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Colorado crop progress and condition summary – week ending September 16, 2018

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Hot and dry weather accelerated crop maturity and harvest activities last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 

Northwestern counties received no moisture, and new fires were reported. In northeastern counties, winter wheat planting slowed slightly due to dry conditions. Reporters noted early sugar beet harvest was also underway and millet harvest progressed well last week. Livestock were reportedly in good condition, with producers starting to wean calves.

East central counties also experienced warmer than normal temperatures and no moisture. A reporter noted crops were doing well but some grain sorghum wasn’t expected to make it to maturity due to moisture received too late.

In southwestern counties, hot and dry temperatures provided no relief from exceptional drought conditions.

In the San Luis Valley, potato harvest picked up last week and barley harvest was virtually complete. Harvest conditions were noted to be very good, although warm. A reporter noted some producers were feeding hay to supplement livestock on pastures that were short on grass.

Southeastern counties also experienced hot, dry, and windy conditions last week.

Stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 12 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 63 percent average and 37 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 69 percent average and 31 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Alfalfa hay 

    

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

84 

74 

77 

76 

4th cutting harvested .......................................... 

23 

13 

12 

14 

Barley 

    

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

95 

92 

91 

94 

Corn 

    

Dented ............................................................... 

86 

72 

69 

81 

Mature ............................................................... 

22 

18 

20 

Harvested for silage .......................................... 

77 

55 

49 

50 

Dry edible beans 

    

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

81 

69 

48 

39 

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

48 

35 

16 

17 

Onions 

    

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

77 

66 

47 

40 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

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

20 

13 

12 

19 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

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

58 

45 

37 

61 

Sorghum 

    

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

88 

75 

78 

75 

Mature ............................................................... 

13 

12 

18 

Spring wheat 

    

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

89 

79 

79 

80 

Sugarbeets 

    

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

-- 

NA 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted .............................................................. 

24 

21 

27 

Emerged ............................................................ 

11 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

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

6.9 

6.0 

6.8 

6.3 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

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

12 

10 

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

35 

29 

33 

31 

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

52 

59 

63 

60 

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

Subsoil moisture 

    

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

13 

14 

11 

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

29 

24 

31 

32 

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

57 

60 

66 

56 

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 .......................................................... 

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

15 

14 

11 

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

25 

25 

22 

25 

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

45 

44 

57 

54 

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

11 

Corn 

    

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

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

10 

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

14 

21 

24 

24 

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

70 

63 

51 

52 

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

14 

14 

Dry edible beans 

    

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

11 

-- 

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

19 

22 

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

13 

18 

24 

33 

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

53 

48 

65 

54 

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

Pasture and range 

    

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

26 

22 

-- 

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

21 

23 

12 

16 

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

22 

22 

27 

28 

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

29 

31 

50 

43 

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

11 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

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

-- 

-- 

-- 

NA 

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

15 

NA 

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

13 

15 

20 

NA 

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

59 

53 

50 

NA 

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

24 

28 

15 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

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

-- 

-- 

NA 

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

-- 

NA 

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

11 

NA 

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

65 

69 

85 

NA 

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

21 

20 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

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

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

11 

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

25 

26 

10 

31 

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

62 

60 

72 

49 

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

14 

Sugarbeets 

    

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

-- 

-- 

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

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

20 

31 

13 

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

52 

48 

79 

70 

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

22 

19 

14 

15 

Sunflowers 

    

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

-- 

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

11 

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

24 

28 

16 

28 

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

69 

67 

70 

49 

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

10 

Livestock 

    

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

-- 

-- 

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

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

14 

13 

17 

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

74 

77 

81 

71 

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

10