No 122 November 1,1986
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DIVISION OP CROP AND LIVESTOCK
CO-OPERATING WITH     
PURDUE UNIVERSITY 
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATIS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
October in Indiana was generally dry and warmer following the frosts which
occurred near the first of the month. Seeding of wheat and rye was finished
later than usual and is going into November small in size but good in appearance.
Corn is being harvested in every section of the state. Many good yields are
reported along with reports of damage from frost. This frost damage has ranged
in seriousness from soft corn in the northern section of the state to complete
failure in the southern sections. A state yield of 38.5 bushels per acre and a
production of 155,463,000 bushels is estimated for this year.
Potato harvest continues to be a disappointment to many growers. The light
land planted to early potatoes produced yields from light to complete failure.
This was partly offset by the fact that much of the commercial crop of the state
is late potatoes grown on the muck land in the northern sectipn. Periods of
decidedly dry weather following the heavy late spring rains has been harmful
to the crop. A yield of 80 bushels per acre and a production of 4,960,000 bushels
is now estimated for the state.
Sweet potatoes are yielding below earlier estimates. The same adverse
weather which injured white potatoes has also been harmful to this crop.
The soy bean harvest has apparently borne out early estimates of a heavy
crop. Heavy rains just before or following November 1 have retarded harvest
and may injure the quality of some beans. The frosts around October 1- injureq
some late planted fields. It is generally conceded by those interested in the "crop
that yields are not only better than usual but that a larger percent of the crop
is being saved for seed. A state yield of 17 bushels and a production of 5,27Q,00Q
bushels is now the estimate.
Pasture condition was reported lower than last month. Dry weather at the
beginning of the month and killing frosts from about September 26 to early,
October forced some dairymen to begin dry feeding. Rains the last of Octoher,
and early November with warmer than usual weather has done much to rene.wA
pasture.
Apples are reported to be 67 percent of a full crop which is 15 points above.
the ten year average and 2 points above last month, although reports continue
to tell of a heavy drop. Production is estimated to be 1,903,000 bushels compared to 1,020,000 bushels last year.
Pear production was estimated at 71 percent of a full crop, 11 points above
the ten year average, but 3 points below last month. This is believed to be due
to the smaller size of the fruit, as reported last month, showing up in the harvest
of the late crop. The frosts of late September also injured some pears. Production this year is now estimated to be 170,000 bushels compared to 178,000 bushels
last year.
Grapes were estimated to be 77 percent of a full crop, 5 points above the
ten year average and 3 points below last month. Harvest has proved that earlier
estimates of late crop and small fruit were correct. Frost also killed some late
grapes.  2,849 tons is the estimated production compared to 2,812 tons last year.
Daily milk production per cow milked on reporters' farms was 16.5 lbs.;
last month, 17.7; a year ago, 17.3. The percent of cows being milked was 72.3;
last month, 75.1; a year ago, 71.8.
On farms of reporters having 370 or less hens and pullets of laying age,
19.4 percent were laying; last month, 25.6; a year ago, 17.8. The size of such
flocks averaged 96 birds; last month, 88; a year ago, 96.
UNITED STATES
Feed grain supplies are sufficient to provide about the usual rations for the
reduced number of livestock on the farms and leave a rather small carryover.
Hay production was above average and there is sufficient to permit feeding
slightly more than the usual ration per head and still leave an average quantity
>n reserve next spring.
FRANK L. MERRILL, MINER M. JUSTIN,
Junior Statistician. Agricultural Statistician.