INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
COOPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
The month of September made little change in 1939 crop prospects in Indiana. The
exceptional heat and pronounced dryness hastened the drying of corn. Such a small proportion of the crop was immature that its premature ripening had a negligible effect on
the yield which is reported the same as last month at 50 bushels per acre, indicating a
production of 207,200,000 bushels. This is the highest yield on record. Husking began
in September at an unusually early date.
The estimated yield of oats is now 24.5 bushels per acre or one-half bushel lower than
last month, and 2.9 bushels below average. The production of 28,812,000 bushels is only
69% of average. The smaller crop is mainly due to a small acreage.
Barky yield is estimated at 22.0 bushels per acre, which is 1.8 bushels above average,
the same as forecast last month.
Tobacco is reported unchanged from last month with a yield of 861 pounds per acre,
and production of 10,156,000 pounds which is 6 per cent larger than last year.
Sweet Potatoes were unchanged with an indicated yield of 115 bushels per acre and
production of 345,000 bushels, the same as last year.
Potatoes suffered from the dry weather especially in the northern part of the state.
The indicated yield was lowered 5 bushels, to 90 bushels per acre, with production now
forecast as 4,680,000 bushels.
A higher yield reported for soybean hay than previously indicated, raises the yield
for all tame hay to 1.35 tons per acre. The ten year average is 1.12 tons. Tame hay production is now estimated as 2,693,000 tons or 31 per cent more than average. The dry
father of late August and of September were very favorable for curing soybeans and
to late hay.
Soybeans for beans were reported prematurely ripened with a slight reduction in
Bpected yield to 19.5 bushels per acre. The indicated production is 12,422,000 bushels,
« per cent more than last year and nearly four times the average for 1928-1937.
Pastures declined 32 points in condition in September. Closely grazed pastures were
ore of feed at the end of the month, and those with surplus growth had it cured into
standing feed almost like hay.
fruits made very little change in September. Peaches are estimated 61 per cent of a
crop which is only 40 per cent of average. Tree numbers are still low because of
es in 1936. Pears promise 42 per cent more fruit than last year, and grapes more
an double last season's poor crop.
Commercial apples are still estimated at 1,200,000 bushels. Apprehension early in
«Ptember concerning damage to fruit by the excessive heat was not reflected in reports
farm flocks of crop reporters averaged 84.2 hens and pullets of laying age October 1.
is 3.7 birds less than last year and 4.4 less than the average 1927-1936 for the date,
taction of eggs per hundred laying birds was 29.0 on October 1 this year, 28.4 last
and 26.3 for the ten year average.
No change was indicated in milk cow numbers from last month or last year. Milk
wtuced per cow milked October 1 was 18.8 pounds this year, 19.5 last year, and 18.8 for
ten yeaT average. The percent of cows in herds being milked was 74.4 and the ten
w average 73.6.