No. 211 April 1, 1943
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
Winter wheat prospects on April 1 were for one of the smallest crops on record back
to 1866, partly because of a less than average yield per acre but mostly because of the
small acreage. The acreage seeded last fall was the smallest on record since 1866. Present indications point to a total production of 16,538,000 bushels which is about one-fourth
more than last year but only a little more than one-half of the (1932-41) average. The
condition of the growing crop lacks uniformity and is poorer as we move farther south
in the state. The acreage to be abandoned because of winter injury and heaving probably
will be greatest in the southern part.
The condition of rye is reported to be 79 percent of normal compared with 86 percent
last year and an average of 83 percent. The condition of pasture at 75 percent of normal
is one point below average but eight points below last year.
Stocks of corn on Indiana farms are estimated to be 99,870,000 bushels compared with
71,744,000 last year and an average carry-over on this date of 61,510,000 bushels. The
disappearance of corn from farms during the first three months of 1943, totaling 60,-
338,000 bushels, was the largest on record, and is consistent with the record numbers of
grain consuming animals on farms.
Stocks of wheat on farms amounts to only 2,218,000 bushels which is about one-half of
last year as well as one-half of average. Oat stocks at 16,563,000 bushels is a little less
than last year but about one-third more than average.
Soybeans on farms April 1 are estimated to be 8,927,000 bushels out of a total production of 29,757,000 bushels. On April 1 there were some of last year's soybeans yet to be
harvested but as weather permitted progress was being made in this operation. Some
of the recently harvested beans have been high in moisture, low in quality and the yield
per acre has been less than what probably would have been the yield had they been harvested last fall.
Farm wages by the month at $51.50 with board and $68.75 without board are about 25
percent higher than a year ago. Wages by the day however are about one-third higher
than a year ago. The supply of and demand for farm workers this year will depend
somewhat on weather conditions at peak farm work seasons.. Weather conditions the
first ten days of April have been favorable to farm work.
On farms of crop reporters having less than 370 hens and pullets of laying age, egg
production on April 1 was reported to be 61.9 eggs per 100 layers which is next to the
highest rate of lay ever reported for this date. The number of layers per flock at 120
is also by far the largest ever reported. Total egg production in March in all flocks is
estimated to be 243,000,000 eggs compared with 197,000,000 eggs produced last year in
March. Total production for the first three months of the year at 556,000,000 eggs is
about 20 percent more than production in the same period last year.
Crop reporters on April 1 are milking 72 percent of all the milk cows in their herds
and production per cow in the herd is reported to be 14.9 pounds. Production per farm
on April 1 is reported to be about the same as a year ago but about 10 percent more than
average.