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Person standing in a wheat field using a tablet device with agriculture icons imposed

Ag stats: Colorado crop progress report and conditions – July 21, 2019

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Hot and dry weather last week allowed wheat harvest to advance quickly, according to the Mountain Region Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. 

In northeastern counties, wheat harvest was fully underway, although cooler temperatures and isolated moisture at week’s end kept some producers out of the field. Yield reports from producers in these counties were noted as favorable. Reporters noted rangeland and dryland corn were starting to show stress from the hot weather in areas where rain was not received. 

In east central counties, wheat harvest continued and isolated moisture along with severe weather was reported. 

San Luis Valley reporters noted minimal rain was received and temperatures were warm. Crops and livestock were reportedly doing well, although rangeland was starting to dry out from the lack of precipitation. Barley heading was also noted as complete. 

In southeastern counties, reporters noted varying amounts of rain fell last week. Some areas received over two inches of rain and others remained dry. Hail was also reported. Winter wheat harvest was wrapping up, although a reporter noted some fields were not cut due to prior freeze damage. Alfalfa hay was noted as yielding well. 

Statewide, winter wheat was rated 77 percent good to excellent. Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 13 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 9 percent surplus. 

Sheep death loss was 1 percent heavy, 58 percent average, and 41 percent light. 

Cattle death loss was 1 percent heavy, 79 percent average, and 20 percent light.

CROP AND LIVESTOCK PROGRESS

Commodity

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

 

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Alfalfa hay 

    

2nd cutting harvested 

41 

28 

59 

52 

Barley 

    

Headed 

94 

87 

97 

95 

Turning color 

45 

23 

58 

42 

Corn 

    

Silked 

21 

50 

30 

Dry edible beans 

    

Blooming 

32 

20 

54 

43 

Winter wheat 

    

Mature 

87 

66 

NA 

NA 

Harvested 

65 

22 

89 

80 

DAYS SUITABLE FOR FIELDWORK AND SOIL MOISTURE CONDITION

 

Current week

Previous week

Previous year

5-year average

Days suitable for fieldwork 

63 

63 

62 

63 

Topsoil moisture 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

(percent) 

Very short 

24 

10 

Short 

17 

17 

35 

29 

Adequate 

75 

74 

40 

57 

Surplus 

Subsoil moisture 

    

Very short 

23 

12 

Short 

16 

19 

33 

28 

Adequate 

76 

75 

43 

58 

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 

15 

Fair 

12 

33 

26 

Good 

59 

69 

36 

49 

Excellent 

20 

19 

13 

Barley 

    

Very poor 

Poor 

Fair 

22 

20 

34 

20 

Good 

45 

51 

45 

52 

Excellent 

24 

17 

19 

26 

Corn 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

14 

Fair 

20 

16 

25 

22 

Good 

65 

65 

44 

55 

Excellent 

13 

17 

12 

13 

Dry edible beans 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

16 

Poor 

30 

Fair 

22 

28 

16 

30 

Good 

70 

65 

26 

50 

Excellent 

12 

Onions 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

13 

16 

19 

Good 

84 

94 

70 

63 

Excellent 

10 

14 

Pasture and range 

    

Very poor 

25 

Poor 

26 

16 

Fair 

17 

20 

28 

28 

Good 

68 

61 

21 

40 

Excellent 

11 

14 

-- 

Potatoes inside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

30 

28 

16 

19 

Good 

47 

47 

53 

53 

Excellent 

20 

20 

26 

22 

Potatoes outside San Luis Valley 

   

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

19 

18 

13 

11 

Good 

64 

67 

59 

74 

Excellent 

15 

13 

23 

14 

Sorghum 

    

Very poor 

12 

Poor 

13 

Fair 

21 

26 

34 

36 

Good 

71 

64 

38 

47 

Excellent 

Sugarbeets 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

17 

17 

19 

16 

Good 

71 

71 

57 

63 

Excellent 

10 

11 

19 

18 

Sunflowers 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

-- 

-- 

Fair 

22 

19 

30 

29 

Good 

73 

75 

62 

54 

Excellent 

Winter wheat 

    

Very poor 

NA 

NA 

Poor 

NA 

NA 

Fair 

19 

14 

NA 

NA 

Good 

52 

50 

NA 

NA 

Excellent 

25 

32 

NA 

NA 

Livestock 

    

Very poor 

-- 

-- 

Poor 

Fair 

15 

11 

20 

16 

Good 

65 

70 

63 

69 

Excellent 

16 

16 

12