No. 265 October 1, 1947
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Production prospects for Indiana corn and soybeans improved one bushel per acre
during September as a result of favorable weather conditions.   Scattered frosts in the
northern and eastern one-third of the state during the fourth week of September caught
some corn and soybeans not fully developed.   Other areas of the state escaped frost
Corn production is now estimated at 190,564,000 bushels, which is 18 percent less than
last year's production but 2 percent more than average. The yield per acre is 44.0 bushels,
which is average and 7 bushels less than last year. Corn for the state as a whole as of
October 3 was considered 51 percent mature, with another 32 percent dented. Corn picking
is under way in parts of southwestern Indiana with moisture running as low as 15.5
percent.
Soybean yield per acre this year is estimated at 19.0 bushels, which is the same as
last year. Production is forecast at 27,455,000 bushels, which is 8 percent larger than
last year's crop. Bean combining was well along in southern Indiana, and general in
central areas on October 10.
Potato prospects show no change from last month. The production forecast of 3,510,000
bushels is 22 percent smaller than last year's crop and 29 percent less than average.
Hay production is estimated the same as a month ago. The 2,425,000 tons produced
this year is 4 percent smaller than last year's crop and 6 percent less than average.
Apple and peach production is not holding up to earlier expectation while pears and
grapes are showing no change. Commercial apple production is estimated at 1,414,000
bushels, which is 20 percent more than last year's crop, but only 1 percent more than
average. Peach production estimated at 725,000 bushels is 40 percent larger than last
year's crop and a little more than twice an average crop.
Milk production per cow on October 1 was at the highest level on record for that date.
Total production during September is estimated at 313,000,000 pounds or 1 percent below
September a year ago, the drop being due to fewer cows. Pasture conditions generally
were good and grain feeding is relatively heavy at 4.0 pounds per cow per day.
Egg production during September was 133,000,000 eggs which is 10 percent more than
for the month a year ago and 5 percent more than two years ago. The rate of lay per bird
this September is 6 percent below that last year, but the number of layers is 18 percent
larger than a year ago.
The carry-over of old corn on Indiana farms is estimated at 20,210,000 bushels which is
29 percent more than a year ago, and 22 percent more than average. Wheat remaining
on farms is estimated at 11,137,000 bushels, or 30 percent more than last October and 8
percent more than average. The 29,796,000 bushels of oats on farms is 26 percent less
than a year ago and 8 percent less than average.
UNITED STATES
Harvest reports up to October 1 indicate fulfilment of prospects for relatively heavy
total crop production in 1947. Present indications are for a total crop volume 5 percent
smaller than last year's record, but only 1 percent below the average for 1942-46, the
best 5 years in American history.
September was mostly favorable for maturing growing crops and for farm work, and
harvest of early maturing crops is practically complete. Frosts affected corn, soybeans,
fruits and other late crops only slightly; buckwheat and grapes were the most severely
nipped.
The small 1947 corn crop improved in both quality and quantity and is now estimated
at 2,459 million bushels. Hot, dry weather in the first half of September brought most
corn to maturity ahead of the frosts which occurred in much of the Corn Belt later
in the month. As a result the amount of "soft corn" will be a relatively small proportion
of the total crop.