agriculture

Colorado Simmental and Shorthorn youth enjoyed a fun-filled day when the breed associations joined forces to create a "Junior Extravaganza" earlier in June.

Saturday kicked off with fun, educational contests. In the Quiz Bowl, teammates were drawn from a bucket. Youth were asked beef industry questions, ranging from bunk space requirements and body temperature queries, to pedigree and gestation-related questions. The team of Gabri Leone of Fowler and Bryce Hill of Sterling were victorious in the final round of the round-robin contest.

COLORADO 

The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Colorado feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or larger was estimated at 950,000 head as of June 1, 2018. This latest inventory is 1 percent above last month, but 2 percent below the June 1, 2017 inventory. 

Soil moisture supplies diminished due to very hot and dry conditions last week, although beneficial weekend moisture was received in several areas, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 

Reporters in northeastern counties noted crops and livestock in areas that received moisture were doing well. A reporter noted dryland crop and rangeland conditions remained a concern for producers in areas that were drier. A reporter also noted some irrigated corn stands were uneven due to earlier dry field conditions.

Colorado Simmental adult and youth members elected leadership during their respective annual meetings. 

Charles "Mick" Mickeljohn of Collbran was elected and Jay Hill of Sterling, and Mitchell Jergensen of Ramah, were re-elected to the Colorado Simmental board of directors during the association's annual meeting on Friday night, June 8. Rounding out the board are Vicky Ahlberg of Longmont, Willie Altenburg of Fort Collins, Russ Princ of Fort Collins and Beth Temple of Center, according to Susan Russell, secretary/treasurer from Sugar City.

Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Don Brown has scheduled a public hearing on June 22 in Akron to hear and record testimony on the need to conduct a referendum of millet producers to determine whether they support a millet marketing order.  The hearing was requested by the High Plains Millet Association (HPMA), who supports a producer referendum to establish a millet marketing order to self-fund vital education, research and marketing programs. 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

• 2018 SPRING ACREAGE REPORTING DEADLINE -  July 15^th
• PRIMARY NESTING SEASON -  March 15^th-  July 15 - NO CRP Contract Management ALLOWED 
• County Committee Nomination Deadline -  August 1^st
• Apply for Livestock Forage Program -  Call office for appointment.

As intense drought continues to plague southern and western Colorado, two more counties have received designations as primary natural disaster areas by the United States Department of Agriculture. 

This week, Elbert and El Paso counties were added to the list of designated counties. Primary counties now account for 33 of the state's 64 counties. Ten more counties are eligible for assistance as neighboring counties.

COLORADO HIGHLIGHTS 

Abnormally hot and dry conditions accelerated crop development and fieldwork across Colorado last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Most areas received no moisture last week, but some isolated storms with damaging hail were observed in northeastern counties. 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

*      PRIMARY NESTING SEASON -  March 15^th-  July 15 - NO CRP Contract Management ALLOWED 

*      FARM LOAN Personnel in Kiowa County Service Center - Tuesday, July 10^th 

*      FSA County Committee Meeting - TBA