No. 518 July 1, 1968
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
STATISTICAL REPORTING SERVICE
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNUVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA 47907
INDIANA
Heavy rains in May generally delayed planting and cultivation of field crops. However,
favorable June weather allowed farmers to accelerate field work to partially make up for
lost time.
The corn yield, estimated at 88 bushels per acre, is 4 bushels higher than last year
and more than 5 bushels above average. The 4,691,000 acres expected to be harvested
for grain in 1968 is 12 percent less than 1967, but exceeds the average by 4 percent.
Production for 1968, estimated at 412,808,000 bushels, is 8 percent below last year but
10 percent more than average. Since much of the 1968 corn crop got off to a late start,
the average height of corn was less than average. On June 21, the average height was
jout 10 inches, which was the same as last year but shorter than the 15 inch average.
Wheat production during 1968 is expected to total 41,268,000 bushels, down 15 percent
from last year and 7 percent less than average. The 1968 acreage of wheat for harvest
in Indiana is 1,086,000, 17 percent below the 1967 crop and 10 percent below the 5-year
average. The yield is expected to total 38 bushels per acre, up 1 bushel per acre from
last year and average. As of June 28, less than 5 percent had been harvest compared
to the 20 percent average.
The 1968 production of oats forecast at 22,997,000 bushels is 60 percent larger than
last year, but 1 percent smaller than average. Acres for harvest totaled 377,000 acres,
up 26 percent from last year but down 13 percent from the 5-year average. Yield is expected to be 61 bushels per acre compared with 48 bushels per acre last year and the
average of 52.8 bushels per acre.
Barley production is estimated at 378,000 bushels, down 18 percent from the 1967 crop
and down 53 percent from the 5-year average. Barley acreage is expected to total 9,000
acres, 18 percent less than 1967 and 61 percent less than average.
Rye production estimated at 322,000 bushels is down 26 percent from last year and
down 61 percent from average.
Soybean acres for harvest as beans in 1968 is estimated at 3,014,000 acres, up 5 percent from 1967 and up 9 percent from average. The first forecast of production will not
be made until August.
Corn stocks on farms July 1 totaled 125,385,000 bushels, up 13 percent from last year
and up 23 percent from the 5-year average. Wheat stocks (old crop) on farms totaled
726,000 bushels, up 9 percent from last year and up 122 percent from the 5-year averse. Oat stocks (old crop) in on-farm positions totaled 1,866,000 bushels, down 44 percent from last year and down 56 percent from average. Soybean stocks on farms totaled
3867,000 bushels, down 12 percent from last year but up 38 percent from the 5-year
average. Barley stocks on farms amounted to 30,000 bushels, up 25 percent from last
year; and rye holdings at 13,000 was 60 percent less than a year ago.
Hay production is expected to total 2,184,000 tons, up 15 percent from last year but
11 percent less than average. Of this total, alfalfa hay is expected to make up 1,190,000
cons and clover and timothy mixtures another 851,000 tons.
Commercial apple production is forecast at 58.0 million pounds, down 23 percent from
last year and 24 percent from the 5-year average. Peach production forecast at 6.0
million pounds, is 17 percent below last year and 23 percent below the 5-year average.
Milk production during June totaled 213 million pounds, down 7 percent from last June.
Egg production for the month of June totaled 248 million eggs, 22 percent more than
June 1967.
UNITED STATES
Crop prospects on July 1 were generally good to excellent except in parts of the Gulf
States, Central Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest. Total crop acreage planted for 1968
harvest declined 6.8 million acres from last year or about 2 percent. Feed grain produc-
tlon is expected to be slightly below last year's record. Prospects for winter wheat im-