No.  189 June 1,   1941
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 
The June 1 forecast of Indiana winter wheat production is for Xj.,6^0^00^ bushelfr'dbm-
pared with 30,030,000 bushels harvested last year and the ten yea«^(/J^t591*^Sfra^
of 30,321,000 bushels. The yield per acre is estimated to be 20.0 busn&fe^trasAyejy^eom-
pared with 19.5 last year and an average of 17.6 bushels. Loose smut is present in
varying amounts in some areas over the state and an occasional field shows presence
of red leaf and black stem rust. Whether the damage from these causes will be more
than the usual amount cannot yet be determined. Moisture supply is ample to mature
the crop. Up to June 1 no appreciable amount of lodging had occurred even though the
straw in most fields is of good length.
Rye crop prospects were also above average with the 1941 yield per acre estimated
to be 13.5 bushels and total production forecast to be 1,660,000 bushels compared with
1,785,000 bushels last year and an average crop of 1,473,000 bushels. There remained
on farms on the first of June, 232,000 bushels of last year's crop or 13 percent of the
total production. These farm stocks compare with 161,000 bushels last year and an
average of 240,000 bushels.
The condition of oats is reported at 76 percent of normal which is 5 points below last
year and 7 points above average. Production based on farmers intended acreage is
forecast to be 42,935,000 bushels or slightly larger than an average crop but about 14
percent less than last year's crop. Straw will be somewhat shorter than would have
been the case with more abundant moisture in May.
Barley production is forecast to be 1,750,000 bushels which is about 20 percent more
than last year's production and nearly three times as much as the average production.
The increased production is the result of expected yields per acre somewhat above
average but largely because of increased acreage, especially of winter barley. Stocks
of old crop barley on farms is estimated to be 14,000 bushels which is about one-fourth
as much as either last year or average. Depleted stocks are a result of needs for feed
because of the somewhat short corn crop of last year in relation to numbers of livestock on farms.
Corn planting was nearly completed by June 1. Stands are good in most fields, the
exceptions generally, being in late plowed fields where moisture is the limiting factor.
Very few weedy fields are to be found and generally corn is somewhat ahead of the
season. Hybrid seed corn was used on the largest acreage this year ever to be planted
with hybrid seed.
Soybean plantings made good progress up to June 1. Some fields show good stands,
others need moisture which has come between June 1 and the time of issuing this report.
Some beans are yet to be planted.
Hay and pasture condition as a percent of normal generally is reported to be below
average, with pasture reported at 73 compared with an average of 78; clover and timothy
hay reported at 69 compared with an average of 72; and alfalfa hay at 80 compared with
an 81 average. A large tonnage of high quality alfalfa hay was harvested the last week
of May before the June 1 rains began. The spring drought has shortened the growth
of hay and pasture crops but the damage is not beyond repair with ample future rains.