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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending April 24, 2022

© iStock - William_Potter

Windy conditions and minimal moisture continued across most of the State last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 87 percent of the State is under drought conditions, up 4 percentage points from last week. Thirty-three percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, up 1 percentage point from the previous week. Extreme drought conditions are affecting 4 percent of the State, unchanged from the previous week.

In northeastern and east central counties, strong winds continued to worsen winter wheat and rangeland conditions, as well as delayed planting of other crops. A reporter noted that no moisture is visible in the top few inches of many fields.

Southwestern counties received rain Friday and Saturday, along with high winds. A reporter noted freezing evening temperatures continue and the damage to the fruit crop is unknown. High winds and low humidity continue to dry out soil despite moisture events last week.

In the San Luis Valley, potato planting begun, but windy conditions hindered progress. A reporter noted livestock are in good condition as pastures are starting to green up.

The southeastern counties remained primarily dry, and windy conditions persisted, further depleting crop and range conditions.

Overall, calving and lambing continued with few issues, with 88 percent of cows calved and ewes lambed, both behind the previous year, but equal to the 5-year average.

As of April 24, 2022, snowpack in Colorado was 82 percent measured as percent of median snowfall, down 9 percentage points from the previous week. The Southwest and San Luis Valley were 64 and 59 percent, respectively.

Stored feed supplies were rated 6 percent very short, 30 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 81 percent average and 19 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 83 percent average, and 16 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Barley 

    

Planted 

48 

27 

62 

67 

Corn 

    

Planted 

-- 

10 

Onions 

    

Planted 

19 

19 

40 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

    

Planted 

NA 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

    

Planted 

10 

-- 

18 

26 

Sugarbeeets 

    

Planted 

-- 

11 

27 

Winter wheat 

    

Pastured 

10 

11 

Jointed 

30 

20 

40 

34 

Cattle and calves 

    

Cows calved 

88 

81 

92 

88 

Sheep and lambs 

    

Ewes lambed 

88 

76 

91 

88 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

4.6 

5.7 

5.6 

5.5 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

40 

30 

15 

11 

Short 

39 

46 

42 

24 

Adequate 

21 

23 

43 

62 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

28 

27 

32 

13 

Short 

45 

48 

41 

24 

Adequate 

27 

25 

27 

62 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

-- 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

Very poor 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

Fair 

55 

NA 

29 

20 

Good 

44 

NA 

52 

64 

Excellent 

-- 

NA 

13 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

23 

23 

23 

10 

Poor 

26 

29 

30 

18 

Fair 

21 

19 

35 

32 

Good 

30 

29 

12 

37 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

18 

17 

13 

Poor 

29 

31 

19 

13 

Fair 

36 

38 

38 

32 

Good 

16 

14 

27 

42 

Excellent 

-- 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

25 

22 

29 

20 

Good 

60 

61 

54 

67 

Excellent