Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – Week Ending July 22, 2018
Most areas of the state benefitted from monsoonal moisture last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Hot temperatures continued to accelerate crop development and maturity of small grains; winter wheat harvested was still ahead of average by week's end.
Northeastern counties received enough moisture to slow winter wheat harvest slightly in areas, but return of hot and dry weather allowed producers to make rapid progress overall. A reporter in Morgan county noted winter wheat yield losses were observed due to insect damage from wheat stem sawfly. Livestock were reportedly doing well in areas where pastureland has received good moisture and grass is lush. Irrigated crops were noted to be thriving, although concerns were raised whether enough irrigation water would be available to see crops through to maturity.
East central counties also received beneficial moisture last week, although precipitation was spotty depending upon locality. Several areas remained extremely dry, boosting concerns for late summer range and crop conditions. In southwestern counties, monsoonal moisture brought relief to drought-stricken areas, but was not enough to make a significant dent yet in overall poor conditions.
The San Luis Valley received minimal moisture last week, but crops were doing well overall and advancing quickly due to heat. A reporter noted second cutting of alfalfa just started last week. Range conditions continued to suffer due to lack of moisture, and hay supplies were noted to be short.
In southeastern counties, beneficial rain was received, although measured amounts were very spotty. A reporter in Baca county noted cattle were being moved to CRP grass in order for native pasture grasses to get a rest due to drought.
Statewide, winter wheat harvested was at 90 percent complete, compared to 80 percent on average.
Stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 24 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 55 percent average and 45 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 59 percent average and 41 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 ......................................... | 61 | 44 | 56 | 53 |
3rd cutting harvested .......................................... | 6 | -- | NA | NA |
Barley | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 98 | 93 | 96 | 96 |
Turning color .................................................... | 63 | 28 | 43 | 39 |
Harvested .......................................................... | 3 | -- | NA | NA |
Corn | ||||
Silked ................................................................ | 55 | 17 | 19 | 28 |
Doughed ............................................................ | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Blooming .......................................................... | 57 | 34 | 33 | 41 |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 28 | 3 | 11 | 11 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 80 | 59 | 92 | 96 |
Turning color .................................................... | 18 | 7 | 36 | 42 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 90 | 80 | 88 | 80 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 6.2 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 24 | 27 | 9 | 11 |
Short ................................................................. | 35 | 28 | 36 | 31 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 40 | 44 | 53 | 55 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 23 | 22 | 5 | 16 |
Short ................................................................. | 33 | 29 | 36 | 29 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 43 | 48 | 58 | 53 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 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 .......................................................... | 9 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
Poor ................................................................... | 15 | 15 | 12 | 8 |
Fair .................................................................... | 33 | 30 | 27 | 24 |
Good ................................................................. | 36 | 41 | 49 | 50 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 6 | 11 | 14 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 1 | 1 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 34 | 36 | 22 | 20 |
Good ................................................................. | 45 | 45 | 59 | 53 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 19 | 18 | 19 | 25 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
Poor ................................................................... | 14 | 6 | 14 | 7 |
Fair .................................................................... | 25 | 20 | 20 | 23 |
Good ................................................................. | 44 | 62 | 50 | 54 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 12 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 16 | 12 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 30 | 25 | 11 | 5 |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 14 | 29 | 35 |
Good ................................................................. | 26 | 38 | 54 | 54 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 12 | 11 | 6 | 6 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 2 | -- | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 24 | 41 | 21 |
Good ................................................................. | 70 | 68 | 47 | 60 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 5 | 12 | 15 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 25 | 30 | 2 | 9 |
Poor ................................................................... | 26 | 24 | 16 | 17 |
Fair .................................................................... | 28 | 25 | 35 | 26 |
Good ................................................................. | 21 | 21 | 39 | 40 |
Excellent ........................................................... | -- | -- | 8 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | 5 | 2 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 19 | 18 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 53 | 48 | 49 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 26 | 28 | 31 | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 2 | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 3 | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 13 | 12 | 15 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 59 | 64 | 80 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 23 | 19 | 5 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 12 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
Poor ................................................................... | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Fair .................................................................... | 34 | 30 | 38 | 37 |
Good ................................................................. | 38 | 40 | 39 | 44 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 28 | 13 | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Fair .................................................................... | 7 | 15 | 20 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 55 | 62 | 73 | 58 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 9 | 5 | 6 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 19 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 57 | 60 | 62 | 65 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | -- | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | -- | 9 | 10 |
Fair .................................................................... | 30 | 30 | 34 | 33 |
Good ................................................................. | 62 | 70 | 54 | 47 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 1 | -- | 3 | 8 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 5 | 2 | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 20 | 13 | 19 | 19 |
Good ................................................................. | 63 | 76 | 68 | 66 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 7 | 11 | 12 |
