Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending July 7, 2019
Winter wheat harvest was underway in southeastern counties last week, and harvest in a few other counties began in a limited manner, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Wheat harvest was behind last year and the average. Spring crop development achieved significant gains last week due to increased heat units. Scattered thunderstorms brought isolated rain and damaging hail last week to eastern counties. Hot and windy conditions elevated fire danger, especially in western counties.
Northeastern county reporters noted isolated moisture was received and some areas received enough to delay fieldwork late in the week. Livestock were notably in good condition, although hot temperatures and wind last week were starting to dry out pastureland. Minor crop damaged was noted due to hail and high winds in areas.
In the San Luis Valley, rain was limited last week. A reporter mentioned harvest of first cutting alfalfa was nearing completion and dry weather aided baling of the crop. Lack of recent moisture was a concern for rangeland condition going forward.
In southeastern counties, a reporter noted enough rain was received to slow hay harvest. Rain and hail in several areas damaged some winter wheat acreage.
Statewide, winter wheat was rated 81 percent good to excellent, compared to 52 percent last year.
Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 18 percent short, 75 percent adequate, and 6 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 3 percent heavy, 55 percent average, and 42 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 79 percent average and 21 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
1st cutting harvested | 95 | 85 | 96 | 95 |
2nd cutting harvested | 16 | 8 | 23 | 21 |
Barley | ||||
Headed | 75 | 44 | 85 | 83 |
Turning color | 11 | 4 | 12 | 13 |
Corn | ||||
Silked | 1 | NA | 3 | 3 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Planted | 98 | 80 | NA | NA |
Emerged | 89 | 54 | 88 | NA |
Blooming | 11 | NA | 17 | 8 |
Proso millet | ||||
Planted | 97 | 94 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Planted | 98 | 94 | 100 | 100 |
Emerged | 85 | 74 | 96 | NA |
Sunflowers | ||||
Planted | 93 | 87 | 98 | 95 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Turning color | 90 | 70 | 97 | NA |
Mature | 51 | 21 | 78 | 72 |
Harvested | 10 | 1 | 42 | 30 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.0 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 4 | 3 | 21 | 10 |
Short | 12 | 9 | 24 | 25 |
Adequate | 80 | 81 | 53 | 61 |
Surplus. | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 3 | 4 | 18 | 11 |
Short | 18 | 12 | 25 | 21 |
Adequate | 76 | 79 | 57 | 66 |
Surplus. | 3 | 5 | -- | 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 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
Poor | 4 | 5 | 15 | 8 |
Fair | 7 | 7 | 27 | 24 |
Good | 69 | 72 | 45 | 51 |
Excellent | 17 | 13 | 5 | 15 |
Barley | ||||
Very poor | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Fair | 29 | 18 | 31 | 19 |
Good | 45 | 58 | 47 | 53 |
Excellent | 10 | 20 | 20 | 26 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 2 |
Poor | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
Fair | 14 | 19 | 23 | 19 |
Good | 67 | 69 | 65 | 61 |
Excellent | 18 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | NA | 14 | 3 |
Poor | 8 | NA | 16 | 6 |
Fair | 32 | NA | 19 | 30 |
Good | 53 | NA | 39 | 53 |
Excellent | 7 | NA | 12 | 8 |
Onions | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
Fair | 7 | 3 | 34 | 18 |
Good | 88 | 94 | 60 | 67 |
Excellent | 5 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 23 | 8 |
Poor | 4 | 3 | 28 | 14 |
Fair | 18 | 16 | 25 | 25 |
Good | 60 | 63 | 23 | 45 |
Excellent | 17 | 17 | 1 | 8 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
Poor | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Fair | 30 | 23 | 16 | 18 |
Good | 40 | 56 | 54 | 55 |
Excellent | 20 | 18 | 26 | 22 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Poor | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Fair | 18 | 19 | 5 | 9 |
Good | 65 | 70 | 74 | 76 |
Excellent | 15 | 9 | 16 | 14 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Poor | 1 | 5 | 10 | 7 |
Fair | 12 | 23 | 15 | 32 |
Good | 74 | 59 | 70 | 57 |
Excellent | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | 1 | -- | 7 | 3 |
Fair | 17 | 26 | 20 | 16 |
Good | 65 | 62 | 57 | 63 |
Excellent | 17 | 12 | 14 | 17 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Poor | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Fair | 16 | 13 | NA | NA |
Good | 76 | 83 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 8 | 4 | NA | NA |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
Poor | 3 | 4 | 15 | 12 |
Fair | 15 | 17 | 29 | 29 |
Good | 47 | 52 | 49 | 41 |
Excellent | 34 | 26 | 3 | 10 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Poor | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Fair | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Good | 67 | 69 | 72 | 72 |
Excellent | 19 | 13 | 10 | 13 |
