No. 430 June 1, 1961
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
Indiana's 1961 production of winter wheat is forecast at 43,098,000 bushels—3 percent
!arger than the 1960 crop of 41,844,000 bushels and 21 percent above the 1950-59 average
f35,588,000 bushels. Conditions thus far this season have been favorable for winter wheat,
but the crop was less mature than usual as of June 1. Wheat was largely "in the boot" on
-hat date in northern Indiana and subsequent conditions will be an important factor in
determining a final yield. The 1961 yield is forecast at 33.0 bushels per acre, which equals
:he record yield harvested in 1960.
The succession of heavy storms, which crossed the State this spring, came to an end
about mid-May. Since that time farmers have been pressing to overcome the delay in
planting their spring crops. Despite difficulties in working rain-compacted fields and
cloddy seed beds, much of the delay in spring planting was offset by hard work. About
"5 percent of the corn and 65 percent of the soybeans had been planted by June 3, with
virtually all of the plowing and planting having been done in the last two weeks of May.
Setting of melon, tobacco and tomato plants was just getting underway the last week
4 May.
The June 1 forecast of the Indiana peach production is 400,000 bushels, 11 percent under
the 450,000 bushels harvested in 1960, but 18 percent above average. The latest, May 27,
statewide freeze of record and earlier frosts lowered prospects for tree fruit, particularly
in some northern areas of the State. The cool weather during full bloom also reduced
pollinating activities of bees.
Growth of pasture and forage crops has been stunted by continued cold weather this
spring. Despite the warmer temperatures during the last half of May, crop reporters gave
those crops only an average condition rating as of June 1—89 percent for hay and 90
percent for pasture. A month ago reporters rated prospects for hay and pasture above
average.
May, 1961 production of eggs at 207 million represents a decline from the 212 million
eggs produced a month ago and the 228 million produced a year earlier. Total production
January-May, 1961 at 1,044 million eggs compares with a total of 1,128 million for the
same months of 1960.
Milk production during May, 1961, totaled 316 million pounds and compares with 272
million during April and 315 million during May, 1960. Average May milk production is
376 million pounds.
UNITED STATES
Although the season is somewhat late, crop prospects as a whole are generally good to
excellent for most of the Nation. Winter wheat prospects improved in the Central Plains
and the 1961 crop is expected to exceed last year's production. Spring wheat was seeded
lite but topsoil moisture supplies are currently favorable except for spotted conditions
in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Corn, sorghum, and soybean planting is
ahead of last year and about normal for June 1 as farmers made rapid progress the latter
naif of May. Cool weather retarded growth of forage crops across the northern and most
»f the eastern half of the country. Pastures averaged about normal but below the excellent
condition of a year ago. Cotton made slow progess because of cool weather but most of the
acreage is planted. Deciduous fruit production is expected to be greater than last year and
well above average. Moisture conditions are generally good in the eastern half of the
N'ation. Northern plains areas are deficient in subsoil moisture and southern Texas is
getting very dry. Stored water supplies are below average in Nevada, Utah, and southern
California and stream flow is expected to be less than usual. Late season water shortages
could develop if heavy usage is necessary.
Rains in the Central Plains area during May provided moisture for development of the
winter wheat crop in this area. The 1961 crop of 1,121 million bushels moved ahead of
last year and ranks second only to the 1,179 million bushel crop of 1958. Yield per acre
> the third highest of record, exceeded only by 1958 and 1960. Crop progress is about
lormal with heading reported as far north as Nebraska. Combines are rolling in Texas and
southern Oklahoma.