ECONOMIC INFORMATION
FOR   INDIANA   FARMERS
No. 19
Division of Agricidtural Economics
June 1943
THE FEED SITUATION
Feed supplies in the United States and Indiana are ample until fall; however, local shortages may occur because of distribution problems caused by
price ceilings. A shortage of available feed will probably require some livestock liquidation in the 1943-44 marketing year. Feed costs are expected to
increase. Feeding ratios are expected to become less favorable.
PRESENT FEED SUPPLIES AND LIVESTOCK NUMBERS
Consumption of Feed Unusually April 1 Stocks of Corn and Oats
Large During Recent Months Largest in Recent Years
Although  stocks  of  feed  grains1  in  the Stocks of corn on farms in the United
United States on October 1, 1942, were the
largest on record, the liberal feeding of the
large numbers of livestock on farms resulted
in a very heavy disappearance of all feed
grains since that date. Combined disappearance of corn and oats for feed from October
1, 1942, to April 1, 1943, was about 18 percent
greater than for the same six-month period a
year earlier.
In Indiana a very heavy consumption of
feed grains has likewise been taking place.
During the first three months of 1943, the
disappearance of corn amounted to 60 million
bushels. This was the largest on record and is
consistent with the record number of grain-
consuming animal units.
Use of Wheat as Feed Increases
Use of wheat as feed has increased sharply
during the past year. About 275 million bushels are expected to be used during the year
ending July 1, 1943, as compared to 111 million bushels for the same period a year earlier.
Sales of government owned wheat have increased materially since last fall as advances
in prices of other grains made government
wheat a comparatively cheap feed.
Indiana farmers bought four million bushels of government feed wheat under the old
feed-wheat program that was discontinued
March 4, 1943." Under the new feed-wheat
program, effective March 24, 1943, sales
amounted to one-half million bushels up to
April 17.
Includes corn, oats, barley, and grain sorghums.
States April 1, 1943, were eight percent larger
than the same date a year earlier. Oat stocks
on April 1 were about 18 percent larger.
Stocks of corn on Indiana farms on April
1 were 99 million bushels—39 percent above a
year earlier. This compares to the 1937-41
five-year average of 67 million bushels on that
date. Stocks of oats were slightly lower at
16.5 million bushels but 40 percent above the
1937-41 average. Wheat stocks amounted to
only 234 million bushels; about equal to one-
half of last year's supplies.
Livestock Numbers Highest on
Record and Continue to Increase
On January 1, 1943, livestock numbers in
the United States were the largest in history.
Hog numbers increased 22 percent during the
past year; poultry, 14 percent; beef cattle,
five percent; and milk cows, two percent.
Horses and mules declined 2 J/2 percent and
sheep three percent. The increases were general throughout the country but largest in the
western part of the corn belt.
Hog production in 1943 is expected to be
about 24 percent larger than the record 1942
production and 44 percent above the 1931-40
average. Chicken production is also expected
to be substantially higher in 1943.
In Indiana all classes of livestock except
horses, mules, and sheep increased to record
numbers during 1942. Hogs and chickens
showed the largest increase; 12 and 13 percent respectively. Beef cattle numbers were
up six percent; dairy cattle, one percent; and
cheep, three percent.