No. 145 October 1, 1937
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
September weather in Indiana was cool and dry. Temperatures were quite uniformly below normal throughout the state whereas rainfall was about one-third below
normal in the northern two-thirds of the state and only slightly below normal in the
southern one-third. A heavy weed growth accompanied by the below normal rainfall
during September has made wheat seed bed preparation somewhat difficult. Frost was
reported in the northern half of the state about the middle of September but no great
amount of damage was done.
Corn prospects improved during September with total production now forecast at
193,473,000 bushels compared with 115,413,000 last year and the five year (1928-32)
average of 155,968,000. Stocks of old corn on farms October 1 are estimated to be
6,897,000 bushels compared with 11,446,000 a year ago.
The yield of oats is estimated to be 31.0 bushels per acre and the production for 1937
at 45,539,000 which is 18 percent more than last year and 29 percent less than the 5 year
average. Stocks of oats on farms October 1 are estimated as 34,154,000 bushels compared with 29,262,000 last year and the 5 year average of 45,184,000.
The October 1 stocks of wheat on farms this year are estimated to be 12,846,000
bushels compared with 10,865,000 last year and the 5 year average of 13,355,000 bushels.
The barley crop with an average yield of 24.0 bushels per acre is estimated to be
624,000 bushels which is about two-thirds more than last year.
With a yield of 1.35 tons per acre, tame hay production is 2,502,000 tons compared
with 1,760,000 last year and the 5 year average of 2,024,000 tons. The production of
alfalfa hay with about an average yield per acre is 714,000 tons compared with 602,000
last year and the 5 year average of 309,000.
Tobacco production is forecast at 8,415,000 pounds which is nearly twice as much as
last year and about two-thirds of the 5 year average. Tobacco was harvested under comparatively favorable conditions and has been curing under favorable weather conditions.
Soybeans with a condition of 83 percent of normal are 25 points above last year and
slightly above the 10 year (1923-32) average. The 83 percent condition indicates a production of 5,389,000 bushels which is about one-third larger than last year and about two
and one-half times as large as the 5 year average. The condition of cowpeas is reported
at 82 percent compared with 51 percent last year and the 10 year average of 76.
In most parts of the state there has been an abundance of pasture throughout the
entire summer. The condition on October 1 is reported at 81 percent of normal compared with 58 last year and the 10 year average of 79.
The condition of potatoes is reported to be 74 percent of normal which is slightly
above the 10 year average. The production is forecast at 5,358,000 bushels compared
with the 5 year average of 5,198,000. The 81 percent condition reported for sweet potatoes
indicates a production of 460,000 bushels compared with the 5 year average of 415,000.
Prospects for apples continued to improve during September. The production is now
forecast at 3,636,000 bushels compared with 828,000 last year and 2,051,000 for the 5 year
average. The peach crop is now estimated at 402,000 bushels which is about two-thirds
)f the 5 year average. Pear production is forecast at 595,000 bushels compared with
176,000 last year and the 5 year average of 276,000. Prospects for grapes declined somewhat during September so that the production is now forecast at 5,100 tons compared
with 3,100 last year and 3,600 for the 5 year average.
Crop Reporters showed that on October 1, 74.5 percent of all milk cows in the herds
were being milked and that the production of milk per cow milked was 18.1 pounds.
Hens and pullets per farm flock on October 1, average 87.6 birds. The number of
eggs produced per 100 hens is reported to be 26.3.
UNITED STATES
Crop prospects in the United States improved about 2.7 percent during September.
As harvesting progresses it is becoming increasingly evident that crop yields per acre
will average higher than in any recent year. A composite of the indications for principal
crops shows the prospective yields of 1937 crops to be 111.9 percent of the average yield
secured during the 1923-32 period.
ROBERT E. STRASZHEIM, MINER M. JUSTIN
Assoc. Agricultural Statistician. Agricultural Statistician.