No. 301 October 1, 1950
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
There was no significant change in Indiana crop prospects in September. Temperatures
were slightly below normal but no freezing occurred. Rainfall was heavy retarding
the drying which accompanies ripening of corn and soybeans.
New estimates of grain crops were made for only corn and soybeans, and both are
unchanged from last month. The corn forecast of 226,416,000 bushels is 92 percent of
last year, but 109 percent of the 1939-48 average. The 36,960,000 bushels of soybeans
forecast is 111 percent of last year and 161 percent of average.
No change in the forecast of 3,800,000 bushels of potatoes was made. Tobacco also
is unchanged at 13,640,000 pounds.
An exceptionally high season yield for alfalfa hay raises the production of this hay to
1,000,000 tons. All hay at 2,561,000 tons is 116 percent of last year, and 99 percent of
average. Pasture condition of 95 is 6 points higher than last year and 23 points above
average.
The end of the peach harvest showed 298,000 bushels, a greater total production than
expected. Commercial apples are unchanged at 1,020,000 bushels, as are pears at 127,000
bushels. Grapes are reported better than last month's expectation.
Red clover seed production is estimated as 171,000 bushels of thresher run seed or
286 percent of last year though only 92 percent of average.
Milk production per cow on reporter farms is at a new high level reflecting excellent
pasture conditions and about average grain feeding. September milk production was 300
million pounds this year, equal to average, but last year was 315 million pounds.
September egg production was 144 million eggs, 11 million more than a year ago.
The number of layers was up 5 percent and production of eggs per 100 layers was 1,158
this year and 1,122 last year. The total egg production for the first nine months was
1,784 million eggs this year and 1,744 million last year.
Stocks of grains on farms October 1 were 19,369,000 bushels of corn, 43 percent of
last year and 118 percent of average: Wheat 7,528,000 bushels, 70 percent of last year
and 78 percent of average: Oats 39,537,000 bushels, 96 percent of last year and 115
percent of average.
UNITED STATES
Growing, maturing and harvesting conditions in September were less than satisfactory rather generally. Still, it was possible to harvest most of the retarded small
grains in the Northwest, while later-growing crops made fair to good progress throughout the country. The total outturn of all crops is now estimated the same as a month
earlier, but slightly above the average of the last 8 excellent seasons. Conditions have
been favorable to ideal for seeding fall grains.
The bulk of the corn acreage appears to have escaped much of the threat of "soft"
corn, although quality of the crop in some important areas still depends upon satisfactory maturing and curing weather during October. However, there will be considerable
chaffy and "wet" corn in parts of the Corn Belt. The current estimate of 3,118 million
bushels is about 1% percent smaller than a month ago, largely because of frost damage
in immature fields in northern Iowa and parts of northernmost North Central States.
Much of the damaged corn is being salvaged for silage and forage, so that the proportion of the crop harvested as grain is likely to be smaller than in the previous 2 years.
While some mature corn has been harvested, the general harvest period in the Corn Belt
is expected to be later than usual. Soybeans were largely mature and little affected
by frost, although harvesting is later than last year.
Declines in production from September 1 forecasts are shown for only a few crops
besides corn. Cotton prospects improved in some areas, declined in others, with the net
result an October 1 estimate of 9,869,000 bales, only 13,000 less than a month earlier.
A sharp decline in durum wheat more than offset an increase in other spring wheat.
Declines in sorghum grain, sweetpotatoes, sugarcane, grapes, and hops were also small.
Significant shifts occurred among tobacco types, but the total estimate virtually equals
that of a month ago. Dry beans showed the only sharp decline, due largely to wet
weather and harvesting losses, particularly in Michigan. On the other hand, current
estimates are slightly higher than a month ago for oats, barley, rice, buckwheat, flaxseed, all hay, soybeans, peanuts, sugar beets, potatoes, apples, peaches, pears and pecans.
The prolonged season for growth and harvesting of belated crops in the Minnesota-
Dakotas spring grain area, favorable conditions for additional growth of most fruits
and root crops, and fairly favorable harvesting conditions in the South permitted yields
to develop as expected or to improve.