Range, pasture conditions improving

New Mexico

There were 6.4 days suitable for field work, during the week ending Sept. 17, and farmers spent the week harvesting and planting, cultivating and spraying for pests, according to the New Mexico Agricultural Statistics Service, Sept. 18.

Topsoil moisture was 4 percent very short, 14 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Wind damage was 17 percent light. Hail damage was reported as 1 percent light, 1 percent moderate and 3 percent severe.

Alfalfa was reported as 4 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 44 percent fair, 31 percent good and 8 percent excellent with 100 percent of the fourth cutting complete, 63 percent of the fifth cutting complete, 14 percent of the sixth cutting complete.

Irrigated sorghum was reported as fair to excellent with 77 percent coloring and 25 percent mature. Dry sorghum condition was reported as very poor to excellent with 34 percent coloring and 1 percent mature. Total sorghum condition was reported as 15 percent very poor, 17 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 34 percent good, and 5 percent excellent with 49 percent coloring and 9 percent mature.

Total winter Wheat planted was reported at 78 percent. Peanuts were reported as 2 percent very poor, 2 percent poor, 71 percent fair, 23 percent good and 2 percent excellent.

Lettuce condition was reported as fair to excellent. Apple conditions were reported as poor to good with 50 percent harvested. Pecan conditions were reported as poor to excellent. Cotton was reported as 2 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 35 percent fair, 45 percent good and 14 percent excellent with 29 percent bolls opening. Chile condition was reported as 4 percent very poor, 16 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 48 percent good, and 7 percent excellent. Green chile was reported as 82 percent harvested.

Corn condition was reported as 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 7 percent fair, 60 percent good, and 29 percent excellent, with 96 percent in the dent stage, 67 percent mature and 45 percent harvested for silage.

Cattle conditions were reported at 1 percent very poor, 3 percent poor, 20 percent fair, 63 percent good and 13 percent excellent. Sheep conditions were reported as 6 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 45 percent fair, 31 percent good and 10 percent excellent. Range and pasture conditions were reported as 7 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 16 percent fair, 43 percent good and 24 percent excellent. Ranges and pastures were reported as continually improving. Much of the state received some rain; some parts of the state received hail; some received the first freeze of the season. There was a tornado sighting in western Dona Ana county. The rain and hail from this caused some crop damage. Some counties reported insects and disease due to all the wet weather.

Date: 9/19/06

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