No. 490 April 1, 1966
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 47907
INDIANA
The forecast for the 1966 crop of winter wheat in Indiana is 42,081,000 bushels,
7 percent above the 1965 crop, but 9 percent below average. The wheat crop came
through the winter in good condition, and warm temperatures the third week of
March resulted in notable greening up of the crop over most of the state. Growth
was ahead of average on April 1, and soil moisture supplies were considered adequate.
Wheat stocks on farms on April 1 were 1,179,000 bushels. This was 8 percent less
than supplies on farms April 1, 1965, but 42 percent more than average.
Corn stocks on farms April 1 totaled 177,671,000 bushels, 37 percent above the
stocks on hand last year and 9 percent above average. Oats on farms April 1 totaled
4,892,000 bushels, 19 percent below 1965, and 57 percent below average. This is a
record low. Farm stocks of barley at 103,000 bushels, are down 28 percent from last
year and 64 percent below average. Sorghum grain farm stocks, at 140,000 bushels,
are 59 percent above last year, but 24 percent below average.
Soybeans in farm storage April 1 totaled 15,737,000 bushels, up from last year by
70 percent, and up 13 percent from average.
Egg production during March, at 194 million eggs, was 5 percent below the number
produced during March last year. The number of layers on Indiana farms was
10,028,000 birds, 6 percent lower than the 10,723,000 layers a year ago. The monthly
rate of lay, at 1,934 eggs per 100 layers, compared with 1,916 in March 1965.
Milk production totaled 261 million pounds in March. This was 6 percent below
the March 1965 production and 5 percent below average. March is up seasonally
18 percent from February.
UNITED STATES
The April 1 forecast of winter wheat production is 1,110 million bushels—8 percent
more than last year and 12 percent above average. The indicated yield per seeded
acre of 26.3 bushels compared with 22.8 in 1965 and the average of 23.5 bushels.
Rye condition on April 1 was 5 points above average.
In the Plains areas grain acreage went into the winter with good growth. In the
Northern Plains, the crop is just emerging, but little winter damage is evident. In
Central and Southern Plains, grain acreages came through the winter in good condition
and spring growth started unusually early. March winds caused some erosion on
sandy soils but there was limited damage because of good ground cover from earlier
growth. Continued lack of rainfall has reduced surface moisture and a good rain is
needed, especially in New Mexico and the Panhandle of Texas.
In the Corn Belt, wheat fall growth was limited because of late seeding. Stands
improved during winter and current prospects are very good. Farmers in the South
Atlantic States report winter grains in generally good condition, but rain and
warmer weather are needed to promote growth. Small grains, and winter grazing
crops made excellent growth in the South Central regions until slowed by low
temperatures late in March. No permanent damage was reported from the low
temperatures. Rye was heading along the Gulf Coast. Grain crops in the Pacific
Northwest are in good condition. March snow added moistm-e in Washington but
some areas in Oregon are in need of surface moisture for the start of spring growth.
March weather was mild over most of the Nation except for two major blizzards
across the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Nebraska. These storms brought hardship and
severe livestock losses in some areas, but the melting snows added to reserves of
soil moisture for the 1966 season. The Central and Southern Plains received limited
Precipitation in March and temperatures averaged above normal. Surface soil needs
some good spring rains.