No. 295 April 1, 1950
INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENTOF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
The condition of winter wheat April 1, 1950, indicated a probable production of
u^ls^j»«rtnel,509,000 acres seeded in the fall of 1949. March was cold
made little growth by April 1. Through the winter precipitation has
been "excessive and there has been some damage from heaving, but so far losses of entire
fields seems limited to areas where water covered the plants for considerable periods
of time. The reduction of prospects since December 1 is nearly five percent.
The condition of rye is above average but below last year. Pasture condition is near
average but six points below last year.
Peach buds are reported badly killed over most of the state. Prospects for a light crop
still remain in a few localities. No damage to other fruits is yet evident.
Farm stocks of corn of 118,635,000 bushels are 79 percent of last year though 145
percent of the 1939-48 average. Disappearance of corn from farms in the first quarter
was 62,949,000 bushels this year, 64,377,000 last year, with the ten year average 57,672,000
bushels.
Stocks of wheat on farms of 2,767,000 bushels are 97 percent of average though 160
percent of last year. Oats on farms amounting to 16,748,000 bushels are slightly in
excess of last year and 125 percent of average. Barley and rye stocks are at low levels
with 55,000 and 65,000 bushels respectively. Soybeans remaining on farms total 6,302,000
bushels or 93 percent of last year, though 127 percent of the ten year average when
production was lower.
Reporters were feeding milk cows an average of 6.4 pounds of grain daily. A year
ago the amount was 6.1 pounds and in two years 5.9 pounds. March milk production of
279 million pounds was down from the 281 million pounds of March, 1949, but was four
million pounds higher than the March ten year average.
The number of layers in chicken flocks in March was 13,624,000, less than two percent
higher than last year. Eggs produced per 100 hens numbered 1,801 this year, or three
percent less than the 1,854 eggs of March last year. March egg production of 245 million
eggs is thus down one percent from last year, though the first quarter of the year at 663
million is higher by 32 million than last year.
UNITED STATES
Progress of farm work and vegetative development slowed down under relatively unfavorable March weather in most of the country. Much of the advancement resulting
from the mild winter was offset, and numerous areas now report backwardness of a few
days to a week or more. Snow remained only in northernmost areas, but fields were wet
from melting snow and March rains so that little work or seeding was possible before
April 1. Little concern is felt yet, however, as more than the usual fall plowing was done
and mechanization of farms enables farmers to make rapid progress once they can get
started. A few warm, sunshiny days in early April would do much to rectify the general
situation. Fall sown grains, meadows and pastures were growing slowly; some winterkill
and heaving was apparent in areas where snow cover had been inadequate. Soil moisture
is mostly adequate, the chief problem area being in the central and southern Great Plains
and the Southwest, as most other dry areas received rain or snow in March.
Prospects for the winter wheat crop have declined and the current estimate of 764
million bushels is 121 million bushels less than forecast December 1. This is chiefly
because of the continued dryness, aphid infestation and acreage abandonment in the