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
Winter wheat conditions as of May 1 point to a wheat crop of 37,178,000 bushels for
1958, This production, if realized, would be 15 percent larger than last year's crop of
32,369,000 bushels and 3 percent above the 10 year (1947-56) average of 36,177,000
bushelsh-M^stfields as of May 1 appeared promising but the average stage of development was not as far advanced as a year ago at this time, and this year's crop is generally not as uniform. The acreage for harvest is estimated at 1,282,000 acres, one percent
larger than last year but 14 percent below the 10 year average of 1,490,000 acres. Yields
are expected to average 29.0 bushels per acre. Last year's average was 25.5 bushels per
acre and the 10 year average is 24.6 bushels.
Stocks of hay on farms May 1 are estimated at 440,000 tons. This year's stocks are
19 percent below the 542,000 tons on hand a year ago but are 20 percent above the 10
year average May 1 stocks of 366,000 tons. Disappearance since January 1 this year
totalled 1,474,000 tons as compared with 1,436,000 tons during the same period last
1'ear. The heavier disappearance is due to retarded pasture development. The May 1
condition of growing hay is reported at 91 percent of normal as compared with the 10
year average condition of 87 percent. Pasture conditions were 89 percent of normal for
May 1 and were below the 95 percent condition of a year earlier. Cool weather retarded
early pasture development this season. The condition of rye is 90 percent as compared
with 92 percent May 1 last year and the average of 90 percent.
Egg production in April totalled 228 million eggs and was 11 percent above a year
ago. The monthly rate of lay at 1,920 eggs per 100 layers was unchanged from a yeai*
earlier but the number of layers at 11,854,000 was 11 percent larger.
Milk production in April totalled 314 million pounds and was 4 percent below April of
last year but was 3 million pounds above the 10 year average of 311 million. Production
Per cow during April was the same as a year earlier.
UNITED STATES
A large wheat crop and excellent hay and forage crops are early standouts among
1958 crop prospects. Corn, oats, sorghums and soybeans are among other crops which
advance toward main planting or growth periods in heaviest producing areas with
favorable prospects. A cool April, wet and stormy in extensive sections, held back
farming operations and plant growth over much of the Nation but without decisive
effects for most crops. Cotton and corn planting was stalled through much of the South and
N some sections may finish extremely late. Wheat growth throughout the Plains continued its excellent showing under the cool weather and many backward plantings elsewhere showed improvement. Rye condition averages the best in most reporters' memory.
spring small grain seedings moved ahead to near completion in many North Central
areas and are well advanced in the Northern Plains. Fruits had only limited April cold
reverses; Southern peaches have the best May prospects in years. Vegetable crops and
Potatoes gained in leading early areas. Grazing and hay crop prospects nationally averse the best in over 30 years.
The winter wheat crop throughout much of the Great Plains looks "the best ever"
0 experienced reporters as fields wave with lusty growth. New high per acre yields seem
a'niost assured on many fields. However, the heavy stands must finish to harvest without
■erious disease loss or being flattened by storms and need good maturing and harvest
father for fullest outcome. Prospects in the Northwest remain excellent. Also, many
^ckward fields in East North Central and other areas have shown recent imnrovement.
"he outturn of 1,010 million bushels now estimated for the Nation is the third winter