No. 331 April 1, 1953
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 condition of wheat on April 1 indicates a prospective production of 35,788,000
bushels in 1953, which is 3 percent under last year's production but 13 percent above the
10 year average. Prospects appear good throughout the entire state and abandonment
will be light, limited mostly to water damage in poorly drained areas in fields. Wheat
went into the winter with short growth in some areas particularly the south east where
dry soil retarded germination. However, the mild winter permitted development through
the winter months and spring growth is well advanced.
Stocks of corn on farms April 1 are estimated at 110,299,000 bushels compared with
stocks of 104,845,000 bushels a year ago and a 10 year average of 94,797,000 bushels.
Oat stocks at 15,583,000 bushels are 8 percent higher than a year ago and 5 percent above
the 10 year average.
Wheat stocks on farms April 1 at 2,772,000 bushels are nearly four times the very low
stocks of a year ago and are about 11 percent above the 10 year average. Soybean stocks
at 8,853,000 bushels are about the same as a year ago but about 60 percent above the
10 year average.
Milk production during March is estimated at 300 million pounds. This production is
9 percent higher than a year ago and 6 percent higher than average. Production per cow
on April 1 is at a record level for this date. Favorable weather with some pasture feed
in southern parts of the state undoubtedly gave a stimulus to milk pi^oduction.
Egg production during March is estimated at 284 million eggs. This is about 2 percent
below a year ago reflecting a reduction in the number of layers. The egg production per
100 layers rose more rapidly than usual from March 1 due to the earlier seasonal weather
conditions.
Wage rates are higher on April 1 than a year ago. Monthly rates with room and board
are reported at $112.00 this year compared to $104.00 last year. Monthly rates with
house at $148.00 are $13.00 higher than last year. Weekly and hourly rates show similar
increases reflecting the general up trend in wage levels in other occupations.
UNITED STATES
Favorable progress in farm activities and crop development during March have resulted
in a generally "early spring." Fall sown grains, pasture, and hay crops have emerged
from winter dormancy in the northernmost areas and prospects mostly are favorable
except that development of winter wheat is retarded in the Central and Southern Great
Plains. Plowing, preparation of seedbeds and spring seeding is mostly advanced, though
relatively dry seedbeds have delayed planting in the Montana-North Dakota area. Soil
moisture is generally adequate, except in the Great Plains. Virtually all snow in agricultural areas had melted by April 1 and the water has been absorbed with little runoff.
Irrigation water supplies appear satisfactory in northern portions but in the south they
range down to dangerously short in parts of Arizona.
The 1953 winter wheat crop is forecast at 714 million bushels, an improvement of 103
million bushels since December 1. A production this size would be two-thirds as large as
the bumper 1952 crop of 1,053 million bushels, but 10 percent smaller than average. A generally mild winter and early spring, associated with improved soil moisture supplies
from timely snows and rain, have materially improved the outlook for the crop over a
major portion of the country. This is particularly true for the Pacific Northwest and
much of the eastern half of the country including the eastern areas of Nebraska, Kansas
h Oklahoma. Wheat remains in a precarious condition in portions of western Kansas,
the Oklahoma Panhandle, southeastern Colorado, New Mexico and the High Plains of
Jexas. In this large area, a considerable acreage has been abandoned and survival of
much of the remaining crop depends upon timely rainfall.
n inter wheat prospects in Nebraska improved slightly from December 1. Stands are
pry uneven and subsoil moisture is lacking in western areas. Where wheat emerged
last fall, mostly in eastern areas, the crop has made good growth, rooted well and stooled
neavily. In Kansas, the crop has made recent improvement, but growth and development
nave been spotty. Wheat was seeded under very unfavorable conditions last fall and
em,er£ence was greatly delayed, some until after March 1 rains. High winds in February
ana March caused some loss of acreage. Prospects for wheat seeded on summer fallow