No. 107
August 1, 1934.
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DIVISION OF CROP AND LIVESTOCK ESTIMATES
CO-OPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Conditions of corn on August 1, at 65 percent of normal was 7 points below
the 10 year average and shows a decline of 28 points from the first of July. The
decrease in prospects was general except for the southwestern part of the state
where corn conditions are better than average. Excessive heat caused damage by
firing leaves and blasting tassels. In general, damage is greatest on sand, gravel
and high clay soils. The second brood of chinch bugs has appeared in large numbers in local areas but is not expected to do damage to any considerable acreage.
The indicated production is 111,300,000 bushels compared with 127,263,000 bushels
last year and a 5-year average of 146,379,000 bushels.
Wheat threshed out much better than expected a month ago. Yield of 17.8
bushels per acre is reported ranging from 11.5 in the northwestern district where
drought and chinch bug damage were most severe to 19.9 bushels in the east central section.
Oats are a very poor crop. Some fields were too short to cut for grain and
in many cases only part of the field was worth cutting. The estimated yield is
15.5 bushels compared with the 10 year average of 29.3 bushels.
Barley was hurt by chinch bugs and drought and the indicated yield at 10.0
bushels is one of the poorest on record.
Rye yield per acre was 11.5 bushels, one bushel greater than expected before
harvest. Total production of 1,564,000 bushels compares with 890,000 bushels
last year.
Condition of potatoes declined 19 points during July. The indicated yield at
60 bushels compares with the 10 year average of 86 bushels.
The southwestern section of the state, where most of the sweet potatoes are
grown, has not been so adversely affected by the heat and drouth and the condition of sweet potatoes at 71 is only 5 points below average.
The condition of tobacco declined 16 points during July, most of the decline
occurring in the Burley district.
Some late planted soybeans have been damaged by burning and drouth and
early planted soybeans are firing and shedding bottom leaves in some areas.
Condition ranges from about 50 to 60 percent of normal in the northern part of
the state to 88 percent of normal in the southwest district.
Condition of cowpeas, produced mainly in the southwestern section, at 82
percent of normal is 8 points above average.
Condition of alfalfa hay is reported 60 percent of normal compared with the
ten year average of 81. Grain hay is reported as yielding .50 tons per acre. The
estimated total production of all tame hay is 1,533,000 tons this year, compared
with 1,795,000 tons last year and the five year average of 2,053,000 tons.
The reported condition of apples, pears and peaches for the state is about
the same as last month, but the condition of grapes declined, the largest decreases
in prospects being in counties along the Michigan line and in the southeastern
section of the state.
On farms having not more than 330 hens and pullets August 1, the average
number of birds of laying age was 81. Last year there were 83. The percentage
laying was 32.7 this month, 41.0 last month and 36.7 a year ago.
Cows milked on reporters' farms produced 18.2 pounds each this year; 18.4
last year and 19.9 pounds last month. The percentage of cows in milk was 75,
the same as last month and a year ago.
C. D. PALMER,
Ass't Agricultural Statistician.
MINER M. JUSTIN,
Agricultural Statistician.