September 1, 1939
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
September 1 corn prospects indicate a total production of 207,200,000 bushels which
is 20 percent more than last year and 37 percent more than (1928-37) average. Present
prospects indicate a crop 10,000,000 bushels larger than the August 1 prospects and
29,000,000 bushels more than the July 1 prospect. If the 207,200,000 bushels are finally
harvested it will be a crop larger than any year on record back to 1866 with the exception
of 6 years when acreages -were near the 5,000,000 mark. The yield per acre is now estimated at 50 bushels per acre which is 5 bushels more than any year on record. The fact
that corn has been from 7 to 10 days in advance of the season and accompanied by hot
dry weather during the latter part of August, most of the corn crop will be safe from
frost damage long before the average frost date.
Oats prospects have continued to improve throughout the season. The total production is now forecast at 29,400,000 bushels which is 14 percent less than last year's crop
and 40 percent less than average. The yield per acre is now estimated at 25 bushels per
acre. Some damage resulted from rains while the oats were still in the shock but
nevertheless the yield per acre is somewhat more than earlier expectations.
The barley crop at 704,000 bushels is only 4 percent less than average but about 41
percent more than last year's crop. The yield per acre at 22 bushels is also somewhat
more than earlier prospects indicated.
The buckwheat acreage is now estimated at 11,000 compared with 14,000 acres in
1938. Present prospects indicate a crop of 154,000 bushels compared with 196,000 bushels
lot year and an average crop of 215,000 bushels.
The acreage of soybeans to be harvested for beans is estimated at 637,000 compared
with 431,000 acres last year. Present prospects are for a yield of 20 bushels per acre
which indicates a crop of 12,740,000 bushels. This compares with 8,404,000 bushels last
year and 3,162,000 bushels for the years 1928-37. The tremendous increase in the indi-
ated production over previous years is the result of a marked increase in the acreage
and accompanied by the highest yield per acre on record. Soybean fields are relatively
me of weeds this year and the beans are rapidly reaching maturity. There has been a
noticeable increase in the acreage of soybeans planted in rows this year.
Tobacco production, most of which is burley, is forecast at 10,156,000 pounds which is
6 percent more than last year's crop and 4 percent less than average. The major portion
«the crop had been harvested before September 1 and under weather conditions favorable to harvesting and curing tobacco.
Potato production at 4,940,000 bushels is the same as last year's production. The yield
P« acre is now estimated at 95 bushels which is 8 bushels more than average and the
same as last year.
Hay prospects have continued to improve throughout the season. The crop is now
jrecast at 2,653,000 tons which is 6 percent less than last year but 29 percent more
]!?T^ge' The yieId Per acre is estimated at 1.33 tons compared with an average of
If if i mcrease in yield per acre is partly caused by an increase in the yield per acre
"J alfalfa and clover and timothy hay, but also largely the result of an increased propor-
'■^ of the higher yielding hays such as soybeans and alfalfa. The alfalfa yield per
^e at 1.85 tons indicates a crop of 849,000 tons compared with 801,000 tons last year
:nQ an average crop of 468,000 tons. The prospective clover and timothy hay produc-
™ at 1,049,000 tons is practically the same as average but is 27 percent less than
ast year's large crop. Weather conditions have been very favorable for harvesting
*°yoean hay.