Contact: Bill Meyer
(800) 392-3202
September 28, 2020
CROP PROGRESS AND CONDITION
WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: 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 |
NA – not available
(–) – zero
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 |
NA – not available
(–) – zero
NASS provides accurate, timely, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. We invite you to provide occasional feedback on our products and services. Sign up at http:/usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/subscriptions and look for “NASS Data User Community.” USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
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 |
NA – not available
(–) – zero
