Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 3, 2021
Precipitation was mostly confined to western counties last week as fieldwork and harvest continued, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, moderate and severe drought expanded in eastern districts over the prior week.
In northwestern counties, soil moisture supplies remained very short to short according to county reports. Light moisture was received in areas. Pasture and rangeland were rated mostly poor to fair in the district. Harvest and fieldwork continued in northeastern and east central counties last week. Overnight lows were colder with some temperatures reported below freezing. Minimal precipitation was received. Grain corn harvest remained limited to non-irrigated corn while producers waited for irrigated acreage to dry down. Sugarbeet harvest picked up where conditions allowed last week. County reports noted sorghum maturity was spotty with some not expected to mature in time. Sorghum harvest was slow in areas. Dry conditions remained a primary concern as areas continued to see no precipitation. Winter wheat seeding continued, but emergence was delayed and inconsistent because of poor topsoil moisture. Livestock producers continued weaning activities and were providing supplemental feed in areas.
In southwestern counties, isolated moisture was received and the third cutting of alfalfa was nearly complete. Dry bean harvest continued.
In the San Luis Valley, late-week rain delayed fall potato harvest. Prior to the wet weather producers made good progress.
Southeastern counties remained mostly dry with some moisture received in the northern and western parts of the district. Winter wheat seeding continued and sorghum harvest made good progress in areas.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 2 percent very short, 16 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 18 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 83 percent average and 17 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 60 percent average and 40 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 | 92 | 87 | 95 | 94 |
4th cutting harvested | 40 | 29 | 43 | 44 |
Corn | ||||
Mature | 67 | 53 | 67 | 59 |
Harvested for grain | 22 | 16 | 28 | 15 |
Harvested for silage | 99 | 93 | 96 | NA |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 86 | 74 | 76 | 80 |
Harvested | 42 | 34 | 33 | 54 |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 93 | 81 | 69 | 78 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 59 | 39 | 80 | 68 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 88 | 75 | 83 | NA |
Proso millet | ||||
Harvested | 88 | 87 | 76 | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Mature | 73 | 53 | 56 | 47 |
Harvested for grain | 14 | 10 | 18 | 10 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested | 40 | 29 | 42 | 19 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 77 | 57 | 83 | 73 |
Emerged | 37 | 25 | 33 | 40 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.1 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 29 | 19 | 40 | 14 |
Short | 41 | 46 | 45 | 32 |
Adequate | 30 | 35 | 15 | 52 |
Surplus. | -- | -- | -- | 2 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 33 | 30 | 38 | 14 |
Short | 35 | 40 | 48 | 31 |
Adequate | 32 | 30 | 14 | 54 |
Surplus. | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
CROP, LIVESTOCK, PASTURE AND RANGE CONDITION | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
Very poor | 7 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Poor | 10 | 11 | 17 | 10 |
Fair | 24 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Good | 54 | 52 | 50 | 56 |
Excellent | 5 | 8 | 5 | 9 |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | 13 | 14 | 10 | 3 |
Poor | 17 | 20 | 28 | 10 |
Fair | 20 | 25 | 35 | 25 |
Good | 42 | 33 | 23 | 52 |
Excellent | 8 | 8 | 4 | 10 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 2 | NA |
Poor | 10 | 10 | 28 | NA |
Fair | 40 | 39 | 38 | NA |
Good | 33 | 34 | 31 | NA |
Excellent | 17 | 17 | 1 | NA |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 15 | 15 | 19 | 11 |
Poor | 23 | 20 | 39 | 20 |
Fair | 26 | 22 | 32 | 28 |
Good | 24 | 30 | 10 | 35 |
Excellent | 12 | 13 | -- | 6 |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Very poor | 4 | 6 | NA | NA |
Poor | 16 | 20 | NA | NA |
Fair | 28 | 33 | NA | NA |
Good | 37 | 31 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 15 | 10 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 8 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
Poor | 11 | 10 | 20 | 8 |
Fair | 19 | 19 | 54 | 31 |
Good | 47 | 48 | 16 | 50 |
Excellent | 15 | 14 | 2 | 7 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 3 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 9 | 4 |
Fair | 25 | 25 | 37 | 21 |
Good | 50 | 50 | 43 | 60 |
Excellent | 25 | 25 | 8 | 14 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 3 | 1 |
Poor | 9 | 8 | 15 | 5 |
Fair | 33 | 35 | 72 | 34 |
Good | 50 | 49 | 10 | 52 |
Excellent | 8 | 8 | -- | 8 |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Poor | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
Fair | 24 | 27 | 35 | 19 |
Good | 53 | 48 | 54 | 68 |
Excellent | 13 | 12 | 6 | 10 |
