Barley harvest continues

Producers made significant harvest gains for the week ending Aug. 26 amidst warm weather and isolated precipitation, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Colorado . Several crops were noted to be progressing a little ahead of the average and last year. Limited seeding of winter wheat also began last week in a few counties. Some northwestern counties received needed moisture last week. In northeastern and east central counties, harvest of several crops picked up due to dry weather last week. In areas that haven’t received hail, crop conditions were noted to be above average. A reporter mentioned dryland crop and pasture conditions in drier areas remained a concern for producers. In southwestern counties, monsoonal moisture flow was not as productive as expected and there was no relief from exceptional drought conditions. In the San Luis Valley, barley harvest continued with only mild interruptions due to scattered storms. Potato harvest moved forward slightly last week with most vines killed. In southeastern counties, reporters noted that scattered showers improved pasture and range as well as crop conditions. Received moisture reportedly delayed haying last week.