CROP SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 27, 2005

NEW MEXICO: There were 6.1 days suitable for field work. Topsoil moisture was 27% very short, 40% short and 33% adequate. Wind damage was 10% light, 30% moderate and 3% severe. Freeze damage was 33% light, 12% moderate and 5% severe. Hail damage was 12% severe. Temperatures continued to drop and pecan harvest has started. Alfalfa was in fair to excellent condition, with 93% of the 7^th cutting complete. Cotton was 89% harvested. Sorghum was in mostly poor to good condition, with 67% harvested for grain. Wheat was in mostly very poor to good condition. Lettuce harvest was completed. Red chile was 73% harvested. Fall onions were in fair to excellent condition. Pecans were in fair to excellent condition, with 7% harvested. Supplemental feeding is increasing and ranchers began purchasing feed and hay for the winter months. Cattle conditions were 1% very poor, 13% poor, 29% fair, 35% good and 22% excellent. Sheep were listed as 6% very poor, 25% poor, 30% fair, 18% good and 21% excellent. Range and pasture conditions were reported as 7% very poor, 28% poor, 29% fair, 29% good and 7% excellent.

WEATHER SUMMARY

Most of the week was warm and dry, but much colder air spread across New Mexico over the weekend. Winds gusted to over 50 mph at many locations with this storm system. Some light snow and rain accompanied the storm, but Capulin/Des Moines (.35") and Red River (.25") were the only spots that managed to collect as much as a quarter inch of moisture. Most of southern

New Mexico saw only a few flurries or sprinkles.

CATTLE ON FEED

NEW MEXICO: Cattle and Calves on feed intended for the slaughter market in New Mexico feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 141,000 head on November 1, 2005. Placements totaled 22,000 head during the month of October, down from September’s 26,000 head. Marketings were down to 16,000 head, and Other Disappearances totaled 1,000 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 11.5 million head on November 1, 2005. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.80 million, 3 percent above 2004 and 1 percent above 2003. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.74 million, 3 percent below 2004 and 6 percent below 2003. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 during October, 12 percent below 2004 and 43 percent below 2003.

QUARTERLY FARM LABOR

NEW MEXICO-ARIZONA: There were 25,000 hired workers on farms and ranches in New Mexico and Arizona during the week of October 9^th - 15^th , 2005, up 8.7 percent from a year ago. Hours worked increased 1.8 percent to an average of 44.8 hours per worker. Average wage rates for all hired workers were up by 53 cents from last year to $8.28 an hour. Wage rates for New Mexico and Arizona remain below the national average of $9.61 an hour.

UNITED STATES: There were 1,129,000 hired workers on the Nation’s farms and ranches during the week of October 9-15, 2005, down 4 percent from a year ago. Of these hired workers, 840,000 workers were hired directly by farm operators. Agricultural service employees on farms and ranches made up the remaining 289,000 workers. Farm operators paid their hired workers an average wage of $9.61 per hour during the October 2005 reference week, up 29 cents from a year earlier. Field workers received an average of $8.90 per hour, up 28 cents from last October, while livestock workers earned $9.14 per hour compared with $8.91 a year earlier. The field and livestock worker combined wage rate, at $8.96 per hour, was up 27 cents from last year.

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

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