA | NA |
Onions | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 1 | NA | NA | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 1 | 0 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 62 | 39 | 46 | 39 |
Turning color .................................................... | 6 | 2 | -- | 6 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 96 | 88 | NA | NA |
Turning color .................................................... | 60 | 40 | 76 | 70 |
Harvested .......................................................... | 5 | -- | 5 | 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 | 2 | 10 |
Short ................................................................. | 25 | 24 | 22 | 26 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 56 | 61 | 70 | 60 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 22 | 13 | 4 | 14 |
Short ................................................................. | 21 | 19 | 24 | 27 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 53 | 66 | 70 | 57 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
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 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
Poor ................................................................... | 16 | 14 | 12 | 8 |
Fair .................................................................... | 29 | 29 | 25 | 25 |
Good ................................................................. | 37 | 39 | 52 | 50 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 8 | 11 | 7 | 13 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 1 | -- | 9 | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 27 | 27 | 26 | 22 |
Good ................................................................. | 52 | 48 | 54 | 53 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 19 | 25 | 11 | 22 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | 8 | 13 | 7 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 28 | 25 | 22 |
Good ................................................................. | 66 | 49 | 50 | 56 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 5 | 13 | 8 | 12 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 9 | 12 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 21 | 28 | 7 | 5 |
Fair .................................................................... | 15 | 11 | 30 | 38 |
Good ................................................................. | 45 | 31 | 58 | 50 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 18 | 5 | 7 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 30 | 17 | 44 | 21 |
Good ................................................................. | 55 | 62 | 50 | 62 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 11 | 20 | 6 | 13 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 33 | 24 | 1 | 8 |
Poor ................................................................... | 24 | 22 | 9 | 15 |
Fair .................................................................... | 20 | 24 | 33 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 20 | 28 | 50 | 41 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | 4 | 7 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 12 | 19 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 53 | 61 | 49 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 27 | 23 | 25 | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 2 | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 2 | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 12 | 12 | 7 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 60 | 52 | 89 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 23 | 32 | 4 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 14 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
Poor ................................................................... | 9 | 13 | 4 | 11 |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 26 | 33 | 34 |
Good ................................................................. | 57 | 55 | 53 | 46 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 10 | 19 | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 1 | -- | 7 | 6 |
Fair .................................................................... | 15 | 12 | 26 | 30 |
Good ................................................................. | 60 | 57 | 62 | 57 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 14 | 12 | 5 | 5 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 21 | 22 | 12 | 14 |
Good ................................................................. | 51 | 44 | 73 | 68 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 20 | 27 | 13 | 16 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 3 | -- | -- | 4 |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | -- | 3 | 9 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 21 | 34 | 32 |
Good ................................................................. | 65 | 74 | 59 | 48 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 5 | 2 | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 19 | 18 | 14 | 17 |
Good ................................................................. | 61 | 69 | 75 | 69 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
