No. 343 April 1, 1954
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
Prospective wheat production for Indiana April 1 is estimated at 30,768,000 bushels.
This is nearly the 10 year average, but is only two-thirds of last year's crop.  Wheat has
I made a great deal of spring growth, but appears thrifty everywhere. There was
ale winter loss of acreage or stand. With late seeding and a slow spring start the
arvest could be later than usual.
Stocks of corn on farms April 1 are estimated as 115,122,000 bushels, where last year
ere were 109,221,000 bushels, and the 10 year average stocks as 98,107,000 bushels,
ats stocks at 13,863,000 bushels are 7 percent lower than last year and 4 percent below
•e 10 year average.
Wheat stocks on farms of 7,383,000 bushels are the highest for April 1 since 1940.
"hey are 266 percent of last year and 367 percent of the 10 year average.  Large produc-
n of storable grain, and price advantage from storing are the reasons for the increase.
Soybean stocks of 4,054,000 bushels are the lowest since the acreage approached present
evels. Holdings are only 45 percent of last year and 69 percent of the 10 year average.
March milk production is estimated as 331 million pounds. This is 6 percent above
year and 18 percent above the 1943-52 average. Grain fed per cow continued at
-ar record levels, and production per cow in reporters' herds made a new record for
•e date.
Egg production in March is estimated as 299 million eggs. Production per 100 layers
Tu the same as last year so the increase in production is the same as the increase in
ivers, or 8 percent. Weather was exceptionally favorable for egg production.
Wage rates for hired farm labor are slightly lower than last year. The monthly rates
rthroom and board at $110 is $2.00 lower than last year. The monthly rate with house
^{147 or $1.00 below last year. Daily wage rates are down 20 to 30 cents below last year.
"sis is the first year since 1939 which has not shown an increase in wage rates.
UNITED STATES
Field preparations were mostly advanced on April 1 but severe March weather had
larded vegetative growth.   Lack of reserve moisture in the subsoil was still causing
"fern, although some improvement had occurred in March. Surface moisture was
lerally adequate, except in the dry Southwest, and fields were in satisfactory to
W condition for plowing, preparing seedbeds and for seeding. Some snow remained
" northernmost farming areas, but as soils were largely unfrozen, it was melting
"apidly and soaking in with little run-off. Snow in western mountain areas and drench-
r rain in Arizona improved irrigation water prospects, but in some central and southern
"•tions supplies will be short.
Production prospects for winter wheat have declined 72 million bushels since Decern-
': 1) to 678 million bushels. Sharp deterioration and heavy acreage losses in the
*«tern and southern Great Plains were only partly offset by general improvement
ewhere. In the Northeast, a large March snow still covered some areas.   In the East
•rth Central and Northeast States growth was retarded by cold March weather, but
the wheat greened up it was apparent that winter losses had been slight.   In the
h, prospects improved; growth had been slow but was responding to spring moisture
warmer weather.  In Montana, the Pacific Northwest and California, wheat suffered
e winter damage and prospects were good. In the western Great Plains, from
Jawing and Nebraska southward, the dry winter and soil blowing had caused losses
eing from light in the North to severe in the Southwest. Much of this loss had been
Kipated in the December 1 estimates, however, virtually no rain has fallen since
"ember 3 in much of the area and losses have exceeded expectations.   Much wheat
re is barely holding on or dying slowly from drought. The situation is aggravated by
ts and mosaic or other diseases. During the late fall and part of the winter the
in this area had afforded some grazing, but replacement growth was slow because
ought.