COLORADO CROP PROGRESS: United States Department of Agriculture 

AGRICULTURAL SUMMARY: Another week of warm and dry weather pushed crop harvest to near completion, according to the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. Reporters in northeastern counties noted harvest was wrapping up and fall fieldwork continued where conditions allowed. Conditions in these areas remained a concern due to lack of moisture. In east central counties, a reporter noted winter wheat was doing well, but dry conditions were a concern going forward. Reporters in southwestern counties noted continued dry weather caused conditions to deteriorate. Winter wheat was stressed in these areas and fruit trees were breaking dormancy due to warm temperatures, lowering cold hardiness. In the San Luis Valley, reporters also noted it was dry with no recent moisture. Fieldwork continued in these areas due to limited frost. In southeastern counties, a reporter noted last week was dry and windy with most crops harvested. Statewide, livestock were doing well and most were on winter pasture or feed stalks. Stored feed supplies were rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 85 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Sheep death loss was 2 percent heavy, 59 percent average, and 39 percent light. Cattle death loss was 73 percent average and 27 percent light.

Note: This report concludes the weekly crop progress report for 2017. Next year’s Colorado weekly report will begin in March 2018.

Monthly reports will be released for December on Tuesday, January 2, 2018; for January on Monday, January 29, 2018; and for February on Monday, February 26, 2018.