No. 322 July 1, 1952
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
Corn prospects in Indiana July 1 indicated production of 248,454,000 bushels, 3 percent
more than last year, and 16 percent above average. The acreage is 1 percent larger than
last year, and the expected yield is 54.0 bushels per acre. There were two stages of planting so early corn is much larger than the later planting, but even the later corn is about
at the usual stage.
Stocks of old corn on farms are 67,567,000 bushels, which is 28 percent more than average, and 32 percent more than last year. Disappearance has been near that of recent
years.
The yield per acre of winter wheat of 24.5 bushels now expected has been exceeded
only in 1931. Production indicated is 39,470,000 bushels, which is 168 percent of last year
and 132 percent of average. Stocks of wheat on farms from last year's small crop are
only 353,000 bushels, probably a record low.
The oats production forecast is 52,782,000 bushels, with an indicated yield of 38.0
bushels per acre. The acreage is 1 percent above last year, and the expected yield is
higher. Many fields of ripening oats show weeds growing up through the grain which
will make close harvesting difficult, and make grain more moist than if fields were clean.
Stocks of old oats on farms of 6,614,000 bushels are 6 percent above last year and 3 percent
above average.
The acreage of soybeans for all purposes is 1,559,000 acres, of which 1,481,000 acres
are intended for beans. Production is not forecast this month but the crop appears
thrifty. Farm stocks of old beans estimated as 364,000 bushels are 28 percent of last
year and 35 percent of average.
Hay production of 2,657,000 tons is slightly below last year though 5 percent above
average. Of the expected tonnage 1,434,000 tons are clover mixtures, and 899,000 tons
are alfalfa hay.
Apples in commercial counties promise 1,327,000 bushels, or 74 percent of last year
and 95 percent of average. Peaches forecast at 480,000 bushels are about seven times
last year's short crop. Pears are about like last year, and 73 percent of average. Grapes
promise 1,000 tons, a fourth more than last year but about half the 10 year average.
June egg production was 218 million eggs, only 3 million above last year, though
layers numbered 5 percent more. The rate of lay dropped below a year ago. Production
for the first six months was 1,557 million this year and 1,449 million last year.
Milk production per cow continued at a record high level. June production at 407
million pounds was down over one percent from Mav, but was 11 million above last year.
UNITED STATES
Prospects for 1952 crops now point to a total production second only to the record
set in 1948. Total acreages planted to crops and total acreages to be harvested are each
slightly larger than average. Yield prospects show a wide variation among crops, for
while June brought good "corn weather" and excellent conditions for harvesting winter
grains and hay, it was not favorable for spring sown grains. Winter wheat outturns have
been exceeding expectations where harvest is well along, but additional acreage has
been abandoned in some dry areas. Spring wheat prospects declined from the June 1
forecast. An all wheat crop of 1,249 million bushels is now in prospect, a total exceeded
only in 1947 and 1948. Rice is the only major crop which now seems likely to top a
previous production record. Only minor changes from prospective acreages are noted,
slightly downward for most crops. All-crop production is indicated at about 132 percent
of the 1923:32 average.
Feed grains make up a major portion of the large all-crop volume, as usual. Their
contributions are a 3,365 million bushel corn crop, exceeded only in 1948; a larger than
average quantity of 1,353 million bushels of oats; probably nearly as much sorghum
"ain as in 195i but only 208 million bushels of barley, smallest outturn since 1936.
Even with smaller than average carry-over stocks, except for oats, farm supplies of feed
grains per animal unit will be fairly large, although smaller than in the 3 years, 1948-50.
"ay supplies will be smaller than for several years, but adequate. The food grains contribute the second largest wheat crop, a record acreage and production of rice, but the
smallest rye crop of record—only 15.6 million bushels, and only a small buckwheat crop
I'taly. Oilseed production will be fairly large. The large soybean acreage tends to
indicate a larger outturn of beans than in 1951; cotton acreage is 7 percent less than
last year's large acreage; flaxseed prospects are a sixth below 1951 and a fourth below