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Slight improvement in top soil moisture ratingsColorado Colorado did receive scattered showers and snow in some areas of the state during the week ending Oct. 7 resulting in a slight improvement in top soil moisture ratings, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Colorado Field Office, Oct. 9. Hail was reported in the southeastern part of the state. Temperatures were below average last week. Some northeastern areas received a hard frost on the weekend ending the growing season. Farmers were allowed 6.3 days in the field for operations. Planting of winter wheat progressed at a better than average pace with 80 percent of the acreage planted by the end of the week. Emergence continued behind the average reaching 36 percent last week compared with 57 percent for the 5-year average. Spring wheat harvest started to wind down with 95 percent of the acreage harvested by the end of last week. Corn progressed to 95 percent mature and 36 percent harvested, 13 points ahead of the 5-year average. The crop condition was rated in mostly very poor to fair condition. Dry bean progress was reported 80 percent harvested. Dry onion harvest was 86 percent complete by week's end. Sorghum progress increased to53 percent mature and 16 percent harvested. The crop was rated in mostly very poor to poor condition. Sugarbeet harvest continued at the usual pace last week at 28 percent harvested with the crop rated in mostly good to fair condition. Fall potato harvest reached 90percent complete. Sunflower harvest progressed to 1 percent complete with the crop's condition ranging from very poor to fair. The condition of pastureland is rated mostly very poor to poor across the state. Alfalfa hay harvest continued with 83 percent of the 4th cutting complete. The condition of livestock was rated fair to good at the end of last week. Death losses for cattle and sheep were average. Stored feed supplies continue to be rated as short for this time of year. Date: 10/15/2012
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