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Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and condition report – week ending September 27, 2020

Overall, conditions were once again warm and dry in the state during the past week, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA.

Minor amounts of precipitation were received in some areas, but on average, there were seven days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending September 27, 2020.

In northeastern counties, corn silage harvest continued at a rapid pace. Sugarbeet harvest made a significant increase while proso millet and sorghum harvest showed little increase from last week. Farmers actively planted wheat but remained concerned over the dry conditions. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued with the worsening of range conditions.

Harvest continued in east central counties, although fewer acres were being harvested because of the drought. Ranchers faced the dilemma of poor winter forage as dry conditions continued. There was no improvement in drought conditions in the southwestern portion of the state.

In the San Luis Valley, alfalfa harvest continued while the potato harvest progressed ahead of the average with the cooperative weather.

Corn harvest began in southeastern counties as corn was drying down quickly with the above average temperatures and wind.

Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 8 percent very short, 36 percent short, 53 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus.

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

Cattle death loss was 89 percent average and 11 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	85	76	88	89
4th cutting harvested	28	22	39	35
Corn
Dented	97	93	88	93
Mature	55	42	36	46
Harvested for grain	13	5	10	7
Harvested for silage	85	68	69	80
Dry edible beans
Cut	59	56	56	69
Harvested	13	12	29	41
Onions
Harvested	60	53	55	69
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley
Harvested	59	30	50	41
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley
Harvested	69	67	64	69
Proso Millet
Harvested	69	66	68	NA
Sorghum
Turning color	92	87	92	93
Mature	53	47	36	36
Harvested	16	15	2	3
Sugarbeets
Harvested	35	21	13	11
Winter wheat
Planted	66	45	60	57
Emerged	19	13	33	27
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION
	Current week	Previous week	Previous year	5-year average
Days suitable for fieldwork	7.0	6.9	6.8	6
Topsoil moisture	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)	(percent)
Very short	33	25	7	9
Short	44	43	38	33
Adequate	22	31	54	55
Surplus.	1	1	1	3
Subsoil moisture
Very short	33	32	5	8
Short	46	43	26	29
Adequate	21	25	67	62
Surplus.	--	--	2	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	7	3	3
Poor	17	17	4	8
Fair	22	22	10	22
Good	50	49	72	56
Excellent	4	5	11	11
Corn
Very poor	10	16	--	1
Poor	25	19	3	6
Fair	29	26	18	21
Good	32	34	66	59
Excellent	4	5	13	13
Dry edible beans
Very poor	4	1	--	NA
Poor	18	27	5	NA
Fair	38	36	47	NA
Good	38	35	43	NA
Excellent	2	1	5	NA
Pasture and range
Very poor	19	21	2	7
Poor	38	30	6	14
Fair	30	32	29	26
Good	13	17	58	45
Excellent	--	--	5	8
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley
Very poor	4	3	--	--
Poor	7	7	6	5
Fair	20	18	33	19
Good	51	53	43	55
Excellent	18	19	18	21
Sorghum
Very poor	16	11	1	2
Poor	22	21	3	7
Fair	45	48	23	25
Good	14	17	61	59
Excellent	3	3	12	7
Sugarbeets
Very poor	5	3	--	--
Poor	10	8	--	3
Fair	33	27	11	16
Good	44	53	83	67
Excellent	8	9	6	14
Sunflowers
Very poor	8	11	--	--
Poor	24	25	--	4
Fair	48	39	25	25
Good	19	23	59	61
Excellent	1	2	16	10
Livestock
Very poor	2	2	--	--
Poor	8	6	2	2
Fair	34	32	6	15
Good	49	50	78	73
Excellent	7	10	14	10