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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 summary – July 14, 2019

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Hot weather last week aided winter wheat maturity and advanced spring crop development toward more average gains for this time of year, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Winter wheat harvest, at 22 percent complete, was behind last year and the average.

In northeastern counties, precipitation last week was enough to limit fieldwork slightly. Isolated wheat harvest activity was noted by northeastern county reporters, but most fields were still days to over a week away from harvest, depending on locality. A reporter noted conditions were favorable for winter wheat grain fill. In the east central district, harvest began in earnest for some southern counties. Isolated precipitation was noted during the week.

Counties in the southwestern district observed above normal temperatures last week with locally heavy rainfall.

In the San Luis Valley, limited rain was received last week. Fall potatoes were reportedly in good condition and alfalfa was growing after completion of the first cutting. A reporter noted field soil moisture supplies were quickly depleting without irrigation.

In southeastern counties, winter wheat harvest advanced rapidly last week. Hot temperatures and scarce moisture caused some corn and sorghum to show signs of stress, according to a county reporter.

Statewide, winter wheat was rated 82 percent good to excellent, compared to 47 percent good to excellent last year and 51 percent on average.

Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 54 percent average, and 45 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 75 percent average, and 24 percent light.

 CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS 

Commodity 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Alfalfa hay 

    

2nd cutting harvested 

28 

16 

41 

36 

Barley 

    

Headed 

87 

75 

92 

91 

Turning color 

23 

11 

26 

22 

Corn 

    

Silked 

15 

12 

Dry edible beans 

    

Emerged 

98 

89 

96 

NA 

Blooming 

20 

11 

32 

22 

Sorghum 

    

Emerged 

95 

85 

NA 

NA 

Sunflowers 

    

Planted 

97 

93 

99 

98 

Winter wheat 

    

Turning color 

95 

90 

NA 

NA 

Mature 

66 

51 

93 

90 

Harvested 

22 

10 

75 

58 

 DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION 

 

Current week 

Previous week 

Previous year 

5-year average 

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.3 

6.0 

6.6 

6.1 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

27 

10 

Short 

17 

12 

28 

26 

Adequate 

74 

80 

44 

60 

Surplus. 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

22 

11 

Short 

19 

18 

29 

24 

Adequate 

75 

76 

48 

63 

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 

15 

Fair 

30 

25 

Good 

69 

69 

41 

52 

Excellent 

19 

17 

13 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

12 

Fair 

20 

29 

36 

20 

Good 

51 

45 

45 

54 

Excellent 

17 

10 

18 

25 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

16 

14 

20 

19 

Good 

65 

67 

62 

60 

Excellent 

17 

18 

13 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

12 

Poor 

25 

Fair 

28 

32 

14 

30 

Good 

65 

53 

38 

54 

Excellent 

11 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

24 

21 

Good 

94 

88 

68 

63 

Excellent 

12 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

30 

Poor 

24 

14 

Fair 

20 

18 

25 

26 

Good 

61 

60 

21 

43 

Excellent 

14 

17 

-- 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

10 

Fair 

28 

30 

19 

20 

Good 

47 

40 

48 

53 

Excellent 

20 

20 

28 

21 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

18 

18 

12 

11 

Good 

67 

65 

64 

73 

Excellent 

13 

15 

19 

15 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

14 

Poor 

12 

Fair 

26 

12 

30 

32 

Good 

64 

74 

40 

53 

Excellent 

12 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

17 

17 

17 

15 

Good 

71 

65 

60 

65 

Excellent 

11 

17 

18 

17 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

19 

16 

30 

28 

Good 

75 

76 

70 

53 

Excellent 

-- 

10 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

19 

12 

Fair 

14 

15 

27 

28 

Good 

50 

47 

38 

39 

Excellent 

32 

34 

12 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

11 

12 

13 

13 

Good 

70 

67 

76 

74 

Excellent 

16 

19 

12