No. 203 August 1, 1942
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 
July made definite improvement in Indiana crop prospects for corn, soybeans and
forage production. The 47.5 bushels per acre for corn is the second highest yield on
record. The production forecast for August 1 is 194,322,000 bushels. Warm weather
with abundant rains have more than balanced insect damage and the effect of difficulties
in seed bed preparation and early cultivation.
Soybeans are reported at 89 percent of normal where the 1930-39 average is 76. Pasture condition is 86 where the average for August 1 is 63. Hay production is estimated
as 2,547,000 tons, a gain of 91,000 tons in the month.
The weather favorable for corn caused harvesting losses in all small grains. Delayed
harvest resulted in lodged grain, and the growth of weeds and clover made impossible
cutting close to the ground. This loss in harvest has reduced yields from 1.0 to 3.5 bushels
per acre for various small grains. The yield of winter wheat was lowered to 12.5 bushels
making production 15,062,000 bushels or only 50 percent of average, and 44 percent of
last year.
The yield of oats at 37.0 bushels lowers production to 51,763,000 bushels or 96 percent
of last year but still 126 percent of average. Barley yielding 23.0 bushels per acre
aggregates 2,530,000 bushels which is 20 percent larger than last year and four times
average. Rye yield lowered to 12.5 bushels puts production of 1,800,000 bushels at 92
percent of last year but still 22 percent larger than average.
Potatoes are expected to yield 110 bushels per acre with production of 5,720,000 bushels
about 7 percent over last year and 8 percent over average. Tobacco with prospective
yield of 972 pounds per acre will produce 9,915,000 pounds or 12 percent more than last
year and 2 percent less than average. Yields of truck crops promise to be good except
for watermelons and cantaloups which are light.
Fruits improved somewhat in July because of attainment of larger sizes than expected. The commercial apple counties will produce 1,296,000 bushels which is 82 percent
of average though only 58 percent of last year. The 120,000 bushels of peaches estimated
is only 34 percent of average and 17 percent of last year. Pears promising 204,000
bushels show 67 percent of average and 91 percent of last year. Grapes are the same
as last year at 2,800 tons but only 70 percent of average.
On farms with less than 330 layers the average number of birds was 86 which is
9 more than last year and 3 above average. Eggs produced per 100 layers August 1 is
reported as 44.2 where last year there were 45.1 and the average is 37.5.
Crop reporters were milking 75.7 percent of the cows in their herds August 1. Last
(year the percentage was 76.9 and the average is 76.0. Each cow milked produced 23.1
oounds.  Last year the production per cow milked was 22.1 pounds and the average 19.8.
UNITED STATES
Crop prospects in the United States are the best on record for this time of year.
rowing conditions during July were outstandingly favorable for cotton and forecasts
ir most field crops except rice and sweet potatoes have been raised 1 to 5 percent.
^orn deteriorated locally from dry weather in the South but improved markedly in the
North where earlier weather was too cool, and the crop is now estimated at 2,754,000,000
bushels.  This is 126,000,000 bushels above expectations a month ago and would be the
largest corn crop since 1932.   Small grains suffered from wet weather and harvesting
losses in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, but unexpectedly good yields are being
reported from States farther north and west and large areas report the best crops ever
harvested.   Wheat production is now estimated at 955,000,000 bushels which would be
more wheat than has been harvested in any year except 1915.