Catfish Production ISSN: 1948-271X Released July 25, 2014, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Water Surface Acres at 63,700 Acres The water surface area to be used for catfish production in the three major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi) during July 1 through December 31, 2014, totaled 63.7 thousand acres. Acres used for foodsize fish totaled 49.8 thousand acres. Acres used for fingerling production at 8.53 thousand acres, and acres for broodfish at 1.35 thousand acres. Of the total acres in production, 4.16 thousand were scheduled to be renovated from July 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014, while acres taken out of production during the January 1, 2014, through June 30, 2014, period totaled 2.34 thousand acres. After a year absence due to sequestration, the July Catfish Production report has been reinstated. Foodsize Inventory at 119 Million Fish Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 119 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2014. The breakouts of foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2014 were: large foodsize, 1.65 million fish; medium foodsize, 21.5 million fish; and small foodsize 96.1 million fish. The three major States also had 440 thousand broodfish on hand on July 1, 2014. Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 268 million stockers on hand on July 1, 2014. The breakouts of stocker fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2014: large stockers, 152 million fish; and small stockers, 116 million fish. Producers had 511 million fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2014. Catfish Water Surface Acres Used for Production - Major States: 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Water surface acres used for production State : July 1 - December 31 : 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : acres : Alabama ................................: 16,300 Arkansas ...............................: 6,100 Mississippi ............................: 41,300 : Three State total ......................: 63,700 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Water Surface Acres by Use - Major States: 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Acres intended for utilization during July 1 - December 31 for: :--------------------------------------------------------------:Acres taken out : : : : Currently under : of production State and year : : : : or scheduled for : during : Foodsize :Fingerlings: Broodfish :--------------------------: January 1 - : : : : : New : June 30 : : : : Renovation :construction : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : acres : : 2014 : Alabama ......................: 15,700 430 75 (D) (D) 770 Arkansas .....................: 4,600 1,100 175 (D) - 700 Mississippi ..................: 29,500 7,000 1,100 3,300 (D) 870 : Three State total ............: 49,800 8,530 1,350 4,160 20 2,340 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live weight : :------------------------------------------- Size category : Number of fish : : and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2014 : 2014 : 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 1,000 pounds pounds per 1,000 fish : Large foodsize : Alabama ......................: 800 2,950 3.7 Arkansas .....................: 200 745 3.7 Mississippi ..................: 650 2,150 3.3 : Three State total ............: 1,650 5,845 3.5 : Medium foodsize ........... : Alabama ......................: 8,580 16,800 2.0 Arkansas .....................: 1,340 2,650 2.0 Mississippi ..................: 11,600 21,200 1.8 : Three State total ............: 21,520 40,650 1.9 : Small foodsize ............ : Alabama ......................: 35,500 35,500 1.0 Arkansas .....................: 10,200 10,500 1.0 Mississippi ..................: 50,400 49,800 1.0 : Three State total ............: 96,100 95,800 1.0 : All foodsize .............. : Alabama ......................: 44,880 55,250 (X) Arkansas .....................: 11,740 13,895 (X) Mississippi ..................: 62,650 73,150 (X) : Three State total ............: 119,270 142,295 (X) : Broodfish ................. : Alabama ......................: 20 84 4.2 Arkansas .....................: 60 285 4.8 Mississippi ..................: 360 1,810 5.0 : Three State total ............: 440 2,179 5.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2014 (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live weight : :------------------------------------------- Size category : Number of fish : : and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2014 : 2014 : 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 1,000 pounds pounds per 1,000 fish : Large stockers : Alabama ......................: 52,300 18,300 350 Arkansas .....................: 4,370 1,430 327 Mississippi ..................: 95,500 37,900 397 : Three State total ............: 152,170 57,630 379 : Small stockers : Alabama ......................: 22,900 2,250 98 Arkansas .....................: 7,360 696 95 Mississippi ..................: 85,700 9,850 115 : Three State total ............: 115,960 12,796 110 : Total stockers : Alabama ......................: 75,200 20,550 (X) Arkansas .....................: 11,730 2,126 (X) Mississippi ..................: 181,200 47,750 (X) : Three State total ............: 268,130 70,426 (X) : : Fingerlings and fry : Alabama ......................: 43,700 1,150 26.3 Arkansas .....................: 59,900 655 10.9 Mississippi ..................: 407,000 4,350 10.7 : Three State total ............: 510,600 6,155 12.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (X) Not applicable. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: All known catfish producers in the three published states are surveyed to collect production data. Individual NASS field offices maintain a list of all known catfish producers and use known sources of producers to update their lists. Operators are mailed a questionnaire as close as possible to July 1 and given time to respond by mail. Those that do not respond by mail are telephoned or possibly enumerated in person during the middle of July. Estimating Procedures: Sound statistical methodology is employed to derive the estimates from reported data. All data are analyzed for unusual values. Data from each operation are compared to their own past operating profile and to trends from similar operations. Missing data for large operations are estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Summary expansions account for the remaining non-response operations. NASS field offices prepare these estimates by using a combination of survey indications and historic trends. Individual State estimates are reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness. Revision policy: Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when current estimates are made. Revisions are the result of late or corrected data. Due to sequestration, NASS did not produce July catfish production estimates in 2013. Reliability: In the three published states, catfish production estimates are based on a census of all known active producers and therefore, have no sampling variability. However, estimates are subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized through strict quality controls in the data collection process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Production Estimates Broodfish: Fish kept for egg production, including males. Broodfish produce the fertilized eggs, which go to hatcheries. The most desirable size is 3 to 10 pounds or 4 to 6 years of age. Fingerlings: Fish weighing 2 to 60 pounds per 1,000 fish or 2 to 6 inches in length. Foodsize (large): Fish weighing over 3 pounds. Foodsize (medium): Fish weighing over one and one-half pounds to 3 pounds. Foodsize (small): Fish weighing over three-fourths of a pound to one and one- half pounds. Fry: Fish weighing less than 2 pounds per 1,000 fish or less than 2 inches in length. Stockers (large): Fish weighing over 180 pounds to 750 pounds per 1,000 fish. Stockers (small): Fish weighing over 60 pounds to 180 pounds per 1,000 fish or over 6 inches in length. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .................................. (202) 720-3570 Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ........... (202) 720-4447 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Cold Storage................................... (202) 720-4751 Heidi Gleich - Census of Aquaculture, Mink, Trout Production......... (202) 720-0585 Dawn Keen - Egg Products ............................................ (202) 720-4448 Michael Klamm - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .. (202) 690-3237 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs .......................................... (202) 690-8632 Joshua O'Rear - Catfish Production, Honey ........................... (202) 690-3676 Miste Salmon - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ................... (202) 720-3244 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Follow NASS" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.