New Mexico

During the week ending Sept. 18, farmers spent the week planting Wheat and harvesting their crops, as there were 7 days suitable for field work, according to the New Mexico Agricultural Statistics Service, Sept. 19.

Topsoil moisture was 19 percent very short, 42 percent short, 36 percent adequate, and 3 percent surplus. Wind damage was 10 percent light, 19 percent moderate, and 2 percent severe. In Eddy County there was a report of six telephone poles being blown down by thunderstorm winds east of Carlsbad. Hail damage was 3 percent light and 1 percent moderate.

Alfalfa was reported as mostly fair to excellent condition. Almost all of the 4th cutting was complete, with the 5th cutting 81 percent complete and the 6th was 32 percent complete. Cotton was in mostly fair to excellent condition with 54 percent of the bolls opening.

Corn was in fair to excellent condition with 90 percent dented and 42 percent mature. Silage was 83 percent harvested and farmers are making preparations to harvest the grain crop. Sorghum was reported as mostly fair to good, with 45 percent coloring and 9 percent mature. Winter Wheat was 76 percent planted and the young plants were listed as 39 percent fair, 55 percent good and 6 percent excellent.

Chile was in mostly fair to good condition. Green chile was 80 percent harvested. Pecans, lettuce, and peanuts were in fair to excellent condition.

Ranchers spent the week tending to their livestock and weaning calves to prepare them for the market. Cattle were listed as 1 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 69 percent good, and 9 percent excellent. Sheep were 3 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 63 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Rainfall in the state has been so hit or miss that some rangelands are still in desperate need of moisture, while other areas report that their grasses are beginning to recover. Overall range and pasture declined in the state, with conditions listed as 4 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 42 percent good, and 3 percent excellent.