No.   205 October 1,  1942
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 
INDIANA 
Corn crop prospects in Indiana continued to improve during the past month. The yield
per acre is now forecast to be 54.0 bushels, which is 4.0 bushels more than the previous
record yield of 50.0 bushels produced in 1939. Total production is expected to be 220,914,000
bushels or 25 percent more than last year's crop and 38 percent more than the 1930-39
average.
The record corn yield is attributable to several factors, some of which are extremely
favorable growing conditions throughout the season in nearly all areas of the state,
increased use of hybrid seed, increased use of mechanical power and equipment making
possible better and more timely cultivation, smaller than average corn acreage making
possible use of the best corn land on the farm for corn, smaller corn acreage making
possible better care of the crop, increased use of commercial fertilizers, and the growing
of a larger proportion of the acreage on legume sod land.
The carry-over on farms of old corn is estimated to be 15,374,000 bushels which is about
one-fourth more than, either the average carry-over at this time of the year or, last
year's carry-over. The carry-over of old corn plus the new crop in prospect makes the
supply for the coming feeding season one of the largest on record, but the livestock numbers on farms are also more than usual.
The carry-over of oats on farms is estimated to be 40,893,000 bushels and is about equal
to the carry-over a year ago but about one-third more than average. The carry-over of
wheat on farms at 6,970,000 bushels is only about one-half as much as either last year
or average.
Soybean production is forecast to be 30,135,000 bushels or a little more than twice as
large as last year's crop and about five and one-half times as much as average. Soybean
prospects probably improved in September as did corn, but the frosts during the last week
reduced prospects enough so that a 20.5 bushel yield per acre now appears likely compared
with 20.0 bushels a month ago.
Production of potatoes is now expected to be 5,720,000 bushels or 7 percent more than
last year and 8 percent more than average. Sweet potato production at 330,000 bushels is
21 percent less than average.
Tame hay production based on present prospects will be 2,638,000 tons or 9 percent
more than last year and 22 percent more than average. The yield per acre appears to be
1.45 tons this year, compared wth 1.29 tons last year and an average yield of 1.15 tons.
The high yield, in addition to favorable weather conditions, is due to a larger proportion
of the total of the higher yielding hays such as soybeans and alfalfa than was true in most
former years. Pasture conditions reported at 89 percent of normal is 33 points above last
year and 19 points above average at this time of the year.
Fruit production in Indiana, in contrast to most field crops, is considerably less than
average. Commercial apple production at 1,392,000 bushels is 12 percent less, peaches, at
112,000 bushels is 68 percent less, pears at 217,000 bushels is 29 percent less and grapes
at 2,800 tons is 30 percent less than average production.
Milk production per cow on crop reporters farms October 1 was 15.6 pounds compared
with 14.8 pounds last year and an average production of 13.9 pounds.
Crop reporters show egg production as of October 1 to be 28.6 eggs per 100 layers. This
compares with 33.5 last year and an average of 26.1. The number of layers per farm is
reported to be 105 compared with 95 last year and an average of 88 birds. One-half of the
layers this year are old hens whereas last year 53 percent were old hens.