Winter wheat seeding continues at a rapid pace

Above average temperatures and below average rainfall continued their dominance across the state during the week ending Sept. 16, exacerbating drought conditions in many areas and forcing some ranchers to wean and sell calves earlier than normal, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, New Mexico. Overall, conditions rated abnormally dry or worse were entrenched across 99.0 percent of the state, a slight improvement when compared with last week. Topsoil moisture levels were reported as 45 percent adequate to surplus, compared with 46 percent last week, 62 percent last year, and a 5-year average of 52 percent. Statewide, the green chile harvest was nearly three-quarters complete, well behind normal. Winter wheat seeding continued at a rapid pace. Reports from Curry County noted that wheat seeding was nearly compete, with the exception being wheat planted following corn harvest. In Lea County, irrigation on cotton had stopped, and reports indicated that growing conditions were good despite limited rainfall. Precipitation was recorded at 15 out of 45 reporting weather stations, with Cloudcroft, at 0.44 inches, reporting the largest accumulation during the week. Average temperatures ranged from 1 degree below to 8 degrees above normal. Daytime highs varied from 73 degrees at Los Alamos to 97 degrees at Tucumcari. Overnight lows ranged from 26 degrees at El Vado Dam to 65 degrees at Santa Teresa. Pecan nut set was reported as 35 percent light, 50 percent moderate, and 15 percent heavy. Hail damage in all crops was reported as 1 percent light, 1 percent moderate, and 1 percent severe. Wind damage in all crops was reported as 4 percent light and 4 percent moderate. Hay and roughage supplies were reported as 5 percent very short, 26 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus. Stock water supplies were reported as 16 percent very short, 33 percent short, and 51 percent adequate.