united states department of agei culture 
bureau 0? agricultural economics 
v/ashing-ton, d. c. 
Kay 1952 . 
FARM PRODUCTION, FABM DISPOSITION AND VALUE 
0? FIELD AND SEED CROPS, 1950 AN J 1951 
This report, one of a series dealing with farm disposition of major farm pro- 
ducts, presents estimates of farm disposition of grains, hay, certain seeds, potatoes 
and a few other field crops. Estimated sales from 1950 &&& 1951 crops and portions' 
of production used or to "be used for designated purposes on farms where grown are 
shown in this report. Total estimated production of each' commodity is that published 
in the December 1951 Annual Summary of Crop Production. Quantities shown as fed to 
livestock and poultry represent that part of the crop which was fed only on the 
farms that produced it; they are not the quantities ultimately used for livestock • 
feeding. Quantities of principal feed crops sold and used in farm households, if 
any, are. estimated directly and the residual — production less household use and 
sales — ■ is shown as used for feed and seed. Grain purchased for feed and seed does 
not enter into these feed grain estimates. Some of the ijroducts shown as "sold" from 
farms are used for feed or seed on other farms in the same or other States. For 
certain crops total seed requirements are shown, and for some a further breakdown is 
made to show home grown seed. The difference between total seed and home grown seed 
would thus represent purchased seed which is included in the Quantity sold. 
For certain commodities, of which there is virtually no farm use, the entire 
production is shown as sales. Sal.es of some commodities are estimated directly from, 
the analysis of surveys in which farmers report production and sales. For others 
special disposition inquiries are made in which farmers report their production of 
each commodity a&d the quantities used on their farms for each purpose. Whenever 
possible, sales have been checked by enumerations, such as reports of processors, or 
by records of handlings and shipments by rail, trucks and boats. 
Season average prices are, in most cases, the estimated mid-month prices 
received by farmers, weighted by estimated quantities sold in each month of the crop 
marketing season. The marketing season is shown below the table for each crop. 
Season average prices for popcorn, broomcorn, sugarcane for sirup, maple products, 
hops, and most seeds are based primarily upon special survey data. For sugarcane 
sirup (except Louisiana) and sorghum sirup, the prices are those reported on 
December 1 of each year. Price estimating procedure makes allowance for loans 
unredeemed at the end of the crop season and for quantities bought by the Government 
under purchase agreements when such transactions are of significant volume. 
These season average prices for quantities sold are used also to evaluate total 
quantities produced, and quantities used on farms. Value of sales is thus the unit 
price applied to quantity sold during the marketing year. In like manner value of 
production and of home consumption are computed by applying the season average price 
to the quantity produced or used. These value estimates should not be confused with 
cash receipts which relate to the calendar year irrespective of the year of 
production. 
First in the series of farm disposition reports for 1950 and- 1951 crops was the 
report for fruits and tree nuts published in January 1952. Estimates for cotton and 
cottonseed will appear in the Cotton Report of May 8; those for tobacco appear in 
the May 10, 1952 issue of Crop Production; estimates for sugar beets, and sugarcane 
are scheduled for the June 10 issue of Crop Production. Reports covering farm 
disposition of turkeys, chickens, and eggs, milk and meat animals were issued 
between April 9 and 29, 1952. In all of the series except fruit and tree nuts, the 
estimates of disposition of 1950 and 1951 production are on the revised level, 
reflecting revisions to the bench mark furnished by the 1950 Agricultural Census and 
other related data. Revisions of estimates of farm disposition and value of all 
these commodities for the 19^^4-9 period will be published as rapidly as possible 
during 1952^ 
