No. 434
October 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
Prospects for Indiana's corn crop held steady during September; declined for soybeans;
and increased for hay and tobacco. Condition of pastures declined seasonally, but statewide they are in better condition than last year and average. Droughty conditions developed in some localities of south, west central and central Indiana; but crops had more than
adequate moisture, north and east central. Only a light and scattered frost, September 29,
threatened to terminate development of crops in northern Indiana to date.
The forecast 292,448,000 bushels of corn to be picked this season is 15 percent less than
a year ago, but is 15 percent more than the 1950-59 average. The indicated yield of 74.0
bushels per acre is record large and partially offsets the reduction in the acreage for grain.
The indicated production of soybeans this season, at 82,389,000 bushels, is 26 percent
larger than the 1960 crop and 76 percent more than average. Prospective yield of 29.0
bushels per acre, while Vz bushel under the yield indicated a month ago, is still well above
the previous record large 27.0 bushels per acre harvested in 1958 and 1960 and the average
of 23.6 bushels. Combining of soybeans got under way in mid-September and was *4
complete by the end of the month. Growth of vines was heavy but observers stated beans
in the top pods did not size as well as expected.
Farm stocks, October 1, of old crop corn are estimated at 29,287,000 bushels, approximately double those of a year ago and average for the date. Farm stock of old crop
soybeans are a nominal 130,000 bushels. Wheat stocks of 6,887,000 bushels are about the
same as those of a year ago and are 21 percent under the October 1 average. The 22,324,000
bushels of oats in farm storages are 26 percent under last year and 27 percent under
average. Barley stocks of 860,000 bushels are 17 percent larger than a year ago and are
"lightly above average. Rye stock of 719,000 bushels are 20 percent above a year ago and
30 percent above average.
The prospective tonnage of all hay has increased each month this season. Currently,
the indicated 2,552,000 tons is slightly above last year's tonnage, but 7 percent under
average. Growth of forage crops has been unusually good during the summer and early
fall months, resulting in a record large 1.89 tons per acre of all hay and a record large
225 tons per acre from all cuttings of alfalfa hay. Condition of pastures declined, seasonally, during September, particularly in droughty sections of southern and central Indiana,
but elsewhere output of pastures has been unusually good for the month.
The indicated 1,350,000 bushels of commercial apples is 29 percent and 8 percent under
last year's and average production, respectively. The peach crop of 415,000 bushels is
8 percent under 1960 but 22 percent above average.
Production of milk during September totaled 265 million pounds, 3 percent more than
September, 1960 production of 258 million pounds.
An estimated 172 million eggs were laid in September, 8 percent under the 187 million
eggs laid a year earlier. Rate of lay at 1,656 eggs per 100 layers was 3 percent under
the September 1960 rate of lay and the 10,384,000 hens in the September laying flocks
was 5 percent below a year ago. The 1,778 million eggs laid during the past 9 months
is 7 percent under the comparable period last year.
UNITED STATES
The all crop production index increased 1 point during September as the net effect of
changes in crop prospects came out on the plus side. Corn, cotton and hays were the
Major crops showing improvement over a month earlier. Soybean prospects were lower.
The October 1 index of crop production at 117 compares to the record high of 121 reached
in 1960. The composite yield index covering 28 leading crops also advanced to a new high
of 145, 1 point above last month and 2 points above the previous high established in
1*8 and 1960.