No. 531 July 1, 1969
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
June temperatures were mild and rainfall was near normal. Crops generally benefited
from this combination except for water damage in low spots. During the first half of the
month, conditions were favorable for field work, while rains slowed progress the remainder of June.
The corn yield, estimated at 90 bushels per acre, is the second highest of record exceeded only by the record 1965 yield of 94 bushels per acre. The 4,800,00 acres expected to be harvested for grain in 1969 is 2 percent less than 1968 and 11 percent
less than 1967. Production for 1969, estimated at 432,000,000 bushels, is 4 percent
above last year, but 2 percent under 1967.
Wheat production during 1969 is expected to total 36,520,100 bushels, up 3 percent
from last year, but 20 percent less than 1967. The 1969 acreage of wheat for harvest
in Indiana is 913,000 acres, 10 percent below the 1968 crop and 26 percent below 1967.
The yield is expected to average 40 bushels per acre, up 5 bushels per acre from last
year and 3 bushels above 1967. As of July 11, less than 20 percent of the crop had been
harvested.
The 1969 production of oats forecast at 19,260,000 bushels is 11 percent smaller than
last year, but 46 percent larger than 1967. Acres for harvest total 321,000 acres, down
7 percent from last year, but up 17 percent from 1967. Yield is expected to be 60 bushels per acre compared with 63 bushels last year and 48 bushels in 1967.
Barley production is estimated at 378,000 bushels, down 8 percent from the 1968 crop
and down 18 percent from 1967. Barley acreage is expected to total 9,000 acres, 10
percent less than 1968 and 18 percent less than two years ago.
Rye production, estimated at 368,000 bushels, is unchanged from 1968, but 16 percent
below 1967.
The acreage of soybeans to be harvested for beans is placed at 3,104,000 acres for
1969. This is 2 percent greater than the 1968 harvested acreage and 7 percent above
the 1967 bean acreage. Planting got started on time, but progress soon fell behind average as wet soils delayed field work until the end of May. Planting was completed on time.
Hay production is estimated at 2,056,000 tons, 7 percent less than the production last
year, but 7 percent above the 1967 tonnage. At 932,000 acres, the 1969 crop is being
produced from 4 percent less acreage than either last year or two years ago. Of the
acreage this year, 436,000 acres or 47 percent of the total is alfalfa hay and 398,000 or
43 percent is clover-timothy. Alfalfa production is 11 percent below a year ago, while the
clover-timothy hay crop is 3 percent less.
The tobacco crop is forecast at 13,920,000 pounds, up 5 percent from the 1968 crop.
The higher production is the result of a higher yield per acre, as acreage for harvest
is the same in 1969 as it was in 1968.
Apple production at 85.0 million pounds is 47 percent above a year ago, and 14 percent more than the 1967 crop. Peaches are forecast at 15.0 million pounds, nearly three
times the short 1968 crop and more than double the 1967 output.
The late summer potato crop is forecast at 171,000 cwt., 10 percent more than last
year but 18 percent less than two years ago.
Milk production during June at 217 million pounds is one percent less than a year ago
as the higher production per cow almost offset the reduction in number of cows milked.
Egg production during June totaled 236 million eggs, down 5 percent from June 1968.
The number of layers on farms was down 3 percent and the June rate of lay at 1,890
eggs per 100 layers compares with 1,935 in June a year ago.
UNITED STATES
U.S. crop prospects on July 1 were generally good to excellent except in parts of the
Gulf States and northern Great Plains. However, crop progress in the important North
Central States was moderately behind normal because cold, wet weather delayed start
of spring planting. An unusually cool June delayed plant growth. Total crop acreage
planted for 1969 harvest was down 6.8 million, or 2 percent less than last year. Feed
grain production is expected to be below last year. Indicated production of winter wheat