Colorado

Colorado experienced scattered showers across the state during the week ending Aug. 21 with some areas reporting at or above average amounts of precipitation for the week, according to the Colorado Agricultural Statistics Service, Aug. 22.

Temperatures recorded were just below the statewide average. Harvesting of spring barley, dry onions, and summer potatoes is well underway throughout the state. Topsoil moisture supplies increased slightly from the previous week with ratings at 11 percent very short, 36 percent short, 50 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies remained about the same and are rated at 23 percent very short, 42 percent short, 34 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Producers had an average of 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork.

Spring Wheat has completed the turning color stage and was 39 percent harvested by week's end. Spring Wheat is rated in good to fair condition. Spring barley was 98 percent turning color with 41 percent harvested, which is behind last year's pace and the five-year average. The crop is rated in mostly good to fair condition. Dry onions were 13 percent harvested and continue to be rated in mostly good condition. Corn was 93 percent silked, 35 percent dough, and 10 percent dent. The crop is rated in mostly good to fair condition. Sorghum was 81 percent headed and 13 percent turning color. The crop is rated in fair to good condition. Dry beans were 79 percent flowered with 2 percent cut by week's end. Dry Beans are now rated in mostly good to fair condition. Second cutting alfalfa was at 95 percent harvested and third cutting was 22 percent harvested by week's end. The crop continues to be rated in good to fair condition. Sugarbeets were still rated in mostly good condition. Fall and summer potatoes were both rated in good to fair condition. The sunflower crop was rated in good to fair condition last week.

Cooler temperatures and isolated showers have kept pasture and rangeland from declining. Overall, pasture and range feed conditions increased slightly and are now rated at 12 percent very poor, 27 percent poor, 33 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Cattle and sheep death losses were rated at the average for the week.

Date: 8/25/05