No. 442 June 1,1962
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
COOPERATING WITH 
PURDUE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Winter wheat crop prospects improved during May with production now forecast at
35,772,000 bushels. This is up 10 percent from the May forecast, but 21 percent below the
large 1961 crop of 45,150,000 bushels. Despite a rather slow start this spring, crop
maturity advanced rapidly during May. By early June, 90 percent of the crop had headed
and two-thirds of it had bloomed. Usually only about 75 percent of the crop has headed
by the first of June. The current forecast is based on an average yield of 33.0 bushels per
acre compared to last year's 35.0 bushels and the 10-year average of 27.5 bushels per
harvested acre.
Field work and spring planting made excellent progress during May. Rainfall, mostly in
the form of thundershowers, was normal. Some southern Indiana localities experienced
rainless periods but heavy rains at the end of May erased the deficiency. By June 1, less
than 10 percent of the corn acreage remained to be planted, well ahead of usual. Soybean
planting was nearly 80 percent complete.
June 1 condition of all hay was rated by reporters at 86 percent of normal, compared
with 89 percent a year ago and a 10-year average for the date of 89 percent. Pastures
made excellent progress during May after a slow start during April when it was cooler
and drier than normal. Reporters rated pastures at 89 percent of normal on June 1, while
a year ago they were rated at 90 percent and the average rating is 92 percent. Wind
damaged muck land crops and tomatoes during the month, but damage was confined to
local areas.
Peach production is forecast at 120,000 bushels compared with last year's production of
100,000 bushels. Winter damage to peach trees was extensive in the state with only southwestern Indiana having any appreciable crop prospects.
Milk production for May totaled 315 million pounds or 1 percent above the same month
last year. Production per cow in herd set a new record high for June 1.
May egg production amounted to 209 million eggs, down 1 percent from the May egg
production of last year. The number of May layers at 10,257,000 is 3 percent smaller than
last year. The rate of lay per 100 layers was 2,034 as compared with 2,003 eggs a year
earlier.
UNITED STATES
Expected production of the 1962 winter wheat crop declined for the second month as
nigh temperatures seared the crop in the Southern Plains during the critical heading and
filling period. Production is forecast at 846 million bushels, 230 million bushels below last
year and 30 million bushels below average. The June 1 forecast is 45 million bushels
Wow the forecast of a month ago. The crop ripened rapidly and by June 1 combines were
working as far north as southern Kansas—a week or more ahead of the normal pattern.
Rains at the end of May came too late to materially increase yields in areas where the
crop had already ripened, but was beneficial for filling heads in later areas. The indicated
Production is 21 percent smaller than last year and 3 percent below average. The expected
yield of 24.2 bushels per acre compares with 26.4 for 1961, and the 1951-60 average of
bushels.
Spring wheat seeding was practically complete by June 1 except for the northern Red
{fiver area of North Dakota and Minnesota where wet soils have held up field work.
Surface soil moisture is favorable and recent rains have added to subsoil reserves. The allying wheat crop of 211 million bushels compares with the 1961 crop of 158 million and
«1951-60 average of 252 million.
Hot, dry weather during May pushed winter barley to early maturity in the Southern
plains area with some reduction in expected yields. Combining was about one-third com-
pete in Oklahoma and underway by June 1 in Southern Kansas. Cool weather delayed the
crop in the Western States and harvest is a week or more later than usual.