No. 471 September 1,1964
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
Production forecasts of Indiana crops as of September 1 are down from the August 1
predictions. Serious shortages of moisture in many areas of the state have dropped
production forecasts for virtually all of Indiana's major crops from earlier predictions.
August rainfall was less than an inch in many areas of the state. With corn and soybeans
nearing maturity by September 1, added moisture after this time will be of little benefit
to these crops.
Corn yield forecast at 82.0 bushels per acre on September 1 is down sharply from the
90.0 bushel yield predicted on August 1 and the 87.0 bushel yield per acre last year. Corn
condition is very spotty over the state. In areas of ample moisture, corn yields will be
excellent. Soil type, deep rootedness, fertility and time of planting showed up this year
more than in most years. Production is expected to total 380,644,000 bushels in Indiana,
down 6 percent from last year, but up 19 percent from average.
Soybean production forecast at 71,808,000 bushels is 4 percent below last year, but
7 percent above average. Indicated yield at 25.5 bushels per acre is down from the 27.5
yield per acre last year and the 1958-62 average of 27.2 bushels per acre. Drought conditions have caused a reduction in the number of pods set, size of beans, and number of
beans per pod. Progress of the crop is slightly ahead of last year and average.
Oat yield at 45.0 bushels per acre is down from the 62.0 bushel yield last year, and
below the 49.5 bushel per acre average. Production is estimated at 16,335,000 bushels,
46 percent below last year and 57 percent below average.
Tobacco production is expected to total 13,870,000 pounds, 22 percent below last year's
crop, but 7 percent above average. Yield per acre forecast at 1900 pounds is down from
the 2205 yield last year, but up from the 1958-62 average of 1769 pounds per acre.
Because of dry weather, farmers began cutting the crop early in order to save the bottom
leaves, even though the top leaves had not fully developed.
Hay production is forecast at 2,296,000 tons, down 8 percent from last year, and down
i percent from average. Alfalfa hay yield is expected to average 2.15 tons per acre,
down from the 2.25 yield last year. Dry weather in many areas greatly reduced the
tonnage received from the second and third cutting of the alfalfa.
The September 1 forecast for the 1964 potato crop at 1,222,000 cwt. is 23 percent below
last year and average. Dry weather is favorable for harvest and quality is good, but the
number of potatoes per hill is fewer than expected.
Commercial apple production is expected to total 2,400,000 bushels, 60 percent larger
than last year's crop, and 33 percent greater than average. The September 1 peach production forecast at 490,000 bushels is up from the near failure crop of 10,000 bushels
last year.
August milk production totaled 298 million pounds, 2 percent more than August a year
ago. Pasture conditions were rated poor during August in most areas. Because of heavy
grain feeding and supplemental roughages, the drop in pasture condition has had little
effect on milk production.
Egg production during August totaled 173 million eggs. The number of layers on farms
in Indiana at 9,990,000 is 2 percent above August last year. The average of 1,736 eggs
per hundred layers in August compares with 1,844 in July and 1,823 in August a
year ago.
UNITED STATES
The above normal temperatures of late July continued into early August in the central
ireas of the Nation. Crops that were just about holding their own on August 1 were set
jack except where scattered showers brought beneficial amounts of moisture. The hot-dry
Jeriod caught many corn and soybean fields in the critical tasseling or blooming stage,
lowering potential output of these important row crops.