No. 241 October 1, 1945
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION                                                                                                                                                                              DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS                                                                                                                                                                  WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA                                                                                                                                                                                                  INDIANA    
The Indiana corn crop on October 1 is estimated to be 243,37
percent larger than last year's production, and 41 percent abo
This is the largest crop ever produced in the state, but the average yield per acre of 53.0
bushels is exceeded by only 1.0-bushel in 1942. There had been no appreciable frost damage
to corn prior to October 1, and at least 80 percent of the crop was safe from frost on that
date. The late planted corn in southwestern Indiana was in the hard roasting ear stage.
Some of the late plantings in the bottoms were standing in overflow on October 1.
Soybean prospects did not charge during September. The crop of 28,640,000 bushels of
beans is 24 percent greater than the 1944 crop and 141 percent more than average. Soybeans were practically mature on October 1 with the exception of late plantings. The
heavy rains of late September caused much lodging so that harvesting will be difficult.
More than the usual amount of drying weather will be needed before combining can
begin because of weed growth.
Potato prospects improved during September, so that a yield of 140 bushels per acre
and a total crop of 4,620,000 bushels is indicated. This is 48 percent more than last year's
production but 17 percent less than average. Below average summer temperatures, ample
moisture, and more than the usual proportion of the acreage being grown on muck land
are the primary factors responsible for the high yield.
The hay crop forecast at 2,639,000 tons is unchanged from a month earlier, is 2 percent
larger than last year's production, and 5 percent more than average. There is more fall
pasture than for many years so that if weather permits, barn feeding of roughage can
be delayed longer than usual.
Fruit production prospects declined again in September, with commercial apple production at 920,000 bushels, or 60 percent of an average crop; peach production at 589,000
bushels, twice an average crop; pear production at 146,000 bushels, 55 percent of average;
and grapes at 1,500 tons, 45 percent of average.
Egg production during September is estimated to be 124,000,000 eggs compared with
117,000,000 last September, The number of layers is slightly lower than a year ago, but
the rate of lay is substantially higher. Total egg production this year through Setpember
is 1,657,000,000 eggs or only 2 percent under the same period last year.
September milk production is estimated to be 320,000,000 pounds, or 4 percent greater
than production last September. The number of milk cows is about the same as last
year, but production per cow is sharply higher resulting no doubt from excellent pastures
and liberal grain feeding. Total production so far this year amounts to 2,927,000,000
pounds or 9 percent above the same period a year ago.
The carry-over of old corn on farms at 13,406.000 bushels is 2 percent more than a
year ago, and 9 percent less than average. Oats on farms at 47,811,000 bushels is twice
last year's amount and 58 percent more than average. Wheat stocks at 10,901,000 bushels
are about average, but 29 percent more than last year.
UNITED STATES
National crop prospects declined only slightly during September as a result of weather
that adversely affected some important crops. Wet weather, some drought, extremes in
temperatures, and early frosts all contributed to the somewhat lower prospects for some
crops indicated on October 1. Aggregate total crop production, however, still promises
an output equal to that produced in either of the exceptional years 1942 and 1944. The
iolf* *s exPected to exceed production in the big'year, 1943, by about 6 percent and the
1923-32 "pre-drought" average by 24 percent. Food grain production is the largest and
feed production the second largest on record. The forecast for corn at 3,078 million
bushels is not much different than indicated a month ago. Early September weather