Colorado Crop Progress and Condition Summary – Week Ending June 24, 2018
Warm temperatures last week interspersed with severe storms continued to push crop growth and maturity, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Eastern districts received mostly isolated moisture, while western and southern counties remained dry.
Northeastern county reporters noted locally heavy moisture was received, coupled with damaging hail. Several reporters stated hail caused isolated, but severe, crop damage in areas. Winter wheat was also noted to be maturing fast due to warm temps. In localities that haven’t received moisture, a reporter noted rangeland was suffering with decreased stocking rates reported.
In the east central district, wheat harvest began last week in southern counties. Early observations indicated low test weights were an issue for some producers. Spotty precipitation was also received, with some localities receiving over an inch and others seeing little. A reporter noted prolonged lack of moisture kept producers from getting sunflowers and sorghum planted, with some acres expected not to be planted at all.
In southwestern counties, devastating drought conditions continued without reprieve. Extreme fire danger and actively burning fires continued.
In the San Luis Valley, little moisture was received last week, allowing alfalfa hay harvest to progress quickly. Reporters noted irrigated crops were doing well where water was available, but that rangeland continued to show drought stress. A reporter mentioned some livestock were being sent to sale due to decreased range production and forage shortages.
Southeastern counties received spotty precipitation, but not enough to mitigate extreme drought conditions. Multiple reporters noted sorghum not yet planted wasn’t expected to be planted due to severe lack of moisture and short irrigation water supplies.
Statewide, winter wheat was maturing ahead of the average, with 42 percent rated good to excellent, compared with 46 percent good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 19 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 76 percent average and 24 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 82 percent average and 18 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 .......................................... | 81 | 66 | 78 | 75 |
2nd cutting harvested ......................................... | 3 | 1 | NA | NA |
Barley | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 60 | 33 | 49 | 38 |
Turning color .................................................... | 1 | -- | NA | NA |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 83 | 58 | 93 | 88 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 62 | 40 | 72 | 66 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 98 | 92 | 89 | 94 |
Sorghum | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 96 | 74 | 94 | 91 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 72 | 50 | 68 | 62 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 96 | 93 | 94 | 99 |
Headed .............................................................. | 29 | 20 | 37 | 42 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 80 | 58 | 82 | 75 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Turning color .................................................... | 88 | 62 | 84 | 70 |
Mature ............................................................... | 36 | 3 | 36 | 20 |
Harvested .......................................................... | 6 | -- | 1 | 1 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 5.6 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 17 | 23 | 3 | 13 |
Short ................................................................. | 22 | 37 | 15 | 24 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 58 | 39 | 78 | 59 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 17 | 15 | 3 | 17 |
Short ................................................................. | 23 | 24 | 13 | 21 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 60 | 61 | 81 | 60 |
Surplus.............................................................. | -- | -- | 3 | 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 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
Poor ................................................................... | 17 | 12 | 8 | 8 |
Fair .................................................................... | 32 | 28 | 29 | 26 |
Good ................................................................. | 35 | 44 | 50 | 48 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 6 | 7 | 11 | 13 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | 3 | -- | 1 |
Fair .................................................................... | 30 | 28 | 19 | 19 |
Good ................................................................. | 45 | 49 | 57 | 56 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 20 | 20 | 24 | 24 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | -- | -- | 3 |
Poor ................................................................... | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
Fair .................................................................... | 17 | 16 | 11 | 22 |
Good ................................................................. | 65 | 70 | 68 | 55 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 10 | 11 | 15 | 15 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 22 | 22 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 12 | 4 | -- | -- |
Fair .................................................................... | 14 | 16 | 24 | 40 |
Good ................................................................. | 45 | 50 | 68 | 53 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 5 | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 7 | 2 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 12 | 17 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 67 | 83 | 67 | 67 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 3 | 3 | 16 | 14 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 26 | 21 | -- | 12 |
Poor ................................................................... | 27 | 29 | 3 | 14 |
Fair .................................................................... | 21 | 27 | 19 | 21 |
Good ................................................................. | 24 | 21 | 65 | 44 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 2 | 2 | 13 | 9 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | 4 | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 13 | 16 | 24 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 59 | 56 | 53 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 24 | 24 | 23 | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 4 | -- | -- | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 27 | 24 | 8 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 44 | 52 | 77 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 23 | 24 | 15 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 2 | -- | 1 | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Fair .................................................................... | 9 | 17 | 19 | 32 |
Good ................................................................. | 86 | 81 | 71 | 56 |
Excellent ........................................................... | -- | -- | 6 | 4 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 13 | 14 | -- | 2 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Fair .................................................................... | 18 | 18 | 17 | 26 |
Good ................................................................. | 59 | 58 | 79 | 64 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 8 | 8 | 3 | 5 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 3 | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ................................................................... | 11 | 5 | -- | 2 |
Fair .................................................................... | 27 | 23 | 15 | 16 |
Good ................................................................. | 48 | 61 | 65 | 65 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 11 | 10 | 20 | 17 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 6 | 7 | 5 | 16 |
Poor ................................................................... | 19 | 17 | 13 | 15 |
Fair .................................................................... | 33 | 25 | 36 | 27 |
Good ................................................................. | 36 | 45 | 33 | 33 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 6 | 6 | 13 | 9 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | 1 | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 3 | 3 | -- | 4 |
Fair .................................................................... | 20 | 16 | 11 | 18 |
Good ................................................................. | 70 | 73 | 74 | 66 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 7 | 7 | 15 | 11 |
