No . 372  September 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
Weather conditions during August were very favorable for the development of corn
and soybeans. Both these crops now have prospects for record yields. Corn yield per acre
is now estimated at 58.0 bushels and soybeans at 25.0 bushels.
Total corn production is indicated to be 277,414,000 bushels which tops 1955 production, the previous high, by over a million bushels, and is 18 percent above the 1945-54
average. The expected yield of 58.0 bushels per acre is five bushels higher than last month
and one bushel above the previously highest of record established in 1948. The crop is
excellent in all areas of the state except for portions of central and northeast Indiana
where wet weather earlier in the season has been responsible for relatively lower prospects.
Soybeans for beans also promise a new record yield and a record production as well.
Prospective yield at 25.0 bushels per acre is one bushel above the previous record high
established in 1954 and is 3.4 bushels above the ten year average. Production of beans
at 54,300,000 bushels is 124 percent of the 1955 level, 156 percent of the average production and over 8 million bushels above the previous record production in 1954.
Oats production is estimated at 52,038,000 bushels, 81 percent as large as the 1955 crop
but 107 percent of the 10 year average.
The yield of barley at 36.0 bushels per acre is next to the highest of record for Indiana
and has been exceeded only in 1954 when 37.0 bushels per acre were produced. Production is estimated at 2,484,000 bushels, 93 percent of last year but 326 percent of the
10 year average.
Production of all hay is forecast at 2,520,000 tons, which is 91 percent of last year's
crop and 98 percent of average. Alfalfa hay production is estimated at 1,414,000 tons
which is 89 percent of the 1955 level and 142 percent of average.
Commercial apple production showed no change in prospects from a month earlier.
Apple production at 1,750,000 bushels is more than twice that of 1955 and 128 percent
of average. Peach production prospects at 390,000 bushels were down 40,000 bushels from
a month earlier but is over four times the short 1955 crop and were 82 percent of
average. Grape production at 1,200 tons is 50 percent more than last year but 6 percent
below average.
Milk production during August was 337 million pounds or 6 percent below last year
and 5 percent below average. The decline in production is due primarily to smaller cow
numbers.
Egg production in August was 177 million eggs, which compares with 151 million in
August 1955. Total production January through August at 1,668 million is 8 percent
greater than during the same period in 1955.
UNITED STATES
Favorable crop development throughout much of the Corn Belt and other important
areas during August more than offset drought damage to late crops in some other sections. Prospects for total outturn now look only moderately below the high level of 1955.
Gains over August 1 estimates are shown for most of the crops or crop groups estimated in this month's report. Largest relative gains were made by spring wheat, corn,
soybeans, flaxseed, barley, potatoes, dry beans and tobacco. Slight increases were made
by hay crops, oats, sugar beets and sweetpotatoes. Largest reductions are in sorghum
grain, cotton, rice, sugar cane, peanuts and pecans—all crops which are prominent in the
Southern Plains or other Southern areas which were stricken by drought and heat.