NEW MEXICO: There were 6.7 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 23% very short, 46% short and 31% adequate. Wind damage was 8% light and 13% moderate. Freeze damage was 26% light, 3% moderate and 28% severe. Crop harvesting is coming to a close and freezing nights were reported in several counties. Alfalfa was in fair to excellent condition, with 100% of the 6^th cutting complete and 65% of the 7^th cutting complete. Cotton was in fair to excellent condition, with 72% harvested. Sorghum was in mostly fair to good condition, with 98% mature and 37% harvested for grain. Wheat was in mostly poor to good condition. Peanut harvest was complete. Lettuce was 93% harvested. Red chile was 63% harvested. Fall onions were in fair to excellent condition. Pecans were in fair to excellent condition. Some ranchers were still moving cattle to winter pastures and supplemental feeding is increasing. Cattle conditions were 1% very poor, 8% poor, 34% fair, 55% good, and 2% excellent. Sheep were listed as 8% very poor, 23% poor, 49% fair, 19% good, and 1% excellent. Range and pasture conditions were reported as 9% very poor, 31% poor, 40% fair, 18% good and 2% excellent.

WEATHER SUMMARY

Warm weather at the beginning of the week quickly gave way to autumn weather as a couple of cold fronts passed through. Carlsbad reached 81 on the 14th while tatum recorded a record minimum of 15 on the 16th. Overall, temperatures averaged 3 to 4 degrees below normal for the state, but were as much as 10 degrees below normal at Roswell. Precipitation was very

light and spotty, and confined to the far north. Red River (.07") reported the greatest amount.

MILK PRODUCTION

NEW MEXICO: Milk production in the state during October totaled 590 million pounds, up from the 569 million pounds produced the previous month. Production per cow averaged 1,760 pounds compared to 1,710 in September. Average number of milk cows on farms during the month was 335,000 head, an increase of 2,000 head from the September total of 333,000 head.

UNITED STATES: Milk production in the 23 major States during October totaled 13.4 billion pounds, up 4.1 percent from October 2004. September revised production, at 13.0 billion pounds, was up 4.7 percent from September 2004. The September revision represented a decrease of 27 million pounds or 0.2 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate. Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,636 pounds for October, 53 pounds above October 2004. The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.16 million head, 58,000 head more than October 2004, and 4,000 head more than September 2005.