Colorado crop progress and conditions report – week ending November 25, 2018
Note: weekly crop progress reports will resume in March 2019. Monthly reports will be issued for December, January and February.
Corn harvest was wrapping up in several localities last week as drier weather prevailed, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Sorghum and sunflower harvest also made good progress last week.
In northeastern counties, producers reported corn yields were good with the exception of areas hailed earlier in the year. A county reporter noted condition of fall seeded winter wheat was concerning due to limited stooling in areas. Lack of precipitation remained an issue for persistently dry parts of the district.
In the San Luis Valley, light snow cover last week didn’t remain, but soil moisture supplies remained consistent. Hay supplies were noted as low.
In southeastern counties, harvest progressed last week during drier weather. Extreme winds were observed that put sorghum on the ground in areas.
Statewide, pasture and range condition was rated 29 percent good to excellent, compared with 59 percent rated good to excellent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 25 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 62 percent average and 38 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 53 percent average and 47 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
4th cutting harvested .......................................... | 94 | 90 | NA | NA |
Corn | ||||
Harvested for grain ........................................... | 97 | 87 | 93 | 96 |
Sorghum | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 83 | 65 | 95 | 95 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Harvested .......................................................... | 82 | 72 | 95 | 95 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 5.7 | 4.4 | 6.9 | NA |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 2 | 3 | 2 | NA |
Short ................................................................. | 18 | 11 | 19 | NA |
Adequate .......................................................... | 78 | 82 | 78 | NA |
Surplus.............................................................. | 2 | 4 | 1 | NA |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 5 | 6 | 3 | NA |
Short ................................................................. | 25 | 20 | 22 | NA |
Adequate .......................................................... | 68 | 72 | 74 | NA |
Surplus.............................................................. | 2 | 2 | 1 | NA |
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 20 | 22 | 1 | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 25 | 26 | 15 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 26 | 23 | 25 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 27 | 27 | 46 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 2 | 2 | 13 | NA |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | 2 | 2 | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 11 | 5 | 5 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 34 | 30 | 27 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 49 | 53 | 52 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 5 | 10 | 14 | NA |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 1 | 2 | -- | NA |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 2 | 1 | NA |
Fair .................................................................... | 14 | 13 | 11 | NA |
Good ................................................................. | 78 | 75 | 81 | NA |
Excellent ........................................................... | 5 | 8 | 7 | NA |
