NEW MEXICO:  There were 6.6 days suitable for field work.  Topsoil moisture was 4% very short, 32% short and 64% adequate.  Wind damage was 3% light and 11% moderate.  Freeze damage was 5% light.  Farmers continued harvesting red chile, lettuce, corn for grain, alfalfa and sorghum for grain.  Alfalfa was in fair to excellent condition, with 92% of the 6^th cutting complete, and 45% of the 7^th cutting complete.  Cotton was in mostly fair to excellent condition, with 94% of bolls opening and 15% harvested.  Corn for grain was 73% harvested.  Sorghum was in mostly fair to good condition, with 100% coloring, 42% mature, and 12% harvested for grain.  Wheat was in mostly fair to good condition.  Peanuts were in fair to excellent condition with 39% harvested.  Lettuce was fair to excellent and 25% harvested.  Chile was in mostly fair to excellent condition.  Green chile was 100% harvested and red chile was 34% harvested.  Fall onions were 89% planted and in fair to excellent condition.  Pecans were in fair to excellent condition.  Ranchers continued moving cattle to winter pastures and marketing their calves.  Cattle conditions were 1% very poor, 3% poor, 13% fair, 60% good, and 23% excellent.  Sheep were listed as 6% very poor, 12% poor, 11% fair, 32% good, and 39% excellent.  Range and pasture conditions were reported as 6% very poor, 16% poor, 31% fair, 33% good and 14% excellent.   

WEATHER SUMMARY

A slow-moving weak storm system brought light precipitation to most of northern and central New Mexico early in the week.  Red River (.47") and Chama (.41") were the only spots that measured over a third of an inch of moisture.   A cold front lowered temperatures quite a bit in the east on Sunday, and brought a few snow flurries to the northeast.  Overall, temperatures for the week were very close to normal.

MILK PRODUCTION

NEW MEXICO:  Milk production in the State during September totaled 569 million pounds.  Production per cow averaged 1,710 pounds compared to 1,670 pounds one year prior.  The number of milk cows on farms for September was 333,000 head.

UNITED STATES:  Milk production in the 23 major States during September totaled 13.0 billion pounds, up 4.9 percent from September 2004.  August revised production, at 13.6 billion pounds, was up 4.8 percent from August 2004.  The August revision represented an increase of 22 million pounds from last month's preliminary production estimate.  Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,597 pounds for September, 64 pounds above September 2004.  The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.16 million head, 54,000 head more than September 2004, and 1,000 head more than August 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 136,000 head on October 1^st, 2005.  This was 1,000 head more than on September 1^st 2005, but the same inventory as on October 1^st, 2004.  Placements were down 2,000 head to 26,000 head.  Marketings were also down 2,000 head to 22,000 head total marketed during September.  Other disappearance held steady at 3,000 head during September. 

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 10.5 million head on October 1, 2005. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.36 million, 1 percent below 2004 and 5 percent below 2003.  Net placements were 2.30 million head. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.82 million, 1 percent above 2004 but 11 percent below 2003.  Other disappearance totaled 57,000 during September, 7 percent below 2004 and 10 percent below 2003