INDIANA CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
COOPERATING WITH
jfcflJ* PURDUE UNIVERSITY
flttf1^ AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
department of agricultural statistics
west lafayette, indiana
INDIANA
The Indiana corn crop now promises 178,192,000 bushels, or 43 bushels per acre on
4444,000 acres. The yield indicated is 9.5 bushels above the 1928-1937 average, and production is 18 per cent higher than for the same period of years. The acreage planted this
year was only 98 per cent of that for 1938 and 92 per cent of the average acreage 1928-
1537. Corn on fertile, well cultivated ground, is larger than usual at this date, and
throughout the state has a good color and thrifty appearance. In spite of interruptions of
work by rains there are not many weedy fields. In the southern third of the state the
indicated excess of yield above average is not as great as in the rest of the state.
Stocks of corn on farms July 1 are estimated as 47,263,000 bushels with last year at
56,183,000 bushels and the 1928-1937 average 24,190,000 bushels.
Winter wheat prospects are unchanged from last month with a production of 25,624,000
bushels from an indicated yield of 16.5 bushels. Harvest began earlier than usual but
greater use of combines tended to delay completion. There has been some complaint from
the southwest district that grain yields were smaller than expected from the amount
of straw.
Stocks of wheat on farms are average at 1,814,000 bushels.
Oats got a slow start and were further handicapped by the dry weather of May. The
more favorable conditions in June came too late for marked improvement in the crop and
a yield of only 24.0 bushels per acre is expected. Production of 28,224,000 bushels compares with 34,060,000 bushels in 1938, and 49,177,000 bushels the 1928-1937 average. The
acreage of oats was again reduced and only 1,176,000 acres remain for harvest. The
1928-1937 average is 1,749,000 acres.
Carry over of oats is estimated as 3,747,000 bushels, only 59 percent of last year, and
IS percent of the 1928-1937 average.
Barley acreage this year is 32,000 or 28 per cent more than last year. The production
forecast is 640,000 bushels, with the yield of 20 bushels per acre very near the average.
Rye acreage is larger than last year and the yield of 12.0 bushels per acre is the
same as indicated last month, and one-half bushel above last year. Production is forecast as 1,884,000 bushels.
The acreage of potatoes is unchanged from last year, at 52,000 and the indicated yield
is also the same as last year at 95 bushels per acre. Potatoes are generally thrifty and
making good growth. There has apparently been some decrease in potato acreage in
the north central part of the state, offset by increases elsewhere.
Hay conditions improved in June with abundant moisture, and warm weather. Clover
and timothy hay is expected to make 1.00 ton per acre, and alfalfa hay 1.85 tons per
acre. Though rainy weather in June damaged some hay in harvest, yields have been
tetter than expected earlier. The acreage of clover and timothy is 954,000 where last year
it was 1,149,000. Alfalfa acreage has increased from 433,000 in 1938 to 459,000 this year.
Any deficiency in hay acreage of the usual kinds can be made up from annual legumes.
The acreage of soybeans is estimated as 1,201,000. This is an increase of 45 percent
and is by far the largest acreage ever seeded in the state. An increase of 11,000 acres
m cowpeas brings this crop to 30,000 acres.
Tobacco acreage was increased 2 percent to 11,800. Prospective tobacco yields are
about the same as last year.
Fruits are more promising than average. Peaches are forecast at 341,000 bushels or
more than double the 1938 crop. Pears indicate production of 521,000 bushels, 42 percent
more than last year and 51 percent more than average.
<>rapes production is expected to reach 4,900 tons against 2,200 tons last year and an
average of 4,180 tons.
Pasture condition rose 12 points in June to 88 on July 1. This is 16 points above average though 6 points below last year. There was an abundance of new grown grass in
"lost fields. Few looked rusty from slowed growth, and few were over grazed.
On reporters' farms 76.9 percent of the cows in herds were milked. Last month the
Percentage was 77.9 and the average 1927-1936 was 77.6. Production per cow milked
'Jvl was 22,8 pounds compared with 23.5 pounds last month and a July 1 average
ot 21,9 pounds.