Colorado Crops Progress Summary – April 22, 2018

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Several counties across the state received needed moisture in the form of rain and snow late in the week, helping to replenish diminishing soil moisture supplies, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. However, areas stricken by persistent drought conditions unfortunately remained dry, particularly southern counties.

Reporters in northeastern counties noted corn planting began last week and welcome moisture was received. Concerns remained for non-irrigated crop and pastureland conditions still behind on moisture thus far.

In east central counties, extremely high winds were reported again last week, contributing to grave fire danger and blowing of loose soil. Moisture received late in the week helped drought-stressed winter wheat, but much more is needed going forward. Producers faced difficulty spraying fields due to consistent high winds.

Southwestern counties missed out on much of the moisture and drought conditions worsened. Reporters noted hay supplies remained short and that producers were beginning to actively cull livestock in response to dire conditions. Low reservoir levels and dry stock ponds were also chief concerns going forward.

The San Luis Valley received spotty precipitation, and high winds earlier in the week contributed to blowing soil and damaged structures. A reporter noted lower than normal water supplies reduced irrigation.

In southeastern counties, high winds and fires were reported. Late week moisture was welcome and cool weather helped keep soil moisture from evaporating too quickly.

As of April 23, 2018, snowpack in Colorado was 81 percent measured as percent of median snowfall, and the Southwest was at 31 percent.

Stored feed supplies were rated 4 percent very short, 18 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 39 percent average and 61 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 72 percent average, and 27 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS
Commodity	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Barley
Planted ..............................................................	60	36	59	48
Emerged ............................................................	14	4	NA	NA
Corn
Planted ..............................................................	2	--	7	5
Onions
Planted ..............................................................	60	31	56	56
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley
Planted ..............................................................	27	15	43	34
Spring wheat
Planted ..............................................................	52	33	31	32
Emerged ............................................................	14	6	NA	NA
Sugarbeets
Planted ..............................................................	28	12	29	31
Emerged ............................................................	2	NA	NA	NA
Winter wheat
Pastured .............................................................	3	19	12	NA
Jointed ...............................................................	20	10	39	29
Cattle and calves
Cows calved ......................................................	86	78	83	85
Sheep and lambs
Ewes lambed .....................................................	90	84	70	78

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION
Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
Days suitable for fieldwork ....................................	4.6	5.2	4.8	5.1
Topsoil moisture	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Very short .........................................................	25	29	3	9
Short .................................................................	28	32	17	23
Adequate ...........................................................	46	38	76	64
Surplus ..............................................................	1	1	4	4
Subsoil moisture
Very short .........................................................	17	24	6	17
Short .................................................................	34	32	26	30
Adequate ...........................................................	48	44	66	51
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 ..........................................................	5	NA	--	NA
Poor ...................................................................	16	NA	2	NA
Fair ....................................................................	29	NA	15	NA
Good .................................................................	43	NA	74	NA
Excellent ...........................................................	7	NA	9	NA
Pasture and range
Very poor ..........................................................	24	21	4	15
Poor ...................................................................	23	24	23	25
Fair ....................................................................	32	29	35	31
Good .................................................................	21	25	34	26
Excellent ...........................................................	--	1	4	3
Winter wheat
Very poor ..........................................................	11	9	6	11
Poor ...................................................................	18	15	16	17
Fair ....................................................................	35	38	36	31
Good .................................................................	34	36	35	35
Excellent ...........................................................	2	2	7	6
Livestock
Very poor ..........................................................	--	--	--	1
Poor ...................................................................	3	2	3	4
Fair ....................................................................	18	19	18	24
Good .................................................................	74	74	71	64
Excellent ...........................................................	5	5	8	7