No. 325 October 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
The Indiana corn crop is now estimated as 227,750,000 bushels. The yield of 49.5 bushels
ner acre is slightly above last month. The crop is very good in the north, about average
in the central districts and below average in the southern districts. Maturity was complete before frost, and husking was under way in the south at the end of September. The
arryover of old corn on farms was 18,639,000 bushels, slightly above the 1941-50 average
ind 183 percent of a year ago.
Soybeans are turning out better than expected with favorable harvest weather the
yield now being placed at 22.5 bushels per acre, and production at 33,322,000 bushels.
Farmers report 182,000 bushels of old beans on hand October 1.
There was no change in the estimates of other grain crops in the month. Farm stocks
of grain October 1 included 36,503,000 bushels of oats slightly more than average but
I million bushels less than last year. Farm held wheat was 8,289,000 bushels 167 percent
of last year but only 90 percent of average. Barley with 286,000 bushels was 116 percent
of last year and 81 percent of average. Rye holding of 260,000 bushels is 116 percent of
last year and 77 percent of average.
Hay production of 2,464,000 tons is 7,000 above last month because of a better outturn
of lespedeza than anticipated. The crop is 92 percent of last year and 98 percent of average.
The clover seed forecast is 9,200,000 pounds of seed and about average.
All tree fruits are reported below a month ago, largely because drouth in orchard districts prevented full sizing. The commercial apple crop is now placed at 1,148,000 bushels,
peaches at 472,000 bushels and pears at 78,000 bushels.
Pasture condition at 77 is 9 points lower than last year and 2 points below average.
In spite of this milk production per cow reached a new high for the date. September milk
production was 331 million pounds, a million above last year, and 19 million above the
average.
Egg production for September was 175 million eggs, 10 million above last year. Layers
are 103 percent of a year ago. Production January through September was 2,083 million
fggs or 6 percent more than last year.
UNITED STATES
Improvement in prospects for most principal late-growing crops during September
increased the prospective total crop volume nearly 2 percent. With a corn crop of 3,257
million bushels in prospect—second only to 1948—the expected total volume of crop
Production this year is the second largest of record, and only 3 percent below the peak
in 1948.
Mostly satisfactory to ideal conditions for maturing and harvesting crops during September improved production prospects generally. Frosts occurred in only a few areas and
^suited in relatively light local damage. Rapid progress was made in harvesting, reducing
divesting losses. The extended growing season permitted even the late-planted flax,
com and other crops to mature and to improve yields. Thus, while improvement in prospects varied from slight to significant, by crops, it was rather general. On the other
'and, the lack of September rainfall has been unfavorable for fall seeding of wheat and
»Aer grains, particularly in the southern Great Plains and parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Corn production prospects improved not only in quantity, but also in quality. The
present forecast of 3,257 million bushels is 71 million or 2 percent more than on September
I'.an all com crop exceeded only in 1948. But virtually all of this has reached maturity
^thout frost damage and much is ready for cribbing, with low moisture content. Picking
tf corn had been started on a minor scale in the main Corn Belt, limited chiefly to opening
JPfields for machine-picking or to obtain early feed, but some had been cribbed. Soybeans
were mature unusually early and harvest was well under way, with improved yield
inspects, particularly in important northern areas. Killing frosts the morning of October
ro much of the Corn Belt were welcome, as a help to cure the corn and to kill weeds that
amper combining in soybean fields.
Current estimates indicate improvement in prospects since September 1 for corn,
hay, cotton, spring wheat, oats, barley, rice, flaxseed, sugar beets, peanuts, potatoes,
eet potatoes, tobacco, dry beans, peaches, pears, grapes and pecans. The only crops