No. 143 August 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
July weather in Indiana was generally favorable for growing crops and farm work.
The first ten days of the month with very little precipitation gave farmers a splendid
opportunity to lay-by corn and complete harvest. The second ten day period was a little
above average in precipitation and the last ten day period was somewhat below. Need
of rain in some Southern localities was becoming acute at the end of the month.
Corn condition is 88 percent of normal compared to 46 last year and the ten year
(1923-32) average of 75. A production of 186,480,000 bushels is forecast compared to
115,413,000 bushels last year, and the five year, (1928-32) average of 155,968,000 bushels.
Winter wheat was placed in the shock generally under favorable conditions, but
threshing has been somewhat retarded by rain until near the end of the month in the
northern part of the state. The quality of the grain is comparatively poor due to black
rust infection. An area about four counties wide along the Wabash river from Vigo to
Wabash counties was worst affected. A yield of 16.0 bushels per acre and a production
of 34,592,000 bushels is estimated for 1937. Last year's production was 30,922,000 bushels
and the five year average is 26,458,000 bushels.
The condition of the oats crop is reported at 81 percent of normal which is 26 points
above last year and 4 points above the ten year average. The oat heads generally are well
filled but reports indicate that the test weight per bushel is quite variable. A production
of 49,212,000 bushels is forecast for 1937 compared to 38,502,000 bushels produced last
year and the five year average production of 63,810,000 bushels.
Barley condition is 81 percent of normal compared to a condition of 80 percent of
normal for the ten year average. The production is forecast at 572,000 bushels, compared to the five year average of 1,027,000 bushels.
The rye crop is estimated at 12.5 bushels per acre which upon the basis of the July 1
acreage estimate indicates a production of 1,912,000 bushels.
Potatoes are reported at a condition of 80 percent of normal which is 5 points above
the ten year average.  The production is forecast at 5,358,000 bushels.
The condition of tobacco is repoited to be 78 percent of normal which is 8 points
above the ten year average. The 1937 production is estimated to be 8,400,000 pounds
compared to the five year average of 13,266,000 pounds.
Hay harvest was completed under favorable conditions but much hay was damaged
by midmonth rains in the Northeast district. The condition of alfalfa is 80 percent of
normal which is 4 points below the ten year average. Leaf hoppers severely damaged
the second cutting. A large number of the alfalfa fields are becoming weedy because
of the serious winter and spring killing of the alfalfa. The production of the 1937 tame
hay crop is estimated to be 2,316,000 tons compared to last year's production of 1,760,000
tons and the five year average of 2,024,000 tons.
Soy beans generally are making a large vegetative growth and the condition is reported to be 85 percent of normal compared to the ten year average of 82 percent.
Pastures are making an abundant amount of feed and the condition August 1 is reported to be 84 percent of normal compared to the ten year average of 73 percent. The
relatively high condition is due to an abundance of rainfall early in the season. Some
deterioration from drouth was reported in southern counties.
The August 1 condition of all fruits is materially above the ten year average condition. The condition of apples is 77 percent of normal compared to the ten year average of 49 percent and the production is forecast at 3,394,000 bushels. The condition
of peaches is 64 percent of normal which is 24 points above the ten year average and
the production is estimated to be 432,000 bushels. Even though the condition of the
peach crop is materially above the ten year average, the production is considerably less
because of the heavy loss of trees in the winter of 1935-36. The pear crop with a condition of 69 percent of normal compared to the ten year average of 48 percent is forecast
at 609,000 bushels. The grape crop is estimated to be 5,300 tons.
On the farms of Crop Reporters, 78.4 percent of all milk cows are being milked
compared with 76.7 percent last month and 76.4 percent a year ago. Daily production
Per cow milked is 19.8 pounds compared with 18.5 pounds a year ago.
On Reporters' farms, flocks of 330 or less hens and pullets of laying age average
81 birds which is 3 more than a year ago.  The number of eggs produced per 100 hens
and pullets is reported to be 40.2 which is 2.9 eggs more than a year ago.
MINER M. JUSTIN, Agricultural Statistician.
ROBERT E. STRASZHEIM, Assoc. Agricultural Statistician.