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Weather helps farmers get work done
New Mexico
There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending July 18, according to the New Mexico Agricultural Statistics Service, July 19.
Topsoil moisture was 27 percent very short, 43 percent short, 27 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Farmers were busy irrigating and maintaining crops, spraying weeds, harvesting Wheat and onions, and cutting and baling alfalfa. General crop conditions were not affected by wind with only 3 percent light and 1 percent moderate damage reported.
Alfalfa was reported as 36 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 20 percent excellent with the 2nd cutting almost complete at 97 percent, the 3rd making progressing rapidly at 76 percent , and the 4th well underway at 14 percent cut. Cotton was listed as 2 percent poor, 36 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. The crop was at 38 percent setting bolls and 85 percent squaring. Corn was in mostly fair to good condition with 52 percent silking and 11 percent doughing. Sorghum was reported 9 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 59 percent fair, and 16 percent good, with 100 percent of the total crop planted. Winter Wheat progress slowed down with 94 percent of the crop reported harvested. Peanuts were in mostly fair to good condition and 75 percent were pegging. Pecans were mostly fair to excellent, with nut set mostly average. Chile conditions were listed as fair to excellent. Onion harvesting was reported 99 percent complete. Other crops such as potatoes, pumpkins, and green beans all appeared in good condition, and squash and cucumber harvesting got underway.
Ranchers spent the week providing herds with water and supplemental feeding. Cattle conditions remained stable with reports indicating 6 percent very poor, 7 percent poor, 40 percent fair, 29 percent good, and 18 percent excellent. Sheep conditions also remained stable with 9 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Limited moisture has caused range and pasture conditions to decrease slightly with 29 percent reported very poor, 30 percent poor, 23 percent fair, and 18 percent good.
Date: 7/22/04
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