Colorado

During the week ending Oct. 23, Colorado experienced sunny and dry conditions, and the good drying weather aided the progress of sorghum, corn, and sunflowers, according to the Colorado Agricultural Statistics Service, Oct. 24.

The harvesting of potatoes, onions, and sugar beets is beginning to wrap up around the state. Rainfall and temperatures were reported near or slightly above average for the week. Topsoil moisture supplies increased from the previous week with ratings at 5 percent very short, 20 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 7 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies have also increased and are rated at 8 percent very short, 30 percent short, 58 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. Producers had an average of 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Producers have completed the planting of winter wheat, and are now in the process of replanting areas with poor stands. Winter Wheat reached 91 percent emerged by the end of the week.

Dry onions have reached 97 percent harvested. Corn for grain reached full maturity with 32 percent harvested. The crop is rated in mostly good to fair condition.

The corn for silage harvest was complete by week's end. The sorghum crop was 90 percent mature with 29 percent of the crop harvested. The crop is rated in fair to good condition.

Dry beans were 92 percent harvested by week's end. Alfalfa fourth cutting was at 67 percent harvested by the end of the week. Producers continue to harvest sugar beets with 42 percent of the crop harvested by week's end. Sugar beets were still rated in mostly good condition. Fall and summer potatoes were 90 and 100 percent harvested, respectively. The harvesting of sunflowers has continued with 50 percent of the crop now harvested. The sunflower crop was rated in good to fair condition last week.

Overall, pasture and range feed conditions have stabilized and are now rated at 9 percent very poor, 22 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 4 percent excellent. Some producers are in the process of weaning calves, some problems have been reported with pneumonia from dust and temperature fluctuations. Cattle and sheep death losses were rated at the average for the week.