Colorado Crop Progress and Conditions Summary – Week Ending July 15, 2018
Winter wheat harvest continued to progress ahead of average due to hot and dry conditions last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Precipitation was isolated across Colorado last week with some areas receiving substantial amounts and others receiving none. According to the latest U.S. Drought monitor report, severe to exceptional drought conditions expanded in western and southern counties.
Winter wheat harvest continued in northeastern counties, with reporters noting yields varied depending on locality and amount of damaging hail the crop received. Most irrigated crops were noted to be growing well and benefited from recent hot temperatures. Storms late in the week alleviated dry conditions in dryland crops and pastureland, but areas that did not receive moisture continued to show drought stress. Livestock were reportedly doing well.
East central county reporters noted winter wheat harvest was wrapping up last week. Several counties remained desperately dry with continued drought conditions.
In southwestern counties, a reporter noted summer monsoon precipitation patterns started to develop last week, but received moisture was spotty. Rangeland grass was noted to be dormant due to drought with no growth observed. Irrigated pastures were noted to be under-producing due to hot temperatures.
In the San Luis Valley, limited precipitation fell last week. Isolated areas received hail, causing damage to some alfalfa, barley, and potatoes. A reporter noted livestock producers continued to reduce their herds due to drought.
Southeastern county reporters noted little rain was received last week. Conditions continued to degrade with livestock producers providing supplemental feed or liquidating herds due to drought and no available grass. Crop losses and abandonment were noted to be up. Reporters also noted irrigation water supplies in these counties were short with some ditches done for the year.
Statewide, winter wheat harvested was at 80 percent complete, compared to 56 percent on average. Stored feed supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 35 percent average and 65 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 ......................................... | 44 | 25 | 38 | 36 |
Barley | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 93 | 87 | 94 | 92 |
Turning color .................................................... | 28 | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Corn | ||||
Silked ................................................................ | 17 | 4 | 8 | 13 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Emerged ............................................................ | 97 | 89 | NA | NA |
Blooming .......................................................... | 34 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
Sorghum | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Headed .............................................................. | 59 | 52 | 87 | 92 |
Turning color .................................................... | 7 | 5 | 17 | 26 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Mature ............................................................... | 95 | 81 | 96 | 88 |
Harvested .......................................................... | 80 | 45 | 69 | 56 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.1 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 27 | 21 | 7 | 12 |
Short ................................................................. | 28 | 24 | 31 | 29 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 44 | 53 | 60 | 56 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 22 | 18 | 4 | 17 |
Short ................................................................. | 29 | 25 | 27 | 26 |
Adequate .......................................................... | 48 | 57 | 67 | 55 |
Surplus.............................................................. | 1 | -- | 2 | 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 .............................................................. | 8 | 8 | -- | 5 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 15 | 15 | 6 | 8 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 30 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Good ..................................................................... | 41 | 45 | 56 | 49 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 6 | 5 | 12 | 13 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | -- | 1 | -- | -- |
Poor ...................................................................... | 1 | 1 | -- | 1 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 36 | 31 | 23 | 20 |
Good ..................................................................... | 45 | 47 | 62 | 57 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 18 | 20 | 15 | 22 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 6 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 20 | 23 | 16 | 21 |
Good ..................................................................... | 62 | 65 | 57 | 55 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 8 | 5 | 11 | 13 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 12 | 14 | -- | -- |
Poor ...................................................................... | 25 | 16 | 11 | 4 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 14 | 19 | 29 | 36 |
Good ..................................................................... | 38 | 39 | 56 | 55 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 11 | 12 | 4 | 5 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 1 | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 2 | -- | -- | 3 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 24 | 34 | 43 | 21 |
Good ..................................................................... | 68 | 60 | 50 | 61 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 5 | 6 | 7 | 14 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 30 | 23 | -- | 11 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 24 | 28 | 7 | 15 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 25 | 25 | 29 | 24 |
Good ..................................................................... | 21 | 23 | 55 | 41 |
Excellent ............................................................... | -- | 1 | 9 | 9 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | -- | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ...................................................................... | 5 | 4 | -- | NA |
Fair ........................................................................ | 19 | 16 | 24 | NA |
Good ..................................................................... | 48 | 54 | 50 | NA |
Excellent ............................................................... | 28 | 26 | 26 | NA |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 2 | -- | -- | NA |
Poor ...................................................................... | 3 | 5 | -- | NA |
Fair ........................................................................ | 12 | 5 | 14 | NA |
Good ..................................................................... | 64 | 74 | 82 | NA |
Excellent ............................................................... | 19 | 16 | 4 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 14 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 12 | 10 | 7 | 10 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 30 | 15 | 23 | 35 |
Good ..................................................................... | 40 | 70 | 61 | 48 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 13 | 20 | -- | 1 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 |
Good ..................................................................... | 62 | 51 | 70 | 60 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 9 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 1 | 2 | -- | -- |
Poor ...................................................................... | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 17 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
Good ..................................................................... | 60 | 57 | 68 | 66 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 18 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | -- | NA | -- | 1 |
Poor ...................................................................... | -- | NA | 16 | 11 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 30 | NA | 28 | 32 |
Good ..................................................................... | 70 | NA | 50 | 45 |
Excellent ............................................................... | -- | NA | 6 | 11 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 7 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
Poor ...................................................................... | 19 | 15 | 10 | 14 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 27 | 29 | 35 | 28 |
Good ..................................................................... | 38 | 49 | 35 | 34 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 9 | 3 | 13 | 10 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .............................................................. | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
Poor ...................................................................... | 2 | 2 | -- | 3 |
Fair ........................................................................ | 13 | 16 | 12 | 17 |
Good ..................................................................... | 76 | 72 | 76 | 68 |
Excellent ............................................................... | 7 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
