August 1, 1961
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
cooperating with
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Indiana's crop prospects improved during July. Weather early in the month was dry
and cool, and permitted considerable field work—cultivating, weeding, applying nitrogen
to corn, making hay and combining grain. Frequent showers and warm weather during
the latter half of July provided the needed conditions for corn, soybeans and regrowth of
forage crops and pastures, but hindered wheat and oats harvest.
The response of corn to fertilizer and weather was remarkable during July. The indi-
ated production of corn for grain as of August 1 was 276,640,000 bushels, 20 percent
aider the 344,556,000 bushels produced in 1960, but 9 percent above average. The probable
yield of 70 bushels per acre compares with the 64 bushels indicated a month ago and the
record high 68 bushels harvested in 1960. The 3,952,000 acres of corn for grain this year
_ 22 percent less than the 1960 acreage and 13 percent less than average.
The 1961 wheat crop is estimated at 43,044,000 bushels, 6 percent above 1960 and 21
percent above average. Most of the wheat in S.W. Indiana was combined by mid-July, but
elsewhere combining has been interrupted by frequent showers and periods of high humidity. As of August 1 about % of the wheat was still standing in central districts and
about y_ in northern.
Soybeans grew vigorously in late July and by August 1 condition of the crop pointed to
19,548,000 bushels of beans, 22 percent above the 1960 crop and 70 percent larger than
average. The probable yield of 28 bushels per acre, if realized, will be record large and
compares with the 1960 yield of 27 bushels and average of 23.6 bushels. The 2,841,000
acres for beans is 18 percent larger than last year and 44 percent above average.
Oats production is forecast at 27,225,000 bushels, 43 percent under 1960's crop of
'1,613,000 bushels and 43 percent below average. The oats harvest has been hindered by
showery and humid weather. As of August 1, only % of the crop had been harvested
compared with usual for the date of y$.
This year's crop of barley, estimated at 2,000,000 bushels, is 17 percent larger than
1960 and 21 percent above average. Most of the barley was harvested under favorable
conditions early in July and this year's yield of 40 bushels per acre is record large.
Production of rye is estimated at 1,357,000 bushels, up 2 percent from last year. The
prospective crop of sorghum grain this year is placed at 1,044,000 bushels, 18 percent
under last year but much above average. Indicated hay production, at 2,396,000 tons,
reflects ample moisture for forage crops in late July. This year's crop is 6 percent under
last year's and 13 percent below average, principally because of a decline in the harvested
"freage.
Commercial apple production should total 1,350,000 bushels this year, 29 percent under
I960 and 8 percent less than average. The peach crop is now expected to total 415,000
"ushels, 8 percent below last year but 22 percent above average.
July milk production totaled 287 million pounds, seasonally down 7 percent from June,
'ut one percent above the same month a year ago. The total of 189 million eggs laid
during July compares with 190 million eggs laid in June and 199 million a year ago.
Cumulative egg production January-July, 1961 totals 1,423 million eggs, 7 percent less
than last year's total through July.
UNITED STATES
Partial relief from the critical drought conditions in the Northern Plains and near ideal
growing conditions over most of the Nation pushed the all crops production index up
1 Point from a month ago. Improved feed grain prospects provided much of the upward
Pish although increases were also shown for some other commodity groups. The August 1
!«vel of 113 is still 8 points below the 1960 index.  The composite index of yield per acre