Conditions continue to deteriorate in many areas

Colorado experienced mixed weather again for the week ending June 3 with conditions deteriorating in drought-stricken areas and fieldwork delayed in others due to heavy rainfall, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Mountain Regional Field Office, Colorado. Northeastern counties received good moisture early in the week, with tornadoes and isolated hail also reported. Fieldwork was delayed in areas where rain was heaviest. Reporters noted most crops were doing well. Warm weather and favorable soil moisture promoted emergence and growth of spring crops. East central counties received varying levels of precipitation, with southern areas receiving less. A reporter in Kiowa county noted that winter wheat was beginning to show signs of stress from lack of moisture. They also noted some county producers were not planting corn or sorghum due to no moisture and extreme drought. Southwestern county reporters noted drought conditions did not improve last week, and a major fire was burning in La Plata County. Measurable precipitation was extremely limited last week. In the San Luis Valley, a rain storm at week’s end brought beneficial moisture. Fall potato planting was virtually complete and emergence picked up. Southeastern counties received minimal moisture last week, and first cutting alfalfa was noted to be lighter than normal. Statewide, winter wheat was just starting to turn color, with 53 percent of the crop rated good to excellent, compared with 48 percent good to excellent last year.