No.397 October 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
Record breaking soybean yields and record tying corn yields were in prospect at the
Jose of September. Weather during the month was favorable for crop development and
-naturity and scattered frosts occurring the first two days in October did little material
lamage to either Corn or soybeans.
Corn production is forecast at 275,900,000-bushels. If realized, this would be Indiana's
Jiird largest corn crop and would exceed last year's production by 5 percent and the
'0-year average by 12 percent. The 1958 yieldfi& forecast at 62 bushels per acre, same as
;he previous record high of 1956 and well above the1" lft yea*.average of 52.6 bushels.
irery little corn had been cribbed at the end of the month although farmers in various
ocalities were picking corn for daily ffeed requirements,
A record soybean yield of 27.0 bushols per acre is in prospect. This exceeds last year's
;ield by 2.5 bushels per acre and is 4/7 bushels above the 10 year average. This year's
production is forecast at a record 61,|60,000 bushels. A, crop this size would exceed last
rear's production by 17 percent and •wtft*WI*-©.j#jyeTcent larger than average. Most late
planted beans were sufficiently mature at the close dT*fc-h"e-"*ncuitJk-to escape damage from
he frosts of October 1 and 2. The frosts were welcomed on many farms where soybean
ields were unusually weedy. Combining was underway with 25 to 30 percent of the crop
arvested by September 30 but was somewhat behind last year's 35 to 40 percent har-
ested at this time.
Stocks of old crop corn are estimated at 12.6 million bushels and 41 percent below
he stocks of a year ago and 27 percent below average. Wheat stocks totalled 8.8 million
mshels and were 60 percent above last year's stocks on October 1 but were 10 percent
>elow average. Oat stocks totalled 38.0 million bushels and were 37 percent above a year
arlier and 2 percent above average. Barley stocks of 1.3 million bushels were 1 percent
:bove October 1, 1957 stocks and 121 percent above average. Rye stocks were 20 percent
ibove a year ago and 27 percent above average.
Hay production is expected to total 2,564,000 tons or 1 percent below last year and
! percent below average. The 1958 average yield of 1.71 tons per acre is the same as in
957 but is .19 tons above average. Pasture conditions at 96 percent of normal were well
ibove October 1 conditions for both 1957 and average.
The commercial apple production outlook of 1,628,000 bushels is unchanged from a
nonth ago and remains 1 percent above last year and 14 percent above average. Peach
reduction is now estimated at 500,000 bushels placing this year's crop 55 percent above
ast year and 20 percent above average. Grape production of 1,300 tons is 18 percent
hove last year and 7 percent above average.
Milk production in September totalled 301 million pounds. This is 15 million pounds
elow September 1957 and 18 million pounds below the 10 year average.
September egg production totalled 181 million eggs as compared with 190 million in
iugust and 171 million a year earlier. The September rate of lay at 1,518 eggs per 100
lyers was 2 percent higher than a year ago while the number of layers at 11,911,000
"as 4 percent larger.
UNITED STATES
Prospects remain generally favorable for record total crop production given successful
arvest of late crops. A near frostless September, even in northern areas, allowed most
ate fields to gain needed maturity. Heavy rainfall of damaging extent caused some loss
"crop quality and volume and halted harvest in some areas—mainly in the Mid-South,
lie volume and quality of outturn from large acreages of late crops also remain under
father influences until harvest ends.
Southern crops still not completely or even mainly safe from weather hazards include
rtton, peanuts, sugarcane, rice, and pecans. In the North, potatoes, sugar beets, dry
eld beans and apples figure largely in the advancing harvest. Other crops grown in
lost States—corn, soybeans, sorghum grain, and late hay and seed cuttings will reach
tfive to near-complete harvest in coming weeks, given sunny weather.