No. 335 August 1,1953
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL|URE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECO.^OMICS
COOPERATING WITH 
PURDUE UNIVERSITY     { SEP 24 1953
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STfTION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
INDIANA 
Indiana corn promises production of 251,167,000 bushels, the second largest crop in
the history of the state. In spite of some drought in the southwestern part of the state,
yield prospects rose 2 bushels to 53 bushels per acre during July. Many areas had above
average precipitation.
The production of wheat is estimated as 44,055,000 bushels. The wheat in northern
counties cut after July 1, yielded above earlier expectations. The yield per acre now
indicated is 27.5 bushels. This is 1.5 bushels above the previous record yield of 1931.
As usual when yields are very high, the wheat is of exceptional quality.
Oats did not yield as well as expected earlier. The indicated yield per acre of 36
bushels is down a bushel from July prospects. Production is estimated as 45,864,000
bushels, 91 percent of last year but 99 percent of the 1942-51 average.
Soybeans are expected to produce 39,629,000 bushels. The indicated yield of 23 bushels
per acre has been exceeded only in 1949 and 1952.
July rainfall interfered with harvest of clover and timothy hay and caused some loss.
The production is now estimated as 1,314,000 tons, a decline of 54,000 tons. Alfalfa late
cuttings were benefited by the rains, offsetting possible losses, leaving prospects still
at 853,000 tons. The total hay crop of 2,469,000 tons is 98 percent of last year, and 97
percent of average. Pasture condition is 79, above last year by 6 points though 9 points
below average.
Apple prospects remain at 1,444,000 bushels in commercial counties, five percent
above average. Peaches appear slightly better than last month with 458,000 bushels
forecast. This is three percent above average. Pears and grapes are virtually unchanged
from last month, both being short crops.
Milk production per cow remains at a very high level with liberal grain feeding. July
production of 362 million pounds is 7 million above last year, though below the ten year
average. Production for seven months is 2,254 million pounds this year and 2,184 million
pounds last year.
The rate of egg laying is 3 percent higher than last year. July production of 195
million eggs is 4 percent above last year. Seven months production is 1,745 million eggs
or 50 million over last year.
UNITED STATES
Improvement in prospects for several important crops during July more than offset
declines for spring grains and prospective all-crop production equals the second-largest
in history. Relief of the drought in the Southwest was an important factor in improving
prospects for cotton, sorghums, soybeans, peanuts and broomcorn, for which current
estimates are the first for the season. Rust has seriously damaged durum wheat and
reduced prospects for other spring wheat, oats and barley in varying degrees. On the
other hand, prospects for winter wheat, flaxseed and rice improved, with corn, hay and
most other crops not greatly different than on July 1. As a result, the aggregate volume
of all crops improved to 132 percent of the 1923-32 average, 2 points larger than on July 1.
The composite yield per acre of all crops nearly equals the 1948 record.
The drought in the Southwest was broken in some portions and relieved in others
»y good July rains. Much of Missouri was still suffering and to a less extent eastern
Kansas and South Texas. In northwestern Texas, western Oklahoma and Kansas, eastern
-New Mexico and Colorado, the relief was sufficient to improve pastures and ranges,
and to encourage planting of sorghums and broomcorn. Most of the area received beneficial rains in early August.
Corn prospects were maintained and indicated production of 3,330 million bushels
S yirt,ua^y tne same as on July 1. Prospects changed little in the main Corn Belt,
and a decline in South Atlantic States more than offset improvement in the South Central
and Western regions. In the North Central area, progress of the crop was mostly
jurtner advanced than usual and virtually the same as a year ago. While the soil moisture supply varied from abundant in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin to short in
astern Nebraska and Kansas and very short in Missouri, it was mostly satisfactory.
f i\T-r wneat harvest was mostly completed by August 1, except in northerly areas
jrorn Minnesota to the Northwest. The current estimate of 878 million bushels is 57
ion larger than on July 1, continuing the improvement in the crop  each month