No. 380 May 1, 1957
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
A wheat crop totaling 37,138,000 bushels is in prospect for Indiana
as of May 1. This production, if realized, would be 4 percent above
35,580,000 bushels and 5 percent above the 10 year (1946-55) average of
bushels. Wheat of the early varieties is beginning to head on good stands in southern
counties. Much of the crop has jointed in the remainder of the state and is quite uniform
except on fields in northern counties where dry weather at seeding time resulted in
irregular emergence and uneven growth after seeding. The acreage for harvest is estimated at 1,198,000 acres or 1 percent more than last year's acreage of 1,186,000 acres.
Loss of seeded acreage is expected to be 1.1 percent. A yield of 31.0 bushels per acre is
forecast for Indiana. Last year's average was 30.0 bushels per acre and the 10 yeai
average is 23.7 bushels.
Hay stocks on farms May 1 were estimated at 545,000 tons. This represents a carryover of 20 percent above the 456,000 tons on hand a year ago and is 44 percent above
the 10 year average of 379,000 tons. Disappearance of hay since January 1 totaled
1,443,000 tons as compared with 1,538,000 tons for the same period last year. The condition of growing hay is 94 percent of normal while the 10 year average is 87 percent.
Pasture conditions averaged 95 percent for May 1 and were well above the 81 percent
reported for May 1 last year. Pastures and hay crops were benefited by above average
rainfall which fell in April. The condition of rye is 92 percent as compared with the 10
year average of 90 percent. Much of the rye acreage was being plowed under for soil
building purposes.
Egg production in April was 212 million eggs and 9 percent below a year ago. The
rate of lay at 1,920 per 100 layers was 2 percent above a year earlier but the number of
layers at 11,066,000 was 10 percent fewer.
Milk production in April totaled 325 million pounds and was 1 million pounds less than
April of last year, but was 14 million pounds above the 10-year average of 311 million.
Production per cow was above last year's relatively high average.
UNITED STATES
Crop progress generally was slow in April, and many plantings were delayed by rainy
weather. Prospects are promising for most crops despite some troubles in getting good
stands for early growth. Good soil moisture supplies are much more general than last
year giving good to excellent promise for grain, pasture and hay crops. Some Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and far Southwestern sections are still dry. Irrigation water supplies improved during late spring for most Western areas. Excessive rains in the Southwest drought area caused floods and lowland damage along some rivers but also added
new possibilities for crop outcome over wide areas. Much planting was still to be done
on May 1, and all crops in this new season face the varying hazards of weather, insects
and diseases.
Winter wheat outcome continues to look more promising as the season develops. Many
fields in the Great Plains which emerged late after a dry start still have thin and uneven
or weedy stands; others have thickened surprisingly under cool and rainy April weather.
Irrigated acreage and most fields in Eastern areas have grown well although some poorly
drained spots are yellow and near-drowned and need warm, dry weather. Some late fields
are much below par. In the Northern Plains and Pacific States, conditions improved
during the month; winter loss was low and prospects are excellent. Loss of winter wheat
this year between seeding and harvest is expected to be lowest in 5 years in percent of
the total acreage seeded. Improved growing conditions are one factor in this showing,
another is the closer selection of land after provision for the Soil Bank or other crops.
The crop now estimated at 703 million bushels is within 4 percent of last year's crop
from nearly a fifth less seeded acreage. A new record yield per acre may be in the
making. Rye and fall-seeded oats made fair progress during the month. Rye conditions
on May 1 was slightly above average and considerably better than a year earlier.
Spring wheat seedings are being rushed toward completion after later starts than last
year in most States. Progress in the seeding of this crop by May 1 had reached about