Irrigated crops progressing

Colorado

During the week ending June 18, Colorado continued to experience scattered thunderstorms throughout the state with little measurable rainfall reported, according to the Colorado Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, June 19.

Some areas received substantial hail damage. Colorado has elevated fire danger warnings throughout the state with many wild fires being reported last week. Warm weather coupled with high winds continue to remove moisture and stress rangeland and grain crops. With the warm sunny conditions most grain crops under irrigation are progressing nicely. The warm, dry weather allowed farmers 6.5 days in the field to continue spring planting and other operations. Topsoil moisture supplies decreased substantially last week, and are now rated at 43 percent very short, 44 percent short, 12 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies again declined and were rated at 42 percent very short, 44 percent short and 14 percent adequate.

Winter Wheat was reported 86 percent at or beyond the turning color stage and 28 percent at or beyond the ripe stage. Both stages are ahead of last year and the five-year average. The crop was rated in mostly poor to very poor condition, and is continuing to deteriorate in the condition rating system. Spring Wheat was 33 percent at or beyond headed. The crop is rated in good to fair condition.

The corn crop is 100 percent emerged by week's end, and is rated in mostly good condition. The dry onion crop is rated in mostly good condition. The sorghum crop reached 82 percent planted with 67 percent emerged, and 1 percent headed last week. The crop is rated in mostly good condition. Spring barley was 35 percent at or beyond the headed stage. The crop was rated in mostly good to fair condition. Summer potato producers completed planting last week with 80 percent of the crop reported at or beyond the emerged stage. Summer potatoes were rated in good to excellent condition. The sugarbeet crop reached 98 percent at or beyond the up-to-stand stage by the end of last week. The crop is mostly rated in good condition. Fall potato planting was completed last week with 70 percent of the crop at or beyond the emerged stage. Fall potatoes are progressing nicely under heavy irrigation and are rated in good to fair condition. Dry bean producers completed planting last week with 80 percent emerged by week's end. Dry bean progress is well ahead of last year and the five year average with the crop rated in mostly good condition. Producers continue to cut alfalfa with 64 percent of first cutting complete and 1 percent of the second cutting. The crop is currently rated good to fair condition. Sunflower producers are active with 85 percent of the crop now planted. The sunflower crop is rated in mostly good condition.

Overall, pasture and range feed conditions declined last week and are now rated at 30 percent very poor, 38 percent poor, 25 percent fair, and 7 percent good. Death losses for cattle were below average while sheep losses were average for the week. Producers are feeding supplements due to the lack of grazable range and pastures. Some counties have been declared eligible for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. Along with early weaning, producers are continue to cull herds to relieve over grazing of depleted pasture and rangeland.

Date: 6/21/06

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