Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending September 21, 2014.
Agricultural Summary: Warm, relatively dry conditions were experienced throughout the vast majority of Colorado, spurring crop development and activity in fields. Precipitation was concentrated primarily west of the Front Range as isolated and sporadic rain events occurred in the eastern districts. Reporters in the northeast noted some quality issues with corn for silage as a result of an early freeze. Statewide, farmers were allowed 6.8 days in the field for operations.
Small Grains: Harvest activities for barley were virtually complete by week’s end. Seventy-five percent of the state’s spring wheat crop has been harvested, behind 99 percent last year and 82 percent on average. Seeding of winter wheat continued at a pace similar to the average, ending the week with 42 percent complete. Ten percent was emerged, compared with 8 percent last year and on average.
Row Crops: Corn was 90 percent dented, up from 76 percent previously. Sixteen percent of the crop was mature, behind 29 percent last year and the average of 39 percent. Sixty-nine percent of the corn crop intended for silage has been harvested, compared with 74 percent last year and 68 percent on average.
Dry bean cuttings gained 15 percentage points of progress over the past week, ending with 45 percent complete by week’s end. Dry beans were 22 percent harvested, behind 38 percent a year ago and the average of 36 percent. Onions were 44 percent harvested, up from 24 percent the week prior. This is behind the average of 57 percent. Twenty-two percent of potatoes inside the San Luis Valley were harvested as of last week, behind 30 percent last year and 35 percent on average. Potatoes outside the San Luis Valley were 79 percent harvested, compared with 90 percent last year and the average of 71 percent.
Sixty-eight percent of the sorghum crop was coloring, behind 83 percent last year and 89 percent on average. Maturity of sorghum was estimated at 34 percent as of last week, ahead of 12 percent last year and the average of 29 percent. Sorghum harvest activities progressed modestly, with 3 percent complete by week’s end. Fifteen percent of the sugarbeet crop was harvested as of last week, ahead of 5 percent last year and 7 percent on average.
Pasture and Range: Pasture and range conditions were rated 65 percent fair to good across the State. Last year, 55 percent was rated fair to good while 54 percent is fair to good on average. The third and fourth cuttings of alfalfa hay were estimated at 79 and 20 percent complete, respectively. On average, the third and fourth cuttings are 77 and 18 percent complete, respectively.
Livestock: Death losses for cattle and sheep remained mostly average to light. Stored feed supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 12 percent short, 72 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Last week’s supplies were rated 5 percent very short, 12 percent short, 73 percent adequate, and 10 percent surplus.
