CROP SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 25, 2005

NEW MEXICO: There were 7 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 11% very short, 51% short, 36 % adequate and 2% surplus. Wind damage was 13% light, 16% moderate, and 1% severe. Farmers spent the week harvesting and irrigating their crops. Alfalfa was reported as mostly fair to good condition. The 5^th cutting was 84% complete, the 6^th was 33% complete, and a few farmers have started on their 7^th cutting with 4% complete. Cotton was reported as mostly fair to good with 58% of the cotton bolls opening. Corn was in fair to excellent condition with 80% of the crop mature and 13% of the grain harvested. Corn for silage was 88% harvested. Sorghum was in mostly fair to good condition with 52% coloring and 11% mature. Winter wheat was in mostly fair to good condition based on the half of the crop that had already emerged with 90% planted and 50% emerged. Peanuts were reported as fair to excellent and 7% has been harvested. Chile was listed as mostly fair to good. The green chile harvest was 85% complete and the red harvest was just starting. Both lettuce and pecans were in fair to excellent condition. Pumpkins were in mostly good condition. Ranchers spent the week culling herds and marketing calves. Many areas were supplementing feed and hauling water. Cattle were listed as 6% poor, 16% fair, 69% good, and 9% excellent. Sheep were 19% fair, 80% good, and 1% excellent. Range and pasture conditions were 16% poor, 38% fair, 42% good, and 4% excellent.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

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 135,000 head on September 1^st, 2005. This was 1,000 head higher than last month and 6,000 head more than last year. Placements were up 5,000 head to 28,000. Marketings increased during August to 24,000 head compared to 18,000 in July. Other disappearance held at 3,000 head.

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 10.0 million head on September 1, 2005. Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.99 million, 5 percent below 2004 and 16 percent below 2003. This is the lowest placements for the month of August since the series began in 1996.Net placements were 1.94 million. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 418,000, 600-699 pounds were 385,000, 700-799 pounds were 540,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 650,000. Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 2.03 million, 6 percent above 2004 but 2 percent below 2003. Other disappearance totaled 53,000 during August, 5 percent below 2004 and 12 percent below 2003.