Page [1]

STATE DOCUMENT
WIS. LEG. REF. LIBRARY
WISCONSIN
CROP AND LIVESTOCK REPORTER
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE     WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Bureau of Agricultural Economics         Division of Agricultural Statistics
Federal-State Crop Reporting Service
Walter H. Ebling,       C. D. Caparoon,        Emery C. Wilcox,         Cecil
W. Estes
Agricultural Statistlelanx
Vol. XXIX, No. 8           State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin           August
1950
IN THIS ISSUE
August Crop Report
Production prospects for many
Wisconsin crops improved dur-
ing July. Grain crops are turn-
ing out better than expected,
and weather conditions h a v e
been favorable for hay. Pas-
tures are much better than a
year ago. The corn crop did not
make the expected progress in
July and weather conditions in
August and September will be
important in determining final
production. The nation is also
having a good crop year, and
feed supplies are expected to be
adequate this winter.
Milk Production
For the first 7 months of 1950
milk production on Wisconsin
farms has been slightly below
last year, but for the nation
milk production this year has
been a little higher. In July
milk production in Wisconsin
and nationally was higher than
in July 1949.
Egg Production
Wisconsin farm flocks pro-
duced more eggs in July than
a year earlier although there
were fewer layers on farms.
There were 5 percent more lay-
ers in the nation's farm flocks
in July than a year earlier and
egg production was up 7 per-
cent,
Prices Farmers Receive and
Pay
The general level of Wiscon-
sin farm prices increased from
June to July and was above the
July 1949 average. Increases in
farm product prices are also
shown for the nation.
Current Trends
Cold storage holdings of
creamery butter and cheese are
much larger than a year ago
while sharp decreases are re-
ported f o r condensed, evapo-
rated, and powdered milk stocks.
Total agricultural income
showed a slight increase from
May to June but is below a year
ago. Non-agricultural incomes
are much above last year.
Special News Items (Page 4)
Baby Chicks Purchased
Hay Harvesting Late
IN spite of a delayed season and ex-
cessive rains in some areas during
July, crop prospects in Wisconsin have
improved during the past month.
While the early hay c'rops were re-
duced by unfavorable early season
weather, the June and July rains have
improved production of second cut-
tings of alfalfa and some other hay.
Pastures, likewise, h a v e improved
with the rains and on August 1 were
88 percent of normal compared with
78 percent a year ago and an average
for that date of 77 percent.
Grain crops also are turning out
better than estimated earlier. The
yield of oats for Wisconsin is now re-
ported at 46 bushels per acre, which
is up 2 bushels over the estimate of
last month. Barley yields have like-
wise risen and are now estimated at
39.5 bushels per acre, which is up a
half bushel from last month. Yields
of wheat are also turning out some-
what better t h a n was estimated
earlier.
One of the uncertain items in the
crop picture this year is the corn
crop. It has been retarded by cool,
wet weather, especially in some of
the areas where rainfall in July was
much above normal. However, in most
counties the corn crop has a good
color and with the abundant moisture
supplies. August and early Septem-
ber will be important in determining
corn production.
Other crops are making varied re-
turns this year. Potato yields are un-
usually high. The outlook for potato
production is excellent in Wisconsin
and an all-time high yield per acre
is in prospect. The tobacco crop has
been a little slow in getting under-
way, but has shown improvement re-
cently. Canning crops are making
varied progress. Peas were delayed
in harvesting but have done rather
well. The sweet corn crop is sharply
cut in acreage and yield prospects are
much below last year. Most other
truck crops, except cabbage and on-
ions, have lower yield prospects than
last year. Fruit crops vary, cherry
and apple production being somewhat
larger than last year, but the cran-
berry crop is late and uncertain and
production may well be below that of
a year ago.
United States Crops
The country as a whole in spite of
cool and rainy weather which delayed
harvesting is having another good
crop year. Generally July was a favor-
able month for crop progress and even
the corn crop for the country as a
whole has above average prospects.
Grain production for the nation
varies. The feed grains-oats and
Weather Summary, July 1950
Station
Duluth
Spooner
Park Falls
Rhinelande
Wausau-
Marinette
Escanaba
Minneapoli
Eau Claire.
La Crosse
Hancock-
Oshkosh--
Green Bay.
Manitowoc
Dubuque
Madison.-.
Beloit-
Milwaukee
Average fo1
18 Stations
Temperature
Degrees Fahrenheit
a            e
E             0
:9           la
5
42
39
43
44
47
42
46
51
50
47
47
45
50
50
Si
48
48
46.7
89
88
86
89
90
90
86
90
92
89
88
90
89
89
89
88
91
89
8q.a
.
.0
63.9
69.1
67.2
67 1
68.4
71 .1
66.1
72.3
71 .!
72.1
71 .3
71.7
70.A
68.6
74.1
72.1
72. f
68.2
66.1
a
C2:
62.0
64.7
63.5
64.0
67.C
67.4
63.5
70.5
70.2
69.4
67.8
68.9
66.4
66.0
72.6
69.2
70.4
68.
67.4
Precrpitation
inches
*59
-. z
3.48 3.76 +3.68
4.20 3.96 +3.22
4.42 4.50 +1. 54
4.69 4.41 +2.32
3.54 4.07
4.1 3.37  0.83
5.20 :.33 +1.10
3.74 3.73 -2.87
5.64 3.59 -0. 77
6.07 3.90 +6.15
6.23 3.45 + 1.66
S.98 3.42 +0.07
6.50 3.46 +2.61
5.02 3.50 -0.74
4.69 3.94 +5.32
10.41 3.88 +10.86
5.46 3 58~
6.07 2.83 +5.33
5.30 3. 70 +2.421
I Average for 16 stations;
barley-are making relatively large
crops compared with last year. Rye
production is up about 20 percent
from a year ago, but still 30 percent
under average. The winter wheat crop
is down nearly 18 percent from the
big production of last year, and other
types of wheat will produce at about
last year's level.
Nationally the hay crop is a large
one, being about 6 percent above 1949
and nearly 5 percent above average.
Pastures, too, have responded to the
rains and cool weather and they are
the best for this date in several years.
Such crops as potatoes and tobacco
are now expected to produce close
to last year's output in spite of some
reduction in acreage.
Milk Production
An estimated 1,543 million pounds
of milk was produced on Wisconsin
farms during July and 11,827 million
pounds was produced in the country
as a whole. Wisconsin's July total
was 11,/2 percent above July 1949 and
6 percent above the 1939-48 average
for the month. For the nation the
production in July was 2 percent
above that of the same month in the
previous year and 3 percent higher
than the 10-year average for July.
The cumulative total for the first
seven months shows W i s c o n s i n
slightly below last year but the
United States as a whole 2 percent
above 1949.
-
l
I _, _ _