CROP SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING AUGUST 21, 2005

NEW MEXICO: There were 5.2 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 13% very short, 33% short, 44% adequate and 10% surplus. Wind damage was 9% light, 10% moderate and 3% severe. Farmers were busy harvesting and due to the amount of rain received, some were able to shut down irrigation wells. Irrigated corn looks good and should have an excellent yield if the current weather continues. Alfalfa was in fair to excellent condition with 81% of the fourth cutting complete and 25% of the fifth cutting complete. Last weeks alfalfa estimate has been revised down to 20% of the fifth cutting complete. Cotton was in mostly fair to excellent condition with 85% setting bolls and 13% bolls opening. Corn was in mostly fair to excellent condition with 79% doughed and 8% dented. Sorghum was 74% headed and condition was 25% poor, 39% fair, 35% good and 1% excellent . Peanuts were in fair to excellent condition. Lettuce was in fair to excellent condition and was 70% planted. Chile was 33% harvested and was in mostly fair to excellent condition. Apples were in fair to good condition. Pecans were in fair to excellent condition. Native rangeland continues to improve and some stock tanks received runoff from rains. Some ranchers began to market their calves early to give pastures and mother cows a break. Cattle was reported as 3% poor, 30% fair, 58% good and 9% excellent. Sheep were 7% very poor, 16% poor, 37% fair, 31% good and 9% excellent. Range and pasture was reported as 5% very poor, 19% poor, 49% fair, 25% good and 2% excellent.

Typical summer weather prevailed over New Mexico with those hit and miss showers and thunderstorms each day. The southeast counties were favored as Clovis, Tatum, Roswell, Carlsbad and Ruidoso all measured over an inch of rain. More clouds that usual kept daytime heating down a little, and temperatures were generally normal to a few degrees below normal.

MILK PRODUCTION

NEW MEXICO: Milk production in the state during July totaled 605 million pounds, up 4.1 percent from July 2004. Production per cow averaged 1,845 pounds compared to 1,770 pounds per cow in July 2004. The number of milk cows on farms during July was 328,000 head, the same as previous year.

UNITED STATES: Milk production in the 23 major States during July totaled 13.7 billion pounds, up 4.2 percent from July 2004. June revised production, at 13.7 billion pounds, was up 5.6 percent from June 2004. The June revision represented an increase of 0.2 percent or 28 million pounds from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,682 pounds for July, 59 pounds above July 2004. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.14million head, 48,000 head more than July 2004, and 12,000 head more than June 2005.

CATTLE ON FEED

NEW MEXICO: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in New Mexico feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 134,000 head on August 1^st, 2005. This was 1.5 percent higher than the previous month. Placements were down 3,000 head to 23,000. Both marketings and other disappearance held steady at 18,000 head and 3,000 head respectively.

UNITED STATES: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.1 million head on August 1, 2005. Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.68 million, 2 percent below 2004 and 16 percent below 2003. This is the lowest placements for the month of July since the series began in 1996. Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.92 million, slightly below 2004 and 16 percent below 2003. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of July since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 60,000 during July, 3 percent above 2004 but unchanged from 2003.

QUARTERLY FARM LABOR

NEW MEXICO-ARIZONA: There were 24,000 hired workers on farms and ranches in New Mexico and Arizona during the week of July 10-16, 2005, no change from last July. Average hours worked by all hired workers increased to 45.6 hours a week compared to 45.0 hours one year ago. Wage rates for field workers were up from last July at $7.90 an hour, an increase of 45 cents. Livestock worker wages dropped to $8.11, compared to $8.24 an hour during July 2004. Overall, average wage rates improved from last year's wages of $8.34 an hour to $8.53 an hour.

Workers on Farms, Hours worked Per Week, and Wage Rates for All Hired Workers,

Selected Regions and U.S., July 2004-2005 ^1/