No. 72 September 1, 1931
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DIVISION OF CROP AND LIVESTOCK ESTIMATES
CO-OPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
There was not much change in Indiana crop prospects in August. While the
rainfall was above average it came largely as showers and enough localities were
tardy in receiving their share to make the improvement in corn prospects less than
expected for such an amount of rain. More than usual complaint is heard of barren
stalks which is attributed to the hot weather of early August. The increase in production expected over a month ago is about one per cent. With 176,723,000 bushels
the crop is seven per cent above the ten year average.
The threshing of oats revealed that there were more light oats than expected
across the northern third of the state and prospects here declined sharply. This was
partly offset by better returns in the eastern central section and in the southwest, so
the decline in prospective yield was only one-half bushel for the state in August,
partial adjustment having been made in the previous report. With 59,292,000 bushels
the crop is one per cent larger than the ten year average.
Barley is reported slightly better than expected a month ago.
Potatoes suffered from heat and drouth in early August and the early part of the
crop was too far advanced to benefit from the rains and yields are expected to be below
average on this portion of the crop. Later acreages are reported doing well and
thereby help the state prospect. The crop is larger than last year because of larger
acreage.
Sweet potatoes showed practically no change.
Tobacco made a slight improvement in August and cutting began about September 1st.   The estimated yield is 910 pounds per acre.
Soybeans changed little the past month, remaining above the ten year average
condition on September 1. Cutting for hay had begun and yields appear good. No
estimate of production can be made till the proportions of acreage used for hay and
grain can be determined. Cowpeas are also unchanged with condition above average.
Clover seed condition is about average. The inquiry on acreage has not yet been
made.
Timothy seed is reported better than the average of the past four years.
Clover and grass hay yielded slightly less than expected before cutting but soybeans promise more than early indications. The net result is very little change in hay
production expected for the season. The yields per acre of timothy hay and timothy
and clover mixed were each estimated as 1.25 tons per acre. Sweet clover hay yield
was 1.70 tons per acre.    Wild hay yield was 1.20 tons per acre.
Pasture was reported about the same September 1st as on August 1st. However,
pasture in August was rather poor, as deterioration occurred in the early part of the
month and many localities had not had time for full recovery after rains came.
All tree fruits promise exceptionally large crops. Peach harvest rather suggests
that the estimate may be too conservative. Apples benefited by the heavy rains.
Pears and grapes are unchanged from last month though far above average.
On farms reporting milk cows the production of milk per cow milked September
1st was 20.2 pounds. This is seasonally lower than last month, when 20.5 pounds was
gotten but higher than the 19.4 pounds of last year. Production per farm was 97.6
compared with 106.0 last month and 96.1 a year ago.
Farm chicken flocks reported (not more than 320 birds) averaged 79.8 birds, or
|en per cent fewer than any of the other six years received. The per cent of hens
laying September 1 was 37.0, compared with 39.0 last month and a six year September
average of 33.6. Eggs produced per farm were 29.6, compared with 31.3 last month,
-90 last year and a six year average of 30.4.
The supply of farm labor was a little larger than last month or last year. Demand was less than last month as harvest was completed in most sections. Larger
fruit crops probably account for the slight reported increase in demand over last year.
The ratio of the supply to demand is 172, compared with 174 last year and 156 last
month.