No- 396 September 1, 1958
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
Further improvement in prospective yields of both corn and soybeans occurred during
August. This was true in spite of relatively cool temperature, above normal precipitation
and three weeks with little sunshine.
Corn production is forecast at 267,000,000 bushels. Such a level of production is the
fourth highest of record—being exceeded only by the crops of 1954, 1955 and 1956. Yield
is now forecast at 60.0 bushels per acre, up one bushel from the August 1 forecast, and
compares with the 1957 yield of 59.0 bushels and the 10 year average of 52.6 bushels.
A record production of soybeans, 59,540,000 bushels, is expected. The level is 12
percent above last year's record crop of 52,994,000 bushels and 53 percent above the 10
year average. Earliest fields are losing their leaves but late plantings are just past
podding. Yields are expected to average a record 26.0 bushels per acre as compared with
the 1957 yield of 24.5 bushels and the 10 year average of 22.3 bushels.
The final oat production estimate places the 1958 total at 49,400,000 bushels. Although
37 percent above the 1957 level, it is only slightly below the 10 year average. This year's
high yield of 50.0 bushels per acre was exceeded only in 1955 by a yield of 51.0 bushels.
Wet weather delayed combining in some fields until August.
Production of all hay is forecast at 2,526,000 tons. This is 2 percent under last year's
total and 4 percent below average.
Commerical apple production prospects were unchanged during the month. The crop
is estimated at 1,628,000 bushels which compares with 1,610,000 bushels in 1957. The
peach crop is estimated at 460,000 bushels—down 20,000 bushels from the August 1
estimate but 43 percent larger than last year's crop. Grape prospects remained unhanged during the month at 1,300 tons.
Tobacco crop prospects remain very good. Production is now estimated at 11,055,000
"ounds. This is slightly below last year but 16 percent below average as the acreage is
iown.
Milk production for August totaled 323 million pounds or 6 percent below the August
1957 level and 8 percent below the 10 year average for August. Pasture condition
lontinues at a record high.
August egg production totaled 190 million eggs. The rate of lay per 100 layers was
1,646 eggs as compared with 1,596 eggs a year earlier. The number of layers at 11,514,000
**as 11 percent greater than August a year ago.
UNITED STATES
Present estimates show a continuing increase in crop production which in total far
exceeds anything yet reached by American agriculture. Late maturing crops generally
leveloped favorably during August even though heat and drought invaded parts of the
Vest and cool, dry periods retarded maturity of some crops in some North Central
sections.
Crops with major acreages made gains in August which range from slight to spec-
acular, bringing several crops to record or near-record production and to new peaks
ia per acre yields. Among the leading crops of corn, cotton, soybeans, barley, oats, hay,
spring wheat, and sorghum grain all but cotton and oats have record or near-record
production prospects and all but hay are' estimated at record per acre yields. Gains over
•he previous month's estimates wWe,r£jAtively largest for sorghum grain, bailey, oats,
pring wheat, soybeans, cotton and peanuts but smaller increases also were made by
Potatoes, tobacco, flaxseed, dry beans and apples. Pastures over much of the Nation
ontinued in high production and livestock gains and milk production were well supported
•ven though dry areas increased, especially in the West.
Peed grain production now seems likely to surpass last year's record by nearly 6
*rcent. Corn made rather slow progress toward maturitv because of drought or cool
"feather in some northern areas, especially in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio
<nd some fields could be badly hurt by frost. Substantial progress in other leading Corn
kit areas and the excellent crop through the South and much of the East, however,