No. 227 August 1, 1944
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
COOPERATING WITH  
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATlSTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Rainfall was below normal in both June and July. There were a few scattered showers
during July which aided in the recovery of crops in a few small areas. Maximum temperatures have been somewhat above average while minimum temperatures have been a
little below normal and the relative humidity has been rather high for drought years.
The damage to crops was thus minimized prior to August 1, but is still quite serious.
The weather has been favorable for harvesting hay and grain and for the final cultivation of inter-tilled crops. Favorable weather has enabled family labor to perform most
of the farm work and has limited the use of hired labor so that the labor shortage has not
been as acute as anticipated.
On August 1 the corn yield was indicated at 38.5 bushels per acre which is 6.5 bushels
less than the July 1 estimate. Total production was estimated at 178,563,000 bushels compared with 210,406,000 bushels in 1943. The estimated production this year is 108 percent of
the average for 1933-42. Development of the corn crop in Indiana has been slow but
deterioration has been limited by the relatively low minimum temperatures and high
humidity. There is evidence of damage from nitrogen deficiency and chinch bug infestation.
The Indiana wheat crop is estimated at 26,607,000 bushels for this year which is about
average for the 10 years, 1933-42, but 75 percent larger than last year's production. This
year's yield is indicated at 21 bushels compared with 16 bushels last year and the 10-year
average (1933-42) yield of 17 bushels. The wet weather early in the spring and subsequent dry weather at harvest time were favorable conditions for the development and harvest of the wheat crop.
The production of oats this year is estimated at slightly less than last year's production
and 17 percent less than the 1933-42 annual average production. The yield is indicated at
25.5 bushels per acre and production at 32,512,000 bushels. The oats yields are quite
variable this year. Some of the early planted oats made high yields of good quality grain.
Other early fields where thin stands resulted from excessive rains early in the season made
moderate yields of good quality grain. Yields of late planted fields were low and quality
of the grain was poor.
The barley yield is estimated at 26 bushels per acre and production at 1,222,000 bushels.
The production of rye is estimated at 92 percent of the 1943 production or 1,300,000 bushels
and the yield is estimated at 13 bushels per acre compared with 12 bushels last year.
It is anticipated that 23,580,000 bushels of soybeans will be harvested in Indiana this
year compared with 27,084,000 bushels last year. The acreage for harvest is about six percent greater than the acreage last year but it is expected that this year's yield will be
smaller. A large portion of the crop is much smaller than usual at this time of the year
and is making slow and uneven growth.
Both the prospective yield and production of Irish potatoes are below average. The
yield is estimated at 80 bushels per acre and production at 2,380,000 bushels. The yield
figure is an average for both commercial and non-commercial growers. Undoubtedly there
will be a difference between the average yields obtained by these two types of growers.
This year's prospective yield and production of sweet potatoes also are below last year's
yield and production. The yield is estimated at 80 bushels per acre and production at
120,000 bushels. 
Production of tobacco in Indiana will be smaller than last,y^-iykjtaafiH~|
10-year average (1933-42), although the acreage for harvest4\Mj«rlcated aT
greater than last year's acreage. The 1944 yield is estimated/a^ro^O pounds compal ^
1.024 last year.   Some of the tobacco areas received showe/s^anich have improvec
prospects since last month.  However, most of the tobaccp^as transplated later iJ
season than usual and has been damaged by the dry weather. /
The average yield per acre of all tame hay is indicated at 1.E5 tons. This is lower
last year's yield but the same as the 10-year (1933-42) averagfe. Total production is
mated at 2,505,000 tons compared with 2,774,000 tons lasf\yea*r.  Although growing
harvesting conditions were favorable for the first crop of%ayMhe second crop ai
rather light as a result of droughty conditions. 
The prospective production of all tree fruits is much large