No. 140 May  1,  1937
INDIANA
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DIVISION OP CROP AND LIVESTOCK
CO-OPERATING WITH     
PURDUE UNIVERSITY 
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL STATIS
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
INDIANA
On May 1, the abandonment of winter wheat was estimated to be 6 percent of last
fall's seeded acreage. The seeded acreage was 2,300,000 acres, leaving 2,162,000 acres for
harvest. Last year's abandonment was 6 percent and the ten year (1923-32) average was
10.4 percent.
Late seeding and the heaving of late winter and early spring caused most of the loss
in acreage. This loss was general over the north two-thirds of the state. Spring floods
also caused some loss of acreage, especially in the southern sections.
The condition of winter wheat on May 1 was reported to be 80 percent of normal.
This is 8 points above last month and the same as the May 1 ten year (1923-32) average.
There were, however, too many rainy and cloudy days in April for the best advancement of the crop.
The present forecast is for a yield of 16.0 bushels per acre or a production of
34,592,000 bushels. Last year's production was 30,922,000 bushels and the 5 year (1928-
32) average production was 26, 458,000.
Rye for all purposes was seeded on 340,000 acres last fall. On May 1, the abandonment plus acreage for purposes other than grain was estimated to be 153,000 acres or
45 percent of the area sown. This would leave 187,000 acres remaining for harvest which
is 88,000 acres more than the acreage harvested last year. The condition of the crop on
May 1 was reported as 85 percent of normal; a year ago, 78; ten year (1923-32) average,
84. A yield of 12.0 bushels per acre, and production of 2,244,000 bushels is forecast for rye.
Stocks of hay on farms were reported to be 194,000 tons or 11 percent of last
year's crop. A year ago the estimated hay on farms was 479,000 tons. The average
carry over for the five years (1928-32) was 328,000 tons.
Condition of tame hay was reported as 65 percent of normal, 11 points below a year
ago and 14 points below the ten year (1923-32) average. A considerable acreage of alfalfa and clover was injured or killed out competely by the intermittent freezing and
thawing of late winter.
Condition of pasture was reported at 73 percent of normal; last year, 70; ten year
U923-32) average, 77.
On the farms of reporters' having general farm flocks of 375 hens and pullets of
laying age, the average number per flock was 102; a year ago, 94. The percent laying
was 61; a year ago, 62.
The average number of chicks and young chicks per farm was 150; a year ago, 149.
On reporters' farms, 73.4 percent of the milk cows were being milked; last month,
"1-5; a year ago, 72.2. The daily production per cow milked was 20.0 pounds; last month,
18.6, a year ago, 19.5.
UNITED STATES
While crops and pastures may not yet be seriously handicapped over the country
Y a whole, they have had a rather poor start and still show the scars of recent droughts.
hi practically the whole eastern half of the country there has been sufficient rain and
over considerable areas the rain has been excessive this spring, the area west of the
Rockies has also had a fair amount of rain and snow, but there is a considerable belt
fetching from Montana and western North Dakota southward into Texas and New
•Hexico, where the lack of sub-soil moisture is still a threat.
A winter wheat crop of 654,295,000 bushels in 1937 is indicated by condition on
rooV *• Production in 1936 was 519,013,000 bushels and the 5-year (1928-32) average was
>-m,220,000 bushels. The present indication shows only a nominal change from that
Published a month ago.
The acreage of winter wheat remaining for harvest is estimated at 47,410,000 acres,
compared with 37,608,000 acres harvested in 1936 and the 5-year average of 39,724,000
acres.
Of the record acreage of 58,187,000 acres sown in the fall of 1936, about 17.1 percent
t,as abandoned. This is less than the 24.3 percent abandonment of last year but greater
nan the 10-year (1923-32) average of 12.6 percent.  Abandonment was generally above
erage this year in the area west of the Mississippi and below average in the remainder
01 the country.