No. 483 September 1, 1965
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
INDIANA
Indiana crops continued to progress well during the month of August. Temperatures
during the month averaged slightly below normal, with rainfall about normal. The land
intended for wheat was about one-half plowed by September 1, ahead of the 45 percent
plowed by the same date for average.
The corn yield on September 1 is forecast at a record 92.0 bushels per acre. This
is 20 bushels above the yield of 72.0 bushels obtained in 1964. The average yield of corn
is 74.7 bushels per acre, and the previous record yield was 87.0 bushels in 1963. The
1965 production of corn is expected to total 444,544,000 bushels, about one-third above
both last year and average, and the highest production of record. The corn crop was 15
percent mature by September 1, the same as last year but ahead of the 10 percent
mature for average.
Soybean production is forecast at 83,608,000 bushels, 25 percent larger than last
year and 19 percent greater than average. This production will be the highest of
record. The yield of soybeans on September 1 is forecast at 28.0 bushels per acre, up
from both the 23.5 bushel 1964 yield and the 27.3 bushel average yield. The soybean
crop is maturing at about the same rate as average.
Sorghum grain production is estimated at 560,000 bushels, up 40 percent from last
year, but down 30 percent from average. The yield of sorghum grain is forecast at
70.0 bushels per acre, the highest of record. This yield compares with 50.0 bushels in
1964 and 59.2 bushels for average, and exceeds the previous record yield of 68.0
bushels set in 1963.
The 1965 production of all hay is expected to total 2,550,000 tons, 6 percent more
than last year and 2 percent more than average. The 1965 yield of all hay, forecast at
2.05 tons per acre, is above both the 1964 yield of 1.88 tons and the 1.86 ton average
yield. Alfalfa hay production, forecast at 1,544,000 tons, is up 7 percent from last year.
Clover-timothy hay production is forecast at 840,000 tons, up 5 percent from 1964.
The Indiana apple production, forecast at 1,850,000 bushels, is down 20 percent from
last year, but is 7 percent above average. Peach production forecast at 250,000 bushels,
is 40 percent below 1964 and 9 percent below average.
August milk production totaled 282 million pounds, down 4 percent from August 1964
and down 1 percent from average. Egg production during August totaled 169 million
eggs, down 1 percent from last year. The cumulative production of eggs, 1,469 million
eggs produced during January-August inclusive, is down 1 percent from the same
period in 1964.
UNITED STATES
Crop prospects improved during August, although dry spots reduced output in some
areas, especially along the eastern and western edges of the Corn Belt and in the
lower Mississippi Valley. Crop progress is about normal, except for a one to two week
lag in the Canadian Border areas.  Progress is behind the 1964 pace in most areas.
The all crop production index increased one point during August to September 1 level
of 117. This is 5 points (4 percent) higher than the previous record in 1963 and 8
points (7 percent) above last year. Feed grain prospects continue at record levels.
Soybeans, rice and peanuts are among the other crops setting new production levels in
1965. The composite index of yield per acre covering 28 leading crops climbed to 123
on September 1—an increase of 1 point during the past month. The present level is 6
percent above the previous high of 116 in 1963.
August temperatures continued the earlier season pattern of being lower than normal.
As a result some slowing of crop development was evident over most of the Nation.
Above normal readings around mid-August gave a boost to crop progress. Cool weather
returned at the end of the month with frosts reported from most of the Northern