No. 422 October 1, 1960
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
Corn production prospects were higher as of October 1 while soybean prospects were the
same as forecast a month earlier despite September weather which was warmer and dryer
•oan average. The highest temperature of the 1960 season came in early September when
daily averages in the 90's were crowding crops toward maturity. A cooling trend on Sep-
:ember 10 brought relief from the high temperatures but rainfall during the month was
light and uneven.
Corn production is forecast at 356,135,000 bushels, placing this year's crop 6 percent
above the previous record of last year and 40 percent above the 10-year average. Yields
are expected to average 65.0 bushels per acre and, if realized, would exceed the 1958 record
high yield by 2 bushels. Aside from seed fields and small amounts for daily feed requirements, most picking has been confined to southern counties and the amount cribbed is only
about 5 percent of the state total. About 80 percent of the crop was rated safe from frost
a* the close of September as compared with 95 percent the same time last year.
The soybean crop is expected to total 65,367,000 bushels, 9 percent above last year and
i' percent above average. This production is based on average yields of 27.0 bushels per
acre, same as the record yield of 1958. The bulk of the crop was considered to be ahead of
normal frosts except for scattered late plantings along stream bottoms and in the northeast. About 25 percent of the crop was combined in September as compared with 55 percent a year ago. Some of the more weedy fields may be left until after frost.
Stocks of old crop corn on farms are estimated at 14.7 million bushels, 36 percent above
last year but 18 percent below the 10-year 1949-58 average for October 1. Wheat stocks
are estimated at 7.2 million bushels, 29 percent above last year but 22 percent below average. Oat stocks totalled 33.4 million bushels and were 40 percent larger than a year earlier
but 9 percent below average. Barley stocks of .8 million bushels were 4 percent smaller
than last year but same as the 10-year average. Rye stocks of .7 million bushels were 34
percent greater than a year earlier and 27 percent above average.
This year's hay production of 2,224,000 tons is equal to last year's tonnage but 16 percent below the 10-year average. An average yield of 1.72 tons per acre is expected as compared with 1.65 last year and 1.58 tons during the 10 years 1949-58. Pastures faded sharply
during the month under inadequate rainfall and high temperature. The condition of pasture
at 77 percent of normal at the close of September, however, was higher than the 73 condition of a year earlier. The decline in pasture condition in September this year was sharpest
for the month since 1954.
Commercial apple production prospects remained unchanged during the month and the
forecast of 1,580,000 bushels is 4 percent larger than last year and 8 percent above average. Peach production of 380,000 bushels was 4 percent above last year and 3 percent above
average. Grape production is estimated at 1,350 tons the same as a year ago but 17 percent
above average.
September milk production totalled 284 million pounds as compared with 300 million
during August and 293 million during September a year ago.
September egg production totalled 169 million eggs as compared with 180 million for
August and 171 million September 1959. The rate of lay at 1,620 eggs per 100 layers was
I percent above last year's rate of 1,536. Number of layers during September was
10,422,000 compared with 11,159,000 a year ago.
UNITED STATES 
Prospects remain favorable for a record total crop production. A near frostless Septem-
even in northern areas, allowed late crops to gain needed maturity. Open weather in
South and along the Atlantic coast following the September hurricanes minimized crop
loses. 
The production index for all crops, based on October 1 estimates, registered a gain
during September to reach a record 121. The feed grain, hay and forage, and tobacco