Colorado Farmers Begin 2024 with Less Soil Moisture than 2023

By: Natalina Sents Bausch

USDA’s Crop Progress State Stories published January 3, 2024 shows many Colorado farmers are beginning the year with less soil moisture than they did in January 2023. Productive snowstorms during the second half of December 2023 improved moisture across the state, but moisture levels are still significantly behind the previous year.

The latest report shows topsoil moisture conditions rated 16% very short, 29% short, and 55% adequate. Subsoil moisture ratings were slightly better than the year prior with 12% very short, 34% short, and 54% adequate.