No. 367 April 1, 1956
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
Production of winter wheat in Indiana is forecast as 30,200,000 bushels on the 1,208,000
lores seeded last fall. This is 89 percent of last year, and 85 percent of the 1945-54 average.
While the acreage seeded was 2 percent larger, conditions lower than average are reported
in the southeastern fourth of the state. There will be some greater loss of acreage than
the nominal amounts of the past two years, and probably lower yields as a result of
thinned stands.
Stocks of corn on farms April 1 were 142,701,000 bushels. These are 12 percent more
than last year and 39 percent more than the 1945-54 average. Oats stocks are again large,
it 22,565,000 bushels. These are 30 percent greater than last year, and 56 percent above
average. Barley stocks of 559,000 bushels are 62 percent greater than last year, and 4%
tines average. Rye stocks of 269,000 bushels are 15 percent less than last year, but over
3;- times average.
Wheat stocks on farms at 5,098,000 bushels are only 53 percent of last year, but 195
percent of average. Long time marketing practices have been disturbed by reactions to
the price support program.
Soybean stocks on April 1 of 7,848,000 bushels are 50 percent of last year's record
stocks, but 135 percent of average.
Egg production in March is estimated 235,000,000 eggs in 1956, and 220,000,000 in 1955.
The number of layers was 7 percent larger than last year, but the rate of lay was
lightly less.
Milk production in March this year was 339 million pounds compared with the 325
million pounds of March last year, and the 10 year March average of 293 million pounds.
Production per cow on reporters farms is 23 percent higher than the 10 year average,
more than offsetting the reduction in numbers of cows.
UNITED STATES
Farming waited its chance over much of the Nation during the past month while
changeable March weather readjusted the crop calendar. Wheat fields in the central and
southern Great Plains waited for rain while drought and high winds threatened crop
survival. Many northern fields waited under winter cold while recurring heavy snowfall
brought protective covering and added moisture. Early peaches in southern States got
serious but varying freeze damage after venturing into full bloom. Tender truck crops
*ere killed and growth of hardier crops halted.
March weather reverses, however, are by no means decisive in comparison with influences yet to come. In each instance they appear to be less severe than early reverses
of last year which were overcome; final harvests reached a new high in overall yield per
»cre and near record total outturn. Prospects for irrigation water weakened for some
pas in the Southwest but elsewhere are much above average. Soils in some important
rorn Belt sections are still dangerously dry for this season.
Winter wheat prospects declined during March in driest parts of the central and
uthern Great Plains. But despite the dust storms which attracted national attention
this area and took out some fields, much wheat in the Great Plains on April 1 was still
ding on with possibility of smaller abandonment than last year should rains come
won. Optimism for wheat east of the Mississippi River is supported by good winter
riival and the present condition and generally favorable soil moisture. Some southern
Was, however, have not overcome a slow fall start. Some acreage in Washington and
'ygon may have been so badly damaged by early winter freezes or soil erosion that
feeding to spring grains may be necessary. The April 1 forecast of 716 million bushels
' the national winter wheat crop is about 3 percent below the December 1 appraisal.
rather could make or break the crop on many Great Plains fields within the next month.
-applies of feed grains on farms April 1 are plentiful and generally well distributed
areas. Corn stocks of 1,477 million bushels on farms are nearly 4 percent larger than
year and 13 percent above average. Oats stocks of 588 million bushels are record
n for the date—nearly a fifth above average following the record 1955 crop. Barley