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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending November 27, 2022

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Note: Monthly crop progress reports will be release for December, January, and February. Weekly reporting resume in March 2023.

Another primarily dry week allowed harvest to conclude in most areas, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

According to the United States Drought Monitor for November 22, over 49 percent of the State was categorized in moderate drought or worse, up from the previous week. Over 25 percent of the State is experiencing severe to exceptional drought conditions, up almost 2 percent from last week. Extreme drought conditions in the northeastern and southeastern portion of the State worsened last week, accounting for roughly 4 percent of the State, up 1 percent from last week. The exceptional drought conditions noted across portions of Phillips and Sedgwick Counties remain unchanged from last week, accounting for less than one percent of the State.

Warmer than average temperatures were seen across most of the State, with the northeastern corner of the State experiencing temperatures more than six degrees above average and minimal moisture.

The western slope realized below average temperatures and scattered precipitation. The average maximum temperature reached almost 60 degrees on the eastern plains and lows below zero degrees were seen in the high country.

Sunflower harvest is almost complete in eastern Colorado, jumping ahead of the 5-year average harvest pace of 95 percent complete.

Livestock remained in mostly good condition. Pasture and rangeland have become scarce in areas, with many ranchers providing supplemental feed to livestock.

Snowpack in the State was below average for this time of year. Stored feed supplies were rated 26 percent very short, 28 percent short, 42 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

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

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 70 percent average, and 29 percent light. 

CROP PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Sunflowers 

    

Harvested 

97 

90 

97 

95 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

6.4 

5.8 

7.0 

NA 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

25 

27 

50 

NA 

Short 

51 

48 

34 

NA 

Adequate 

23 

25 

16 

NA 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

NA 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

32 

32 

51 

NA 

Short 

39 

45 

22 

NA 

Adequate 

28 

23 

27 

NA 

Surplus 

-- 

-- 

NA 

CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

17 

16 

22 

NA 

Poor 

19 

19 

18 

NA 

Fair 

26 

29 

25 

NA 

Good 

37 

32 

28 

NA 

Excellent 

NA 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

17 

24 

10 

NA 

Poor 

21 

28 

23 

NA 

Fair 

32 

28 

29 

NA 

Good 

29 

20 

35 

NA 

Excellent 

-- 

NA 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

10 

NA 

Poor 

10 

NA 

Fair 

16 

19 

26 

NA 

Good 

58 

57 

43 

NA 

Excellent 

18 

NA