Colorado September crop production report

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Based on September 1 conditions,corn production in Colorado is forecast at 135.30 million bushels, according to the September 1 Agricultural Yield Survey conducted by the Mountain Regional Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. This forecast is down 5 percent from the August 1 forecast and down 9 percent from the 148.35 million bushels produced last year. Corn producers planted an estimated 1.35 million acres in 2022, down 2 percent from last year. The 1.10 million acres expected to be harvested for grain this year are down 110,000 acres from the August 1 forecast and down 50,000 acres from a year ago. Corn yield is estimated at 123.0 bushels per acre, up 5.0 bushels per acre from the August 1 forecast but 6.0 bushels per acre below last year’s final yield. As of September 4, Colorado’s corn crop condition was rated 23 percent very poor, 24 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 19 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Corn in the dent stage was 40 percent complete, compared with 40 percent last year and the 5-year average of 43 percent.

Sorghum production in 2022 is forecast at 13.50 million bushels, down from the 14.80 million bushels harvested last year. Growers are estimated to have planted 545,000 acres of sorghum this year, up 50,000 acres from last year and the highest since 550,000 acres were planted in 1971, and expect to harvest 450,000 acres this year, up 50,000 acres from the 400,000 acres harvested last year and the highest since 498,000 acres were harvested in 1958. Average yield is forecast at 30.0 bushels per acre, down 7.0 bushels per acre from last year. As of September 4, Colorado’s sorghum crop condition was rated 4 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 43 percent fair, and 43 percent good. Sorghum turning color was 58 percent complete, compared with 72 percent last year and the 5-year average of 52 percent.

Sugarbeet production is forecast at 603,000 tons, down 24 percent from the 795,000 tons produced in 2021. Growers expect to harvest 21,100 acres this year compared with 23,600 acres a year ago. Yields are expected to average 28.6 tons per acre, down 1.0 ton per acre from the August 1 forecast and down from last year’s yield of 33.7 tons per acre. As of September 4, Colorado’s sugarbeet crop condition was rated 50 percent fair and 50 percent good.

UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS

Corn production for grain is forecast at 13.9 billion bushels, down 3 percent from the previous forecast and down 8 percent from 2021. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 172.5 bushels per harvested acre, down 2.9 bushels from the previous forecast and down 4.5 bushels from last year. Acreage updates were made in several States based on a thorough review of all available data. Total planted area, at 88.6 million acres, is down 1 percent from the previous estimate and down 5 percent from the previous year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 80.8 million acres, down 1 percent from the previous forecast and down 5 percent from the previous year.

Sorghum production is forecast at 252 million bushels, down 12 percent from the previous forecast and down 44 percent from last year. Acreage updates were made in several States following a thorough review of all available data. Planted area, at 6.37 million acres, is up 1 percent from the previous estimate but down 13 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 5.48 million acres, up 2 percent from the previous forecast but down 16 percent from 2021. Based on September 1 conditions, yield is forecast at 46.0 bushels per acre, 23.0 bushels below the 2021 yield of 69.0 bushels per acre.

Production of sugarbeets for the 2022 crop year is forecast at 33.4 million tons, down slightly from last month and down 9 percent from last year. Producers expect to harvest 1.15 million acres up slightly from last month and up 4 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 29.0 tons per acre, down 0.2 ton from last month and down 4.2 tons from last year.

For a full copy of the Crop Production report, please visit www.nass.usda.gov.

–USDA, NASS