No. 152 May 1, 1938
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS
CO-OPERATING WITH
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
Conditions in Indiana during the month of April were generally favorable for
all kinds of spring farm work. The soil was quite wet the first ten days of the
month but by the end of the month was becoming quite dry in most parts of the
state -and particularly so in the southern one-third of the state. Precipitation
throughout the state was about 73 percent of normal whereas in the southern one-
third of the state the precipitation was only 46 percent of normal. Temperatures
were somewhat above normal.
The condition of winter wheat on May 1 was 88 percent of normal which indicates
a yield per acre of 17.5 bushels and a total production of 34,720,000 bushels. Production last year was 34,592,000 bushels and the 10 year (1927-36) average was
27,694,000. Though the production is forecast at about the same level as last year
the acreage for harvest is about 8 percent less. Of the acreage of winter wheat
seeded last fall 2 percent will not be harvested compared with 6 percent of the
previous years seeding which was not harvested.
The acreage of rye for; harvest this year is estimated to be 135,000 acres which
is about 17 percent less than last year and about 20 more than the 10 year average.
The production is forecast at 12.0 bushels per acre or a total of 1,620,000 bushels.
The condition of growing hay was reported at 89 percent of normal which is 24
points above the condition a year earlier and 12 points above the 10 years average
condition. Legumes and grasses have made a good growth this spring and all
fields are showing a nearly perfect stand. The stocks of old hay on farms May 1
is estimated at 466,000 tons which is more than twice the stocks of a year ago and
44 percent larger than the 10 year average.
Pastures like the hay grasses have made a good growth this spring and the condition was reported at 88 percent of normal compared with the 10 year average of
76 percent.
Crop correspondents had in their flocks on May 1, 91.7 hens and pullets of laying
age compared with 101.8 last year and the 10 year average of 101.4. There was
an average of 60.5 eggs produced per 100 hens and pullets compared with 60.8
eggs last year and the 10 year average of 58.4 eggs. The increased production per
100 hens is more than offset by the decreased number of hens in the laying flock.
Milk cows in herds of crop reporters were reported to have produced on May 1,
21.9 pounds per day per cow milked compared with 20.0 pounds last year and the
10 year average of 20.9 pounds. Of all milk cows in the herd, 75.8 percent were
being milked compared with 73.4 percent last year and the 10 year average of
74.3 percent.
UNITED STATES
Crop prospects in the country as a whole are somewhat spotted and uneven but
appear rather better than at this season during any of the last several years. The
warm weather of March and most of April gave grass and winter grain crops an
early start in nearly all States and good rains have improved the outlook in the
central and northern portions of the Great plains area where recent droughts have
been most severe. The weather has also permitted Corn Belt farmers to make unusually good progress with spring work.