Ag stats: Colorado crop progress and conditions report – week ending October 13, 2019
Fall harvest made significant progress last week, amidst an early fall snowstorm, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Several areas also observed their first hard freeze and record-low temperatures were set in many localities.
Northeastern county reporters noted sugarbeet harvest was fully underway last week, and harvest of corn, sorghum, and sunflowers also picked up. Freezing temperatures last week aided dry down of crops yet to be harvested, reporters noted. Counties in the area received scattered rain and enough snow to accumulate.
East central county reporters noted low temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees were observed, along with snowy and windy conditions. Producers continued fall seeding and harvest activities around inclement weather.
In southwestern counties, a reporter noted drought conditions worsened and minimal precipitation was received. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, severe drought was introduced across several southwestern counties and moderate drought conditions also expanded in northwestern counties.
In the San Luis Valley, producers rushed to wrap up fall potato harvest before the big freeze, according to county reporters. Although potato harvest approached completion mid-week, reporters noted producers who did not finish in time likely had some potatoes frozen. Precipitation was minimal. Observed temperatures were reportedly down to single digits.
In southeastern counties, reporters observed a very hard freeze, bringing crops to maturity. Corn harvest also started to pick up. Livestock producers continued seasonal weaning activities, but some heavy sickness in calves was observed due to the large temperature swings.
Statewide, stored feed supplies were rated 3 percent short, 80 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.
Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 67 percent average, and 31 percent light.
Cattle death loss was 68 percent average and 32 percent light.
CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS | ||||
Commodity | Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average |
(percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | |
Alfalfa hay | ||||
4th cutting harvested | 57 | 48 | 58 | 54 |
Corn | ||||
Mature | 83 | 65 | 83 | 82 |
Harvested for grain | 27 | 17 | 28 | 20 |
Harvested for silage | 98 | 91 | NA | NA |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Cut | 85 | 74 | NA | NA |
Harvested | 52 | 42 | 91 | 77 |
Onions | ||||
Harvested | 86 | 75 | NA | NA |
Potatoes inside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 94 | 79 | 82 | 82 |
Potatoes outside San Luis Valley | ||||
Harvested | 91 | 82 | 92 | NA |
Proso Millet | ||||
Harvested | 94 | 85 | NA | NA |
Sorghum | ||||
Mature | 82 | 59 | 68 | 68 |
Harvested | 38 | 17 | 18 | 16 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Harvested | 49 | 31 | 24 | 30 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Harvested | 41 | 8 | 7 | 9 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Planted | 91 | 79 | 85 | 88 |
Emerged | 63 | 50 | 65 | 61 |
DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION | ||||
Current week | Previous week | Previous year | 5-year average | |
Days suitable for fieldwork | 5.7 | 6.5 | 3.8 | 6.0 |
Topsoil moisture | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) | (percent) |
Very short | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
Short | 33 | 36 | 23 | 28 |
Adequate | 52 | 53 | 70 | 64 |
Surplus. | -- | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Subsoil moisture | ||||
Very short | 12 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
Short | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 |
Adequate | 57 | 60 | 60 | 62 |
Surplus. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 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 | 3 | 2 | NA | NA |
Poor | 4 | 4 | NA | NA |
Fair | 13 | 10 | NA | NA |
Good | 65 | 76 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 15 | 8 | NA | NA |
Corn | ||||
Very poor | 1 | -- | 2 | 1 |
Poor | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
Fair | 27 | 22 | 24 | 22 |
Good | 56 | 61 | 62 | 58 |
Excellent | 8 | 11 | 6 | 15 |
Dry edible beans | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | NA | NA |
Poor | 9 | 11 | NA | NA |
Fair | 60 | 42 | NA | NA |
Good | 29 | 46 | NA | NA |
Excellent | 2 | 1 | NA | NA |
Pasture and range | ||||
Very poor | 2 | 2 | 29 | 8 |
Poor | 7 | 10 | 25 | 15 |
Fair | 26 | 28 | 20 | 26 |
Good | 58 | 51 | 24 | 43 |
Excellent | 7 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
Sorghum | ||||
Very poor | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Poor | 3 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
Fair | 28 | 26 | 25 | 30 |
Good | 61 | 62 | 61 | 55 |
Excellent | 7 | 9 | 4 | 7 |
Sugarbeets | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 3 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 6 | 3 |
Fair | 15 | 15 | 24 | 16 |
Good | 71 | 76 | 51 | 62 |
Excellent | 14 | 9 | 16 | 18 |
Sunflowers | ||||
Very poor | -- | -- | 1 | 1 |
Poor | -- | -- | 2 | 5 |
Fair | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
Good | 70 | 66 | 66 | 56 |
Excellent | 6 | 10 | 5 | 12 |
Winter wheat | ||||
Very poor | 1 | NA | 2 | NA |
Poor | 7 | NA | 8 | NA |
Fair | 24 | NA | 32 | NA |
Good | 45 | NA | 51 | NA |
Excellent | 23 | NA | 7 | NA |
Livestock | ||||
Very poor | 1 | -- | 1 | -- |
Poor | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Fair | 10 | 8 | 18 | 14 |
Good | 73 | 75 | 69 | 74 |
Excellent | 13 | 15 | 10 | 11 |
