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Weekly Ag Update

Issue 55-46

November 7, 2005

Included in this Issue

Crop Weather 
Agricultural Prices
NASS Monthly Newsletter


CROP SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 6, 2005

NEW MEXICO: There were 7 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 18% very short, 28% short and 54% adequate. Wind damage was 4% light and 1% moderate. Freeze damage was 26% light 1% moderate and 1% severe. Farmers are finishing up harvesting as the weather gets colder. Alfalfa was in mostly fair to excellent condition, with 97% of the 6th cutting complete, and 58% of the 7th cutting complete. Cotton was in fair to excellent condition, with 100% of bolls opening and 38% harvested. Corn for grain was 100% harvested. Sorghum was in mostly fair to good condition, with 85% mature and 19% harvested for grain. Wheat was in mostly fair to good condition. Peanuts were 81% harvested. Lettuce was fair to excellent with 65% harvested. Red chile was in mostly fair to excellent condition with 58% harvested. Fall onions were in good to excellent condition. Pecans were in fair to excellent condition. Ranchers continue marketing their calves and preparing for the winter months. Cattle conditions were 1% poor, 25% fair, 46% good, and 28% excellent. Sheep were listed as 5% very poor, 8% poor, 44% fair, 16% good, and 27% excellent. Range and pasture conditions were reported as 7% very poor, 15% poor, 34% fair, 29% good and 15% excellent. 

 
CROP PROGRESS PERCENTAGES WITH COMPARISONS
CROP PROGRESS This Week Last Week Last Year 5-Year Average
    CHILE Harvested-Red 58 55 49 52
    CORN Harvested-Grain 100 90 82 94
    COTTON Opening Bolls 100 97 100 100
    COTTON Harvested 38 18 22 39
    LETTUCE Harvested 65 50 71 69
    PEANUTS Harvested 81 61 66 71
    SORGHUM Mature 85 70 62 88
    SORGHUM Harvested 19 15 18 39
CROP AND LIVESTOCK CONDITION PERCENTAGES
Very Poor Poor  Poor Fair Good Excellent
Alfalfa -- 17 24 42 17
Chile -- 14 22 43 21
Cotton -- -- 26 45 29
Lettuce -- -- 20 20 60
Onions -- -- -- 33 67
Pecan -- -- 30 23 47
Sorghum (All) -- 12 26 61 1
Wheat (All) 19 16 44 15 6
Cattle  -- 1 25 46 28
Sheep 5 8 44 16 27
Range/Pasture 7 15 34 29 15

 


 
 

SOIL MOISTURE PERCENTAGES
Very

Short

Short Adequate Surplus
Northwest 13 35 52 --
Northeast 26 30 44 --
Southwest 27 33 40 --
Southeast 5 20 75 --
State Current 18 28 54 --
State-Last Week 11 41 46 2
State-Last Year 8 28 64 --
State-5-Yr Avg. 26 30 44 --



 

WEATHER SUMMARY

New Mexico experienced a warm, dry week. The only measurable precipitation was .05 inches at Roy on the 31st. Temperatures for the week averaged 8 degrees above normal for the state. Afternoon temperatures hit the low and mid 80s mid-week at many locations in the east and south.

 
NEW MEXICO WEATHER CONDITIONS - OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 6, 2005
Temperature
Precipitation
Station
Mean 
Maximum Minimum 10/31

11/06

11/01

11/06

Normal
Nov.
01/01

   11/06

Normal

Jan-Nov

Farmington 48.6 71 26 0.00 0.00 0.94 8.52 8.12
Gallup 46.2 69 19 0.00 0.00 0.95 11.15 11.91
Capulin 47.6 71 22 0.05 0.00 0.67 17.44 16.94
Chama 39.9 64 20 0.00 0.00 1.72 25.21 19.81
Johnson Ranch 41.9 69 18 0.00 0.00 0.69 9.76 10.85
Las Vegas 49.8 74 24 0.00 0.00 0.58 18.99 18.36
Los Alamos 46.6 62 30 0.00 0.00 1.02 21.10 17.64
Raton 48.7 72 24 0.00 0.00 0.61 20.04 16.22
Red River 39.7 59 19 0.00 0.00 1.18 24.15 19.33
Santa Fe 47.9 66 23 0.00 0.00 0.63 14.04 13.21
Clayton 55.4 83 30 0.00 0.00 0.52 17.03 14.80
Clovis 57.9 78 33 0.00 0.00 0.73 17.42 16.97
Roy 50.6 76 29 0.00 0.00 0.50 18.83 15.29
Tucumcari 58.3 83 30 0.00 0.00 0.51 20.73 13.90
Grants 48.1 74 21 0.00 0.00 0.58 8.60 10.14
Quemado 45.3 72 17 0.00 0.00 0.45 12.50 13.04
Albuquerque 53.6 70 37 0.00 0.00 0.43 11.32 8.38
Carrizozo 51.1 72 28 0.00 0.00 0.76 14.71 12.07
Socorro 50.1 76 27 0.00 0.00 0.47 8.29 8.95
Gran Quivera 51.5 68 32 0.00 0.00 0.91 18.69 14.92
Moriarty 47.2 71 24 0.00 0.00 0.40 11.53 12.17
Ruidoso 48.9 70 26 0.00 0.00 0.88 20.47 19.72
Carlsbad 60.5 86 34 0.00 0.00 0.59 8.90 12.38
Roswell 54.9 81 31 0.00 0.00 0.55 11.42 12.38
Tatum 55.9 83 28 0.00 0.00 0.55 12.03 15.57
Alamogordo 61.4 76 43 0.00 0.00 0.71 12.22 11.92
Animas 60.2 82 41 0.00 0.00 0.71 10.80 10.62
Deming 57.1 81 34 0.00 0.00 0.64 8.09 9.73
Las Cruces 58.6 79 39 0.00 0.00 0.53 10.86 8.72
T or C 57.8 77 36 0.00 0.00 0.60 9.10 9.22
(T) Trace (-) No Report (*) Correction

All reports based on preliminary data. Precipitation data corrected monthly from official observation forms.



AGRICULTURAL PRICES RECEIVED

NEW MEXICO:Alfalfa hay prices for October averaged $127.00 per ton, $2.00 below the September price of $129.00. All Hay also decreased by $2.00 from the September price of $127.00 per ton to $125.00 per ton. Cow prices in the state declined to $47.00 per hundred-weight, a drop of $6.30. Steer and heifer prices remained stable at $111.00 per hundredweight and remained $15.00 above the national average of $96.00. Calf prices also remained stable at $130.00 per hundredweight, but were $2.00 below the national average of $132.00. Milk cow replacement in the state averaged $1,830 per head compared to the national average of $1,870 per head.
 

 
Prices Received by Farmers: Selected Commodities, September 2004 and October 2004-05
Commodity Unit
New Mexico
U.S.
Oct. 2004 2/ Sept. 2005 2/ Oct. 2005 1/ Oct. 1/
----------------------------------------------------Dollars------------------------------------------------------
CROPS
Grain Sorghum Cwt. – – – 2.98
Cotton, Upland Lb. – – – .469
Potatoes Cwt. – – – 5.62
Hay, all baled Ton 117.00 127.00 125.00 97.70 
Alfalfa, baled Ton 120.00 129.00 127.00 106.00 
Peanuts Lb. – – – .176
Corn Bu. – – – 1.74
Wheat, all Bu. – – – 3.54
LIVESTOCK
Sheep 3/ Cwt. – – – 43.30 
Lambs 3/ Cwt. – – – 110.00 
Cows Cwt. 52.60 53.30 47.00 47.70 
Steers & Heifers Cwt. 111.00  111.00  111.00  96.00 
Calves Cwt. 125.00  130.00  130.00  132.00 
Milk Cow Replacement 4/ Head 1,670.00  -- 1,830 1,870.00 
Milk Milk 14.50 14.70 14.90 15.40 
1/ Mid-month 2/ Entire month 3/ September - entire month 4/ Animals sold for dairy herd replacement only. Prices published January, April, July, and October.

NASS MONTHLY AG NEWSLETTER

September 2005

The following estimates, forecasts, and projections are mainly taken from recent publications of the National Agricultural

Statistics Service, Economic Research Service, and the World Agricultural Outlook Board of the USDA.

Wheat. All wheat production is forecast at 2.17 billion bushels, up slightly from 2004. The World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) projected 2005/06 ending stocks are down 10 million bushels from last month due to higher food use that was partially offset by larger imports. The projected price range for 2005/06 is $3.00 to $3.40 per bushel compared with $3.40 for the 2004 crop. 

Corn. The September forecast for 2005 corn production is 10.6 billion bushels, up 3% from the August forecast but 10% below 2004. Based on conditions as of September 1, yields are expected to average 143.2 bushels per acre, up 4.0 bushels from August but 17.2 bushels below the record high last year. If realized, this would be the second largest crop on record. WAOB projected U.S. ending stocks for 2005/06 are up 179 million bushels from last month because of the higher production forecast and increased beginning stocks due to a reduction in 2004/05 exports. The projected 2005/06 price range for corn is $1.70 to $2.10 per bushel compared with $2.06 for the 2004 crop. 

Cotton. The September U.S. cotton production is forecast at 22.3 million 480-pound bales, up 5% from last month but 

4% below last year’s record production. Yield is expected to average 782 pounds per acre, up 34 pounds from last month but down 73 pounds from 2003. If realized, both yield and production would be the second highest on record. WAOB projected domestic mill use is unchanged from last month while exports are slightly higher, at 15.3 million bales, reflecting larger supplies and increased demand by China. Ending stocks for 2005/06, at 7.00 million bales, are unchanged from last month but up 22% from the previous year.

Other Crops. Grain Sorghum is forecast at 398 million bushels, up 5% from last month but down 13% from 2004. The peanut crop, forecast at a record high 5.01 billion pounds, is down 3% from last month but up 18% from last year.

Cattle. Mid-September prices for choice steers (Nebraska direct, 1100-1300 pounds) averaged $87 per cwt, up $9 from mid-August. Feeder steer prices (Oklahoma City, medium-large frame, 750-800 pounds) were roughly $112 per cwt, down $2 from a month ago.

Other. August milk production was up 4.6% from the previous year. Production per cow increased 4.0%, while the number of cows increased 0.6% from a year earlier. The cheddar cheese price (U.S. 40 pound blocks, wholesale) remained unchanged the first two weeks of September. Total cheese production reported for the month of July 2005 was 4.0% above the previous year. Butter production during this same time period was 2.3% above last year. Production of nonfat dry milk for human food was down 11.1% from July 2004. US table egg production during August 2005 totaled 6.46 billion, up slightly from August 2004. Wholesale market egg prices for the third quarter of 2005 (Grade A large, New York) are expected to average 64-65 cents per dozen, compared with 66.2 cents a year ago. Fourth quarter 2005 egg prices are expected to average 68-72 cents per dozen, compared to 68.0 cents a year earlier. Broiler-Type chicks hatched during August 2005 totaled 812 million, up slightly from last year. Weekly Broiler-Type Placements in 19 selected states for the week ending September 17, 2005, were 173 million, down slightly from a year ago. Cumulative placements for the 19 selected states for the period January 2, 2005 - September 17, 2005 totaled 6.50 billion, up 1% from the 6.41 million chicks placed for the same period a year ago. The wholesale 12-city average price for whole broilers for the third quarter of 2005 is expected to be 72-73 cents, compared with 75.7 cents from a year earlier. Fourth quarter 2005 broiler prices are expected to average 71-75 cents per pound, compared with the 68.3 cents for a year earlier. Turkey Poult Placements in August 2005, at 23.6 million, were down slightly from August 2004. Cumulative placements for the 2005 marketing year are 273 million poults, down 3% from a year ago. Prices (8-16 lb. hens, Eastern Region) for the third quarter of 2005 are expected to be 76-77 cents compared with 73.1 cents for the third quarter last year. Turkey prices for the fourth quarter of 2005 are expected to average 77-81 cents per pound, compared with the 77.1 cents average for the fourth quarter of 2004. Supplies in refrigerated warehouses at the end of August 2005 compared with a year earlier were: total chicken, down 5%; turkey, down 13%; pork, up 9%; bellies, up 45%; beef, down 7%; frozen orange juice, down 23%; butter, down 7% and American cheese, down 1%.

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