No. 458 October 1, 1968
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
Although the month of September was the driest in over 60 years in Central Indiana,
:om and soybean yields are at record levels. Soil moisture supplies were short in all
but a few counties. Pastures throughout the state are turning brown from lack of
aoisture. This dry weather however permitted farmers to make rapid progress in
:ombining soybeans and completing other early fall activities.
Indiana's grain corn forecast remains at last month's level of 391 million bushels.
Although more rainfall would have been appreciated during the past month, dry weather
did not cause prospects to decline as corn had enough moisture to carry it to maturity.
This year's crop will be 11 percent greater than last year's and 31 percent above the
average. The 85 bushel yield is 3 bushels above last year's record. By October 1, the
crop was 75% matured. Harvest started in late September and by October 6, it was about
% completed.
Soybean production is forecast at 83 million bushels, 1 percent below the August
predictions. Two factors contributing most to the decline in expectations from a month
earlier were the extremely dry soil condition and the severe weed problem. The dry
weather resulted in reduced yields on the later planted fields. The October 1 forecast
}f 29.5 bushels per acre is still a new record high for Indiana. Production this year is
:p 7 percent from last year.
Stocks of old crop corn on Indiana farms estimated at 15.9 million bushels is 27 percent
less than a year ago and 11 percent below average. Wheat stocks at 7,359,000 bushels
is more than double the October 1, 1962 holdings on farms and 8 percent above average.
Farm stocks of oats at 23.5 million bushels is slightly less than a year ago and 19 percent
below average. Barley stocks at 441,000 bushels on Indiana farms was 12 percent less
ian a year ago. Rye stocks at 536,000 bushels is slightly below October 1 a year earlier.
Hay production is expected to total 2,445,000 ton, 2 percent below last year. September
weather facilitated haying operations and boosted the expected yield of a month ago.
Indiana growers are expected to harvest 504,000 bushels of sorghum for grain. The
-ool and dry conditions afforded ideal growing and harvesting conditions. The 1963 crop
establishes a record high yield of 63 bushels per acre.
Tobacco harvest was largely complete by October 1. Weather conditions were  excellent for harvest and curing. Quality is unusually good with a minimum of loss from
disease and other causes. The October 1 yield forecast of 2,100 pounds is up 100 pounds
from last month. Total production for 1963 is estimated at 16,800,000 pounds, about the
same as last year.
Potato production is forecast at 1,456,000 cwt. down 23 percent from the 1962 crop.
Potatoes are of good size and quality.
This year's commercial apple production at 1,085,000 bushels is 41 percent below a
Fear earlier. Quality of this year's crop is good. However, size and color is not up to
usual. Weather conditions have been ideal for harvesting and growers have finished
Picking the fall varieties.
Milk production in September totaled 271 million pounds. This is 1 percent above a
?ear ago but represents a 20 million pound seasonal decline from last month. September
e?? production totaled 162 million eggs as compared with 166 million during the corresponding month of a year earlier. The September rate of lay at 1668 eggs per hundred
Wrs was 1 percent above the rate of a year earlier. The number of layers at 9,725,000
*as 3 percent lower in September 1963 than in September 1962.
UNITED STATES
September weather favored the maturity of late season crops. Production prospects
*°r most of the major crops maintained or exceeded earlier expectations except in parts