No. 429 May 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
Prospective winter wheat production is 41,792,000 bushels based on the May 1 condition
of the crop to be harvested for grain. Such a prospect is slightly under the 1960 crop of
41,844,000 bushels, but is 17 percent above the 10-year (1950-59) average production for
the state. The indicated 32.0 bushels per acre for grain harvest compare with the record
"3.0 bushels harvested per acre in 1960 and the average of 26.3 bushels. Wheat came through
the winter in above average condition and despite the cold and wet spring weather has
continued to show satisfactory growth, color and density of stand. Heavy precipitation
during the months of March and April have saturated top soils in the state and excess
moisture ponded in field depressions. In some areas that condition existed long enough to
drown part of the wheat. The acreage remaining for grain harvest, at 1,306,000 acres,
represents an increase of 3 percent from the 1,268,000 acres harvested in I960, but is 4
percent less than average.
Hay stocks on farms May 1 are 404,000 tons and compare with 344,000 tons on farms
May 1,1960 and average for the date of 402,000 tons. Disappearance of hay since January
1,1961 was 1,356,000 tons and compares with the January 1-May 1, 1960 disappearance of
1,308,000 tons. The number of roughage-consuming animal units on Indiana farms January
1,1961 was not much different from a year earlier and new pasture growth was slow in
developing this spring and last. However, the open winter of 1960-61 permitted livestock
to graze a longer period on stubble and winter forage. The reported condition of grasses
and legumes for hay and pasture as of May 1 was 92 and 91 percent of normal, respectively,
and are above average ratings for the date. This despite the fact cold and wet spring
weather has slowed growth somewhat and the sodden turf has been badly trampled in
places by livestock.
Egg production totaled 212 million eggs during April and was 5 percent under April 1960
production of 224 million eggs. The rate of lay during April at 1,977 eggs per 100 layers
was 2 percent higher than a year ago, but there was an 8 percent decline in the number of
layers. Total egg production for the year to date (January 1-May 1, 1961) at 837 million
eggs is down 7 percent from the total for a like period in 1960.
Milk production during April totaled 272 million pounds. This is 3 percent more than the
264 million produced in April 1960, but is 11 percent under the April average.
UNITED STATES
Precipitation was generally above normal in the North Atlantic and East-North Central
areas and frequent storms kept field work at a practical standstill. Heavy rains in early
April kept South Atlantic and South Central States saturated but farmers took advantage
of more favorable late April weather to partially overcome the late start. Field work made
rapid progress in the Great Plains and Western States. April precipitation off set some
moisture deficiencies in the Plains States but dry soils and low irrigation water reserves
ontinued to overshadow the irrigated areas of Utah, Nevada, and southern California.
Subsoil moisture is still short in the Northern Plains area and strong winds in late April
caused rapid evaporation of topsoil moisture. Tornadoes and heavy rains hit areas from
Texas to Indiana at the end of April and continued into May causing severe local damage
from high winds and flash flooding.
Winter wheat production, forecast at 1,096 million bushels, is 2 percent below last year
but 30 percent above average. The indicated yield, at 26.5 bushels per harvested acre, is the
third highest of record—1 bushel below last year but 5.6 bushels above average. The acreage
for harvest is indicated at 41.3 million acres, about 2 percent above last year and average.
pie portion of the seeded acreage for grain harvest, at 94 per cent, is at last year's high
level and far above average. In Kansas, development during April was good with enough
warm weather the third week of April to permit the crop to grow away from soilborne
mosaic damage in eastern sections. The crop is heading in southern areas. In Oklahoma,
^heat was in the boot stage in the panhandle but headed and pollinating in southwestern
Md central areas. Early May rains relieved local dry situations. Throughout the central
area, present moisture supplies are adequate to carry the crop to maturity barring
extremely hot weather. In Texas, stands are good in all major areas. The Plains wheat still
Osgood subsoil moisture. Greenbug damage was held down by extensive spraying.