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Person standing in a wheat field using a tablet device with agriculture icons imposed

Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report for the week ending June 6, 2021

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Warmer weather helped fieldwork and crop emergence advance last week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Several crops remained behind last year and the average. 

In northeastern counties, spring planting progressed or was completed as areas dried out. According to county reports, increased heat units promoted growth and development, particularly for winter wheat. Conditions were more favorable for alfalfa harvest last week. Livestock were notably doing well from improved summer pasture conditions.

East central counties received isolated moisture and severe weather was observed last week. Considerable concerns remained regarding insect and disease pressure in winter wheat, but county reports noted warmer weather helped decrease chance of stripe rust in areas.

Drought in southwestern counties continued to persist and extremely hot temperatures were observed. County reports noted more producers started cutting alfalfa last week in the district.

In the San Luis Valley, light moisture was received and potato emergence picked up. Damage from prior frost continued to be noticed in the alfalfa crop. Feed supplies remained very short.

In southeastern counties, good rains continued to support native pasture growth. Fieldwork was delayed due to wet conditions. Some wheat was starting to color in the district.

Stored feed supplies were rated 38 percent very short, 38 percent short, and 24 percent adequate.

Sheep death loss was 82 percent average and 18 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 63 percent average and 37 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 

28 

15 

41 

33 

Corn 

    

Planted 

90 

84 

98 

94 

Emerged 

68 

54 

93 

81 

Dry edible beans 

    

Planted 

48 

23 

52 

33 

Emerged 

13 

16 

11 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Emerged 

20 

10 

58 

39 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Emerged 

63 

45 

91 

85 

Proso millet 

    

Planted 

24 

10 

74 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Planted 

33 

26 

54 

46 

Emerged 

15 

NA 

19 

16 

Sugarbeets 

    

Emerged 

96 

83 

90 

NA 

Sunflowers 

    

Planted 

28 

18 

49 

29 

Winter wheat 

    

Headed 

72 

56 

83 

85 

Turning color 

10 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

5.7 

3.9 

6.6 

6.3 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

-- 

23 

10 

Short 

11 

40 

19 

Adequate 

73 

80 

37 

66 

Surplus. 

11 

12 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

22 

Short 

25 

23 

34 

17 

Adequate 

64 

71 

44 

72 

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 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

20 

22 

28 

21 

Good 

58 

55 

48 

55 

Excellent 

14 

15 

13 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

39 

30 

28 

21 

Good 

35 

49 

51 

54 

Excellent 

16 

16 

20 

24 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

20 

18 

36 

20 

Good 

64 

59 

43 

65 

Excellent 

10 

19 

10 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

42 

42 

27 

22 

Good 

53 

53 

62 

69 

Excellent 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

-- 

23 

Poor 

17 

18 

16 

10 

Fair 

43 

53 

29 

21 

Good 

28 

18 

32 

52 

Excellent 

12 

10 

-- 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

NA 

-- 

Poor 

NA 

Fair 

32 

NA 

21 

13 

Good 

58 

NA 

62 

69 

Excellent 

NA 

12 

17 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

Fair 

33 

30 

28 

23 

Good 

60 

56 

51 

60 

Excellent 

13 

13 

14 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

17 

Poor 

10 

11 

21 

12 

Fair 

29 

35 

30 

25 

Good 

50 

41 

30 

44 

Excellent 

12 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

14 

21 

22 

15 

Good 

61 

63 

62 

70 

Excellent 

17 

10 

12