Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – Week Ending June 17, 2018
Soil moisture supplies diminished due to very hot and dry conditions last week, although beneficial weekend moisture was received in several areas, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Reporters in northeastern counties noted crops and livestock in areas that received moisture were doing well. A reporter noted dryland crop and rangeland conditions remained a concern for producers in areas that were drier. A reporter also noted some irrigated corn stands were uneven due to earlier dry field conditions.
East central county reporters noted sporadic precipitation was received last week, but the majority of localities remained dry. Above normal temperatures and dry weather continued to deteriorate crop and pasture conditions.
Some southwestern counties received much needed moisture at week’s end, with over an inch reported in areas. However, all conditions remained dire and affected by prolonged extreme drought. Early last week, the San Juan National Forest closed due to fires, affecting livestock producers with grazing permits.
In the San Luis Valley, isolated rain was received but rangeland remained stressed from prolonged dry conditions. A reporter noted the alfalfa crop looked better with harvest moving along. Potatoes were noted to be growing fast and barley was in good shape.
Southeastern counties received limited moisture with isolated hail observed last week. Livestock producers were reported to be putting out supplemental feed and liquidating herds due to drought and limited rangeland grass production. A reporter noted regrowth on alfalfa after harvest was poor due to lack of moisture.
Statewide, winter wheat was rated 51 percent good to excellent, compared with 41 percent good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 18 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 56 percent average and 44 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 77 percent average and 23 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 .......................................... | 66 | 42 | 57 | 57 |
2nd cutting harvested ......................................... | 1 | NA | NA | NA |
Barley | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 33 | 11 | 20 | 16 |
Corn | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 97 | 93 | 95 | 95 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 58 | 48 | 76 | 73 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 40 | 23 | 46 | 42 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 92 | 87 | 76 | 79 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 97 | 88 | 96 | 96 |
Sorghum | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 74 | 63 | 80 | 73 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 50 | 36 | 50 | 41 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 93 | 91 | 86 | 96 |
Headed .............................................................. | 20 | 11 | 17 | 26 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 58 | 38 | 62 | 53 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 97 | 92 | 97 | 93 |
Turning color .................................................... | 62 | 29 | 57 | 43 |
Mature ............................................................... | 3 | -- | 11 | 6 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 6.4 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 23 | 21 | 2 | 12 |
Short ................................................................. | 37 | 28 | 14 | 22 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 39 | 51 | 82 | 62 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | -- | 2 | 4 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 15 | 13 | 1 | 15 |
Short ................................................................. | 24 | 23 | 11 | 21 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 61 | 64 | 86 | 61 |
Surplus.............................................................. | -- | -- | 2 | 3 |
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 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
Poor ................................................................... | 12 | 11 | 8 | 7 |
Fair .................................................................... | 28 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Good ................................................................. | 44 | 43 | 53 | 51 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 3 | -- | 1 |
Fair .................................................................... | 28 | 26 | 20 | 21 |
Good ................................................................. | 49 | 49 | 54 | 55 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 20 | 22 | 26 | 23 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 12 | 14 | 23 |
Good ................................................................. | 70 | 76 | 71 | 58 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 11 | 9 | 12 | 14 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 22 | NA | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | NA | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | NA | 27 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 50 | NA | 66 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 8 | NA | 7 | NA |
Onions | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 12 | 29 | 31 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 83 | 61 | 59 | 68 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 3 | 9 | 10 | 13 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 21 | 17 | -- | 10 |
Poor ................................................................... | 29 | 25 | 2 | 14 |
Fair .................................................................... | 27 | 31 | 20 | 22 |
Good ................................................................. | 21 | 26 | 65 | 45 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 2 | 1 | 13 | 9 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | 4 | NA | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 15 | NA | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 56 | 59 | NA | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 24 | 22 | NA | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 24 | 18 | 5 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 52 | 56 | 81 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 24 | 26 | 14 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 17 | 12 | 14 | 29 |
Good ................................................................. | 81 | 72 | 79 | 63 |
Excellent ........................................................... | -- | 7 | 6 | 3 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 14 | 15 | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 1 | -- | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 15 | 25 | 28 |
Good ................................................................. | 58 | 57 | 72 | 63 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 8 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 5 | 1 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 23 | 23 | 11 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 61 | 59 | 72 | 66 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 7 | 7 | 6 | 15 |
Poor ................................................................... | 17 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
Fair .................................................................... | 25 | 25 | 39 | 27 |
Good ................................................................. | 45 | 46 | 31 | 33 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | 1 | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 3 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 16 | 17 | 11 | 17 |
Good ................................................................. | 73 | 69 | 72 | 69 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 10 | 17 | 11 |
