agriculture

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.

A referendum to establish a millet marketing order funded by an assessment on every bushel of millet sold in Colorado failed. A total of 308 votes were received, with 164 "no" votes and 144 "yes" votes.

The High Plains Millet Association spearheaded the effort to establish a marketing order following legislation that passed this year to include millet in the Marketing Act of 1939.

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.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• COUNTY FOR CRP EMERGENCY GRAZING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th
• CRP Emergency hayed  bales - removed from field by September 15^th
• MFP - Market Facilitation Program - SIGNUP DEADLINE January 15,2019
• Apply for Livestock Forage Program - Call office for appointment - SIGNUP DEADLINE DECEMBER 31, 2018
• NAP COVERAGE DEADLINE- December 1^st, native grass 

The Colorado Department of Agriculture's State Veterinarian's Office is continuing their investigation into a Weld County horse that tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in late August.  With the help of records from CDA's Brands Division and Rocky Mountain Regional Animal Health Laboratory, the State Veterinarian's Office has determined that approximately 240 horses have been on the quarantined premises during the same time as the index positive animal.  Approximately 100 of these horses were sent to 20 other states across the country and steps are being taken to lo

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.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• COUNTY FOR CRP EMERGENCY GRAZING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th
• CRP Emergency hayed  bales - removed from field by September 15^th
• Apply for Livestock Forage Program - Call office for appointment.
• NAP COVERAGE DEADLINE- December 1^st, native grass 
• FARM LOAN Personnel in Kiowa County Service Center - Tuesday, September 11^th- CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT