Colorado Crops Progress Summary – April 15, 2018
A late week blizzard blanketed northeastern Colorado and stalled fieldwork, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Other localities across the state received isolated precipitation and high winds, with the majority of areas remaining dry and in need of moisture.
Northeastern and some east central counties were hit hardest by blizzard conditions late in the week, causing challenges for livestock producers. Received snow will help moisture supplies, but cold temps were a concern for winter wheat in these areas. A northeastern county reporter noted some winter wheat was damaged by frost. A reporter in the east central district noted high winds late in the week approached hurricane strength and caused varying levels of damage. Lack of moisture received in this area along with wind continued to deteriorate conditions, with additional fires reported last week.
Southwestern counties remained very dry last week. A reporter noted hay supplies were shortening as rangeland continued to be negatively affected by persisting drought.
In the San Luis valley, moisture was minimal last week, but livestock were reported to be doing better than normal. Reporters noted problematic high winds caused soil erosion and damaged some newly emerged barley. Possible alfalfa losses due to winter kill were also noted.
Reporters in southeastern counties noted isolated moisture was received, but high winds negated any soak-in. It was also mentioned that very limited delivery of irrigation water will adversely affect spring plantings.
As of April 16, 2018, snowpack in Colorado was 70 percent measured as percent of median snowfall. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were both 34 percent. Stored feed supplies were rated 3 percent very short, 23 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Sheep death loss was 40 percent average and 60 percent light. Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 74 percent average, and 25 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Barley | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 36 | 10 | 34 | 31 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 4 | NA | NA | NA |
Onions | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 31 | 12 | 37 | 41 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 15 | 7 | 22 | 21 |
Spring wheat | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 33 | 14 | 18 | 20 |
Emerged ............................................................ | 6 | NA | NA | NA |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Planted .............................................................. | 12 | 5 | 13 | 17 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Pastured ............................................................. | 19 | 9 | 12 | NA |
Jointed ............................................................... | 10 | 3 | 16 | 15 |
Cattle and calves | ||||
Cows calved ...................................................... | 78 | 69 | 75 | 80 |
Sheep and lambs | ||||
Ewes lambed ..................................................... | 84 | 73 | 59 | 69 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork .................................... | 5.2 | 5.9 | 6.3 | 5.2 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short ......................................................... | 29 | 23 | 4 | 10 |
Short ................................................................. | 32 | 39 | 19 | 25 |
Adequate ........................................................... | 38 | 37 | 73 | 61 |
Surplus .............................................................. | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short ......................................................... | 24 | 17 | 7 | 18 |
Short ................................................................. | 32 | 30 | 29 | 32 |
Adequate ........................................................... | 44 | 51 | 63 | 48 |
Surplus .............................................................. | -- | 2 | 1 | 2 |
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 .......................................................... | 21 | 19 | 5 | 18 |
Poor ................................................................... | 24 | 22 | 26 | 24 |
Fair .................................................................... | 29 | 32 | 34 | 31 |
Good ................................................................. | 25 | 25 | 31 | 25 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | 9 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
Poor ................................................................... | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 |
Fair .................................................................... | 38 | 39 | 36 | 32 |
Good ................................................................. | 36 | 38 | 33 | 33 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 2 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor .......................................................... | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor ................................................................... | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Fair .................................................................... | 19 | 21 | 19 | 26 |
Good ................................................................. | 74 | 71 | 70 | 61 |
Excellent ........................................................... | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
