05-04-13 Colorado’s Wheat Quality Council Tour Wraps Up…

By Darrell Hanavan

Route on April 30: Byers to Cope to Eads to Brandon to Cheyenne Wells to Burlington to Colby, KS.

Route on May 1: Colby to Burlington to Holyoke to Haxtun to Wiggins to Prospect Valley to Bennett

Observations:

• South of I -70 (except for Kit Carson county) is a total disaster due to drought and multiple freezes). 
• North of I-70 (except for Kit Carson county) has average to above average yield potential.  The 10-year average yield is 33.4 bushels per acre.
• The winter wheat crop is 3 weeks behind normal in growth stage which is the exact opposite of last year when the crop was 2 weeks ahead of normal and earliest crop in history was harvested.

Yield Estimates:

 The first day yield estimates were made using the NASS formula, crop insurance formula and eyeball estimates.  The second day yield estimates were made using just eyeball guesses since the wheat fields were wet from rain and/or snow.

Colorado Winter Wheat Estimate:

USDA NASS estimates that 2,200,000 acres of winter wheat were planted last fall.  We estimated that 20 percent or 440,000 acres will be totally abandoned.  The 10-year average for abandonment is 11.4 percent.  The highest level of abandonment since 1970 was 29.8 percent in 2002.  There is the potential that 30 percent or 660,000 acres will be totally abandoned.  Based on an abandonment rate of 20 percent and a 34 bushel per acre statewide average yield total production would be 59,840,000 bushels (1,760,000 acres harvested X 34 bushel average yield = 59,840,000 bushels). Based on an abandonment rate of 30 percent and a 34 bushel per acre statewide average yield total production would be 52,360,000 (1,540,000 acres harvested X 34 bushel average yield = 52,360,000 bushels).

USDA will issue is first estimate of the Colorado and U.S. winter wheat crop on Friday, May 10, 2013.

TO VIEW PHOTOS – CLICK HERE

05-29-12 Pedal the Plains Update…Get Registered by May 31st!

There’s only 48 hours left to take adavantage of Early Bird registration for The Denver Post Pedal The Plains!

Don’t miss discounted race entries for all four ride options:

3 Day Tour

Registration fee includes: camping space and showers, transportation of one bag during the tour, shuttle services, entertainment in host towns, aid stations, bike techs, sag vehicles, medical support, a jersey, water bottle, commemorative lapel pin and a ride guide.

Three Day Loop with Gran Fondo

Registration fee includes: everything in the 3 Day Tour option, plus entry into the Gran Fondo.

Family Loop Ride Only

Registration fee includes: pancake breakfast, entertainment, aid stations, bike techs, sag vehicles, medical support, t-shirt, commemorative lapel pin, one ticket for the Kit Carson County Carousel, and a route map.

Gran Fondo Only

Registration fee includes: pancake breakfast, entertainment, aid stations, bike techs, medical support, a jersey, musette feed back, finisher’s medal and a route map.

And don’t forget that teams of 10 or more will receive 10% of their registration donated to the charity of their choice*! And don’t forget you can follow along on Facebook and Twitter, and find out about great deals, contests, and gear-giveaways before anyone else!

04-30-12 US Congressman Gardner (R-CO) announces May townhall schedule…May 11th in Kit Carson & May 14th in Akron & Sedgwick

CLICK HERE to visit US Congressman Cory Gardner's Website

COLO. – Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) announced the following dates for townhall meetings in May:

May 11, 2012

WHAT: Kit Carson County Town Meeting

WHEN: May 11th from 10am to 11am

WHERE: VFW building in Burlington

May 14, 2012

WHAT: Washington County Town Meeting

WHEN: May 14th from 7am to 8am

WHERE: Washington Co Event Center in Akron

—

WHAT: Sedgwick County Town Meeting

WHEN: May 14th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm

WHERE: Sedgwick County Court House Annex in Julesburg (Located on the South side of the Court House, 118 W. 3rd St)

###

Congressman Gardner is a freshman member in the U.S. House of Representatives for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, the Subcommittee on Environment and Economy and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.