No. 348 September 1, 1954
INDIANA CROPS AND  LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
AGRICULTURAL ESTIMATES DIVISION
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Crop prospects improved materially during August due to general showers over most
of the state. Corn yield prospects improved 5.0 bushels per acre, soybeans 3.0 bushels,
and hay .15 ton. Pastures generally are providing an abundance of feed. Fruits have
;;zed better than expected.
The corn crop is now estimated at 248,729,000 bushels, which is 3 percent above last
year, and 11 percent above average. The crop is maturing nicely, and early enough that
frost will not be a hazard, unless it comes unusually early. The crop is uniformly above
average yield in the northern half of the state, but in the southern half prospects are
; ;ite variable and generally considerably below average.
Oats, even though still an excellent crop, did not turn out as well as expected a month
earlier, because of the August rains causing some loss before harvest in the northern
third of the state. Production is now estimated at 58,476,000 bushels, which is 27 percent
above last year, and a like amount above average. The yield at 44.0 bushels per acre com-
;ares with 36.5 last year and a 34.6 bushel average.
Barley production is estimated at 1,564,000 bushels, which is 2% times last year, and
raice an average crop.
August rains were an aid to the soybean crop. Production is now estimated at
i5,264,000 bushels, a record large crop due to the largest acreage on record, and also
the 24.0 bushels per acre is a record yield. Total production is 23 percent greater than
astyear and 44 percent above average.
The August rains made good late hay crops, thus improving prospects over a month
earlier, but still below last year. Production is now forecast at 2,347,000 tons, which is
•5 percent less than last year, and 7 percent below average. On September 1 pasture condition was reported at 82 percent of normal, compared with 60 last year, and an average
condition of 78.
Fruit prospects improved during 'the; pp,sj; month due to the rains causing fruit to
>:ze much better than expected earlier. Apple production is now forecast at 1,376,000
sushels, which is 17 percent above last year, and slightly above average. Peach production, at 546,000 bushels, is 26 percent above a year agfo, and 14 percent above average.
Pear production at 88,000 bushels is 26 percent'above last year, but 21 percent below
average due to decreasing acreage*:" —	
Milk production during August was 357 million pounds compared with 347 million for
August a year earlier and an average of 347 million.
Egg production during August was 202 million eggs compared with 180 million in
August 1953.
UNITED STATES
Slight improvement in the all-crop prospects occurred during August, but changes
w«e noted for virtually every individual crop. Improvement in corn, soybeans and hay
n the main Corn Belt area resulted from mostly favorable growing conditions. These
were nearly offset, however, by deterioration of cotton, peanuts and some other late-
bowing crops in the less-favored areas, particularly in the South and Southwest. Pas-
lures are poorer than usual in nearly all except some of the most northerly States.
As the increases outweighed the declines in production prospects, the index of all-crop
production improved by nearly 1 percent, but still rounds to  98 percent of the new
w~-49 base. The 1954 prospective volume remains sixth largest of record. Only soy-
contribute record outturns to the total, but oats and barley
ii v. near"record. Among those larger than average are rye, flaxseed, sorghum grain,
all hay, dry beans, tobacco, sugarcane and cranberries. However, crops of corn, all wheat,
™tton, dry peas, peanuts, sweetpotatoes, broomcorn, all deciduous fruits and pecans are
Wow average.
The index of yields also improved slightly to 105 percent of the new 1947-49 base,
'Point higher than on August 1. This would be 2 points lower than in either 1952 or
and well below the record set in 1948. Record yields are expected for barley, rice,