FORT COLLINS, Colo. — According to the July 12th USDA NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report, harvest in Colorado is 70% complete. This is well ahead of the 5-year average of 45%. The overall crop condition is rated 21% good to excellent, 34% fair and 45% poor to very poor.
Cheyenne County: Harvest is estimated to be about 95% complete. The area received rain on Sunday evening (anywhere from .60 in. – 2.5 in.), which caused some delays. Average protein for the area is at 12.5%, with an average test weight of 56 pounds per bushel.
Kit Carson County: This area is estimated to be about 85-90% complete. Average protein is around 13%, with an average test weight of 58 pounds per bushel.
Lincoln County: Harvest in Lincoln County is estimated to be about 70% complete. Protein has ranged between 10-13.5%, with test weights between 57-61 pounds per bushel. Yields are ranging between 20-35 bushels per acre.
Yuma, Washington and Morgan Counties: Harvest in these counties is roughly 90% complete. Average protein is around 12.5%, with an average test weight around 58 pounds per bushel.
Logan County: This area is estimated to be about 60% complete, with average protein at 10.5% and the average test weight at 59 pounds per bushel. Average yields are reported to be around 35 bushels per acre.
Phillips and Sedgwick Counties: These counties are estimated to be 95% complete. Average protein for the area is at 12% and the average test weight is at 58 pounds per bushel.
Adams and Arapahoe Counties: Harvest is estimated to be roughly 75% complete in these counties. Protein has ranged between 8-14%, with test weights between 57-60 pounds per bushel. Yields are ranging anywhere from 8-40 bushels per acre, with reports of significant damage from Wheat Stem Sawfly.
Weld County: Harvest is estimated to be about 85% complete in the southern part of Weld County, with protein averaging between 12-13% and an average test weight of 58 pounds per bushel. Yields are ranging 15-35 bushels per acre. There are also reports of Wheat Stem Sawfly damage in this area.
July 7th, 2020
Harvest in Colorado continued to progress over the July 4th weekend, as most wheat growing counties in Eastern Colorado have now seen some amount of activity. Activity across the state is anticipated to really pick up this week with temperatures over 90 degrees in the forecast for every day.
According to the July 5th USDA NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report, Colorado is 36% harvested, which is ahead of the 5-year average of 20%. The overall crop condition is rated 23% good to excellent, 38% fair and 39% poor to very poor.
Cheyenne County: Harvest in Cheyenne County has been slow and steady, with activity first starting around June 22nd. The area is seeing an average protein of 12.5%, an average test weight of 56 pounds per bushel, and average yield at 25 bushels per acre.
Kit Carson County: Harvest in this area has also been slow and steady after starting early last week. Protein has ranged between 12-15% and test weights have been between 55-60 pounds per bushel.
Lincoln County: Activity has been reported in the southern part of the county, with preliminary numbers showing protein between 11-16%, test weights between 55-63 pounds per bushel, and yields between 25-30 bushels per acre. Farmers in the northern part of the county are starting to test cut and anticipate harvest to be in full force later this week.
Adams and Arapahoe Counties: Activity picked up on July 6th. Preliminary numbers show protein between 7-16%, test weights between 55-62 pounds per bushel, and yields ranging 5-45 bushels per acre.
Yuma County: Harvest continues in Yuma County. Average protein for the area is at 12% and average test weight is 56.5 pounds per bushel. Yields are ranging between 30-40 bushels per acre.
Washington County: Harvest started in Washington County around July 1st. Average protein for the area is around 13% and the average test weight is 56 pounds per bushel.
Morgan County: Harvest started in some parts of Morgan County on July 2nd. Test weights are between 57-62 pounds per bushel, with yields ranging 30-50 bushels per acre.
Logan County: Parts of Northern Logan County saw an uptick in activity around July 4th. Preliminary numbers show protein ranging 8-13.5%, test weights between 58-61 pounds per bushel, and yields between 25-50 bushels per acre.
Phillips County: Harvest continues in Phillips County. Average protein for the area is at 12% and the average test weight is 58 pounds per bushel. Yields are between 22-38 bushels per acre.
Sedgwick County: Harvest in Sedgwick County start to pick up over the weekend. Preliminary numbers show protein between 10-15% and test weights between 54-61 pounds per bushel.
Weld County: Harvest picked up in the Roggen area on July 6th. Preliminary numbers show protein between 9-16% and test weights between 52-61 pounds per bushel. There are also reports of some activity around Greeley and Johnstown.
July 3rd, 2020
According to the July 2nd Plains Grains, Inc. harvest report, Colorado was 19% harvested. Activity in Eastern Colorado was starting to pick up at the beginning of the week, but has slowed down slightly due to weather.
Cheyenne and Kit Carson Counties: While both areas saw activity pick up earlier in the week, it slowed down on Thursday and Friday due to high humidity and thunderstorms. However with hot temperatures in the forecast, it is expected that activity will pick back up over the weekend.
Lincoln County: There is some activity in the southern part of the county. Preliminary numbers show protein between 11-16% and test weights between 55-63 pounds per bushel. Yield is ranging between 25-30 bushels per acre.
Washington County: Harvest started to pick up in the area on Wednesday of this week. Preliminary numbers show protein between 12-15% and test weights between 50-57 pounds per bushel. This area also saw thunderstorms with some rain and hail on Thursday night.
Phillips County: Harvest has continued to progress in Phillips County. Protein has ranged between 10-15%, with test weights between 55-59 pounds per bushel. Yields are ranging between 35-45 bushels per acre.
Sedgwick County: There are some reports of harvest activity, however it is expected be in full force early next week.
June 30th, 2020
Harvest in Colorado made progress over the weekend and started moving further north in the state due to hot and dry conditions. According to the June 28th USDA NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report, Colorado is 15% harvested, which is ahead of the 5-year average of 5%. The overall crop condition is rated 30% good to excellent, 31% fair and 39% poor to very poor.
According to the June 30th USDA NASS Acreage Report, Colorado’s expected acreage to be harvested for grain is down 450,000 acres from last year, to 1.55 million. If realized, this would be a 91-year low for harvested acres.
Baca County: The area is estimated to be about 95% complete. Protein has ranged 11-15%, with an average of about 12.5%. Test weights have ranged 45-60 pounds per bushel, with an average of 57 pounds per bushel. Yields ran between 5-18 bushels per acre. Due to a D3 drought in this area, there was a significant amount of abandoned acres. Elevators in the area report that although they believe to be nearly done with harvest, they have only taken in 20% of the volume they saw in 2019.
Prowers County: Harvest in Prowers County started to pick up on June 29th, and is anticipated to move quickly with hot and dry weather in the forecast this week. Protein has ranged 11-15%, with an average of 12.5%. Test weights have ranged 56-62 pounds per bushel, with an average of 59 pounds per bushel.
Kiowa County: Harvest activity in the area has been going on for about a week. Yields have ranged between 8-35 bushels per acre, with protein between 10-15% and test weights between 51-60 pounds per bushel.
Cheyenne County: Harvest in the Cheyenne Wells area started last week, but really started to pick up on June 29th. Protein has ranged 9-17%, with an average of 12.7%. Test weights have ranged 48-61 pounds per bushel, with an average of 57 pounds per bushel.
Kit Carson County: Harvest is just starting in this area. Local elevators reported that they started seeing trucks on June 29th. Preliminary numbers show protein between 12-16% and test weights between 54-61 pounds per bushel.
Yuma County: Activity started last week, but picked up on June 29th. Preliminary numbers show protein between 10-17.4% and test weights between 53-60 pounds per bushel. Yields are ranging between 25-35 bushels per acre.
Phillips County: Activity started to pick up on June 28th. Preliminary numbers show protein between 10-15% and test weights between 55-56 pounds per bushel.
Weld County: There are some reports of activity in the Roggen area. Very early numbers show protein between 12-15% and test weights between 56-58 pounds per bushel. Activity is expected to pick up later next week.
June 25, 2020
Harvest in Colorado continues to progress at a slow, but steady pace. According to the June 21st USDA-NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report, Colorado is 7% harvested, which is ahead of the 5-year average of 1%. The overall crop condition is rated 29% good to excellent, 34% fair and 37% poor to very poor.
Baca County reported an uptick in activity over the last week, with test weights in the area ranging 56-57 pounds per bushel and an average protein of 13%. Yields are ranging 8-18 bushels per acre.
Harvest activity also started to pick up this week in counties further to the north. Preliminary numbers in Prowers County show test weights between 58-61 pounds per bushel, with an average protein of 13%. Preliminary numbers in Kiowa and Cheyenne Counties show yields between 25-40 bushels per acre with test weights ranging 51-57 pounds per bushel, and protein ranging from 12-15%.
June 19th, 2020
With reports of combines in fields as early as June 13th, harvest is slowly progressing in the southeast corner of Colorado. Elevators in Baca County reported under 30 loads this week. Preliminary numbers are showing yields from 25-30 bushels per acre, average test weights of 57 pounds per bushel and protein ranging from 9.8-13%. Further north in Prowers County, there is little activity, but it is anticipated to pick up by the middle of next week.
According to the June 14th USDA NASS Colorado Crop Progress Report, 1% of Colorado’s wheat crop was reported to be mature. This is close to the 5-year average of 2%. Colorado’s overall crop condition was rated at 31% good to excellent, 31% fair and 38% poor to very poor.
— Colorado Wheat
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