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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending October 4, 2020

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Dry conditions across the state last week allowed corn for grain harvest to progress quickly, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Virtually no precipitation was received last week.

In northeastern counties, corn silage harvest neared completion and producers continued to seed winter wheat. Sugarbeet harvest slowed due to warm temperatures, but remained ahead of average.

In east central counties, harvest of corn, sorghum, and millet progressed rapidly. Livestock producers continued to provide supplemental feed due to drought. A county report noted fields normally cut for grass hay were too short and dry to make hay this year.

In southwestern counties, dry bean harvest advanced quickly last week. Fourth cutting of alfalfa continued. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, exceptional (D4) drought conditions were introduced in west central counties.

In the San Luis Valley, third cutting of alfalfa neared completion and potato harvest continued to proceed ahead of average.

In southeastern counties, harvest also made good progress last week. Conditions remained very dry.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus.

Sheep death loss was 74 percent average and 26 percent light.

Cattle death loss was 92 percent average and 8 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 

97 

85 

94 

94 

4th cutting harvested 

46 

28 

46 

43 

Corn 

    

Mature 

69 

55 

58 

63 

Harvested for grain 

30 

13 

16 

12 

Harvested for silage 

98 

85 

87 

NA 

Dry edible beans 

    

Cut 

79 

59 

70 

83 

Harvested 

36 

13 

39 

58 

Onions 

    

Harvested 

70 

60 

71 

81 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

84 

59 

72 

65 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Harvested 

85 

69 

78 

NA 

Proso Millet 

    

Harvested 

77 

69 

82 

NA 

Sorghum 

    

Turning color 

95 

92 

96 

96 

Mature 

56 

53 

53 

49 

Harvested 

18 

16 

13 

Sugarbeets 

    

Harvested 

43 

35 

27 

19 

Winter wheat 

    

Planted 

86 

66 

76 

73 

Emerged 

35 

19 

47 

42 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

7.0 

7.0 

6.5 

5.9 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Very short 

40 

33 

10 

Short 

45 

44 

36 

31 

Adequate 

15 

22 

53 

59 

Surplus. 

-- 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

38 

33 

Short 

48 

46 

30 

29 

Adequate 

14 

21 

60 

62 

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 

17 

17 

Fair 

22 

22 

10 

21 

Good 

50 

50 

76 

58 

Excellent 

10 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

10 

10 

-- 

Poor 

28 

25 

Fair 

35 

29 

22 

23 

Good 

23 

32 

61 

59 

Excellent 

11 

12 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

NA 

Poor 

28 

18 

11 

NA 

Fair 

38 

38 

42 

NA 

Good 

31 

38 

46 

NA 

Excellent 

NA 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

19 

19 

Poor 

39 

38 

10 

16 

Fair 

32 

30 

28 

26 

Good 

10 

13 

51 

42 

Excellent 

-- 

-- 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

16 

Poor 

20 

22 

Fair 

54 

45 

26 

26 

Good 

16 

14 

62 

59 

Excellent 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

Poor 

10 

-- 

Fair 

37 

33 

15 

15 

Good 

43 

44 

76 

66 

Excellent 

16 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

15 

24 

-- 

Fair 

72 

48 

24 

26 

Good 

10 

19 

66 

59 

Excellent 

-- 

10 

11 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

35 

34 

14 

Good 

54 

49 

75 

74 

Excellent 

15 

11