No. 521 October 1, 1968
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
Indiana forecasts for corn and soybean production are up from the September 1 estimate. Very favorable growing and maturing conditions existed throughout most of the
month. Harvest of the 1968 corn crop had yet to begin in most counties as the month
ended, but progress in Southwest Indiana had reached the 5 percent completion mark.
The indicated yield of the 1968 corn crop is a record 98.0 bushels per acre. This exceeds
the previous high yield of 94.0 bushels achieved in 1965, and compares with 84.0 bushels
ceracre last year. Production at 459,718,000 bushels is 3 percent over last year and 23
percent above average.
The soybean yield is indicated to be a record high 30.0 bushels per acre. This exceeds
any other year by two bushels. The 1967 crop averaged 24.5 bushels per acre, and the
1962-66 average is 26.8 bushels per acre. The record production of 90,420,000 bushels
is 29 percent more than last year, and 22 percent above average.
Sorghum grain production is forecast at 660,000 bushels down 8 percent from 1967,
but 13 percent above average. The indicated yield on October 1 at 66.0 bushels per acre
compares with 65.0 bushels for both last year and average. Sorghum harvest had started
in the southern counties, but little had been harvested in other areas as the month
ended.
Corn stored on Indiana farms as of October 1 amounted to 24,629,000 bushels, the
lowest since 1964. This is 11 percent below a year earlier, but 21 percent above average.
Wheat stocks of 6,429,000 bushels was 5 percent less than on October 1, 1967 but 8 percent above average. Oats in farm storage amounted to 15,427,000 bushels on the first
of October—47 percent above a year earlier but 10 percent below average. Barley holdings were at a record low. There were only 173,000 bushels on hand, 2 percent below a
vear earlier. Rye farm stocks totaled 155,000 bushels, down 21 percent from October 1,
1967.
Hay production is estimated at 2,371,000 tons, up 25 percent from last year, but down
3 percent from average. Production of alfalfa is 21 percent above a year earlier and
clover-timothy production is 33 percent higher.
Tobacco production is forecast at 14.5 million pounds, 5 percent above last year, but
S percent less than average.
Indiana's potato crop is estimated at 1,385,000 cwt., 36 percent less than the 1967
production and 26 percent below average. Potatoes, especially the Fall crop, are lacking
in size. The late summer crop yield is placed at 155 cwt. per acre compared with 190
cwt. last year, and the 147 cwt. average. The Fall crop yield at 205 cwt. per acre compares with 300 cwt. in 1967 and an average of 253 cwt. per acre.
Milk production during September is estimated at 189 million pounds, one percent below
last year, and 22 percent less than average. Production per cow in September 1968 was
35 pounds higher than in September 1967, but the number of milk cows was down 5 percent.
Egg production during September totaled 232 million eggs, up 19 percent from a year
earlier. Rate of lay at 1,749 eggs per 100 layers compares with 1,680 in September
1967. The number of layers were up 14 percent from the same month last year.
UNITED STATES
Total crop prospects declined slightly in September because dry weather in most Atlantic States lowered prospective yields for late fields. Continuing favorable conditions
in most other areas nearly offset these losses. Fall seedings progressed well during the
month. Killing frosts, always a threat in northern areas during September, held off until
after October  1,  assuring minimum losses from freeze damage to late maturing crops.
The "all crops" production index declined 1 point during September to 121, a record
high, and 4 points (3 percent) above the previous high last year. Although down slightly
from a month earlier, prospective production of feed grains, food grains, and oilseeds
continue at record-high levels. The composite yield per acre covering 28 leading crops at
130 was a record high, the same as a month earlier, and 6 points (5 percent) above last
year.
The generally favorable weather which has characterized the 1968 crop season in the
Com Belt continued through September. Soil moisture supplies were generally adequate
except in the western parts of Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Although tempera-