AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Hot and dry weather was widespread with reported isolated precipitation throughout the state last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
In northeastern counties, winter wheat planting progressed well despite dry soil conditions. Livestock were reportedly in good condition, with producers marketing calves to alleviate using forage.
Northeastern and east central counties noted winter wheat being seeded into dry topsoil.
August Prices Received Index Decreased 2.2 Percent
The August Prices Received Index (Agricultural Production), at 89.5, decreased 2.2 percent from July 2018. At 89.9, the Crop Production Index increased 3.6 percent. The Livestock Production Index, at 89.3, decreased 6.4 percent.
Producers received lower prices for broilers, hogs, grapes, and soybeans more than offset higher prices for milk, wheat, lettuce, and lemons.
Colorado inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2018 was 780,000 head, up 3 percent from June 1, 2018 and up 3 percent from last year. Breeding inventory, at 155,000 head, was unchanged from the previous quarter, but down 5,000 head from last year. Market hog inventory, at 625,000 head, was up 3 percent from last quarter and up 4 percent from last year.
Off-farm corn stocks in Arizona on September 1, 2018 were 1.63 million bushels, up 27 percent from September 1, 2017, according to the September 1 Agricultural Survey and September Grain Stocks Report conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Off-farm barley stocks totaled 140,000 bushels, down 12 percent from last year.
Hot and dry weather accelerated crop maturity and harvest activities last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
Northwestern counties received no moisture, and new fires were reported. In northeastern counties, winter wheat planting slowed slightly due to dry conditions. Reporters noted early sugar beet harvest was also underway and millet harvest progressed well last week. Livestock were reportedly in good condition, with producers starting to wean calves.
Based on September 1 conditions, corn production in Colorado is forecast at 174.20 million bushels, according to the September 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. This forecast is down 2 percent from the August 1 forecast and down 6 percent from the 185.90 million bushels produced last year. The 1.34 million acres expected to be harvested for grain this year are unchanged from the August 1 forecast and 40,000 acres above the 1.30 million acres harvested a year ago.
Conditions for fieldwork were mixed last week, but planting and harvesting activities continued around scattered moisture events early in the week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is gearing up to conduct the Agricultural Labor Survey, which is conducted twice each year. The survey will collect information about hired labor from more than 900 farmers and ranchers in the six state Mountain Region including Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
"Labor is obviously critical to farming operations and data about the use of hired workers helps administer farm labor programs," said Bill Meyer, Director of the NASS Mountain Regional Field Office.
Conditions last week were generally ideal for fieldwork, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Harvest and maturity of several crops proceeded well ahead of the average.
