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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending August 23, 2020

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Conditions continued to deteriorate due to extreme heat and worsening drought, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Northeastern counties received isolated moisture last week, but was not enough to improve local conditions. A county report indicated producers were noting more failure of non-irrigated crops due to drought including millet, corn, and sorghum. Heavy culling of cattle due to limited native grass availability was noted along with calves sold earlier than usual. Producers were providing supplemental feed to livestock where alternative grazing arrangements were unavailable. Concerns remained regarding irrigation water supplies holding out for the remainder of the growing season.

In east central counties, spotty precipitation was received last week, but most areas remained hot and very dry. Corn silage harvest continued. A county report noted non-irrigated corn was being cut and baled instead of left for grain since few ears were produced this year.

Southwestern counties received little moisture last week and multiple wildfires continued to burn. Severe drought conditions continued to persist in the district.

In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest progressed quickly amidst dry conditions. Livestock were being moved from mountain pasture and stock water supplies were notably short. Limited potato harvest began for a few producers last week, but most were still killing potato vines. Conditions remained very dry.

In southeastern counties, limited moisture was received but county reports noted more was needed to sustain crops and native pasture. Irrigation water supplies continued to lessen.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 59 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 70 percent average and 30 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 85 percent average and 15 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

3rd cutting harvested 

42 

24 

39 

44 

Barley 

    

Harvested 

61 

22 

36 

44 

Corn 

    

Doughed 

70 

55 

50 

62 

Dented 

23 

12 

19 

Harvested for silage 

Dry edible beans 

    

Blooming 

98 

93 

93 

NA 

Cut 

-- 

-- 

Onions 

    

Harvested 

-- 

10 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

NA 

NA 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

-- 

12 

Sorghum 

    

Headed 

86 

76 

87 

87 

Turning color 

16 

23 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.9 

7.0 

6.4 

6.5 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

39 

38 

Short 

44 

42 

17 

21 

Adequate 

17 

20 

74 

71 

Surplus. 

-- 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

43 

43 

Short 

42 

36 

18 

21 

Adequate 

15 

21 

77 

71 

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 

10 

Poor 

18 

14 

Fair 

20 

22 

10 

21 

Good 

45 

48 

60 

55 

Excellent 

21 

13 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

Fair 

19 

22 

23 

NA 

Good 

52 

58 

50 

NA 

Excellent 

25 

19 

20 

NA 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

19 

14 

-- 

Poor 

18 

14 

Fair 

24 

26 

14 

19 

Good 

32 

36 

59 

61 

Excellent 

10 

25 

14 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

22 

19 

Fair 

41 

41 

29 

27 

Good 

33 

37 

58 

58 

Excellent 

-- 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

Fair 

24 

28 

16 

Good 

62 

59 

95 

68 

Excellent 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

22 

27 

Poor 

42 

28 

11 

Fair 

27 

31 

20 

23 

Good 

13 

64 

51 

Excellent 

10 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

17 

13 

30 

16 

Good 

53 

55 

47 

59 

Excellent 

23 

25 

20 

22 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

23 

23 

17 

10 

Good 

56 

56 

67 

76 

Excellent 

12 

12 

14 

13 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

16 

17 

Poor 

26 

21 

Fair 

45 

39 

24 

24 

Good 

20 

59 

60 

Excellent 

13 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

24 

22 

11 

14 

Good 

52 

60 

82 

71 

Excellent 

10 

13 

13 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

28 

24 

-- 

Fair 

46 

47 

20 

24 

Good 

19 

21 

66 

63 

Excellent 

-- 

14 

10 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

35 

33 

12 

Good 

46 

50 

78 

75 

Excellent 

14 

11