Aq 2 (7-06) Catfish Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 26, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Catfish Production" call John Lange at (202) 720-0585, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Foodfish Inventory Numbers Down Slightly From Year Ago Levels Commercial catfish operations in the four major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) had 291 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2006, down slightly from the July 1, 2005 total of 292 million. The breakouts of foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2006, with their respective percent change from the previous year were: large foodsize, 7.13 million, down 1 percent; medium foodsize, 73.7 million, up 2 percent; and small foodsize, 210 million, down 1 percent. The four major States also had 930 thousand broodfish on hand on July 1, 2006, down 10 percent from last year's 1.03 million. The number of large stockers on hand on July 1, 2006, totaled 301 million fish, up 9 percent from the 275 million fish on hand a year ago. There were 336 million small stockers, up 11 percent from last year. Producers had 1.46 billion fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2006, up slightly from the 1.45 billion on hand July 1, 2005. Live weight, at 23.2 million pounds, was up 50 percent from the 15.5 million pounds a year ago. Water Acres Down 1 Percent The water surface area to be used for catfish production during July 1 through December 31, 2006, totaled 156 thousand acres, down 1 percent from a year ago. Acres used for foodsize fish totaled 124 thousand acres, down 2 percent from July 2005. Acres for broodfish increased 1 percent to 3.86 thousand acres, and acres used for fingerling production increased 3 percent to 23.4 thousand acres. Acres taken out of production during the January 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006 period totaled 4.48 thousand, while 5.72 thousand acres of the total in production were scheduled to be renovated from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006. The total number of operations on July 1, 2006 in the four major states was 753, down 2 percent from the year ago total of 766. Catfish: Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres, Used for Production, 2005-2006, by State and United States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of : Water Surface Acres : Operations : Used for Production State : on Jul 1 : During Jul 1 - Dec 31 :--------------------------------------------------------------- : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 1/ : 2006 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Number ----- -------- Acres -------- : AL : 210 217 23,700 24,300 AR : 124 132 29,000 30,000 LA : 32 24 6,900 5,700 MS : 400 380 98,000 96,000 : Four State : Total : 766 753 157,600 156,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish Production: Water Surface Acre Usage, by State and United States, 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Acres Intended for Utilization During Jul 1-Dec 31 for- : :--------------------------------------------------------:Acres Taken : : : : Currently Under : Out of State : : : : or Scheduled for - : Production : Foodsize :Fingerlings:Broodfish:-----------------------: During : : : : : New :Jan 1-Jun 30 : : : :Renovation:Construction: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2005 1/ : : AL : 21,600 1,100 330 660 95 450 AR : 23,500 4,500 570 560 330 670 LA : 5,600 1,100 125 670 * 420 MS : 76,300 16,000 2,800 3,600 400 4,400 : Four State: Total : 127,000 22,700 3,825 5,490 * 5,940 : 2006 : : AL : 21,800 1,200 400 950 330 410 AR : 24,500 4,100 560 630 * 940 LA : 4,900 600 100 140 730 MS : 73,000 17,500 2,800 4,000 200 2,400 : Four State: Total : 124,200 23,400 3,860 5,720 * 4,480 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. *Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight Size Category : of :-------------------------------------- and : Fish : Total : Average per Fish State :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2005 1/ : 2006 : 2005 1/ : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----1,000---- 1,000 Pounds ----Pounds---- : Large Foodsize : : AL : 2,300 3,400 8,200 11,700 3.6 3.4 AR : 1,350 1,230 5,000 4,500 3.7 3.7 LA : 660 195 2,400 670 3.6 3.4 MS : 2,900 2,300 9,800 8,000 3.4 3.5 : Four State : Total : 7,210 7,125 25,400 24,870 3.5 3.5 : : Medium Foodsize : : AL : 22,000 18,100 42,900 34,100 2.0 1.9 AR : 15,500 13,200 29,700 25,600 1.9 1.9 LA : 3,800 1,860 7,200 3,250 1.9 1.7 MS : 31,000 40,500 57,000 73,500 1.8 1.8 : Four State : Total : 72,300 73,660 136,800 136,450 1.9 1.9 : : Small Foodsize : : AL : 42,500 47,200 42,400 44,900 1.0 1.0 AR : 35,400 34,900 35,900 34,800 1.0 1.0 LA : 6,100 3,950 5,450 3,450 0.9 0.9 MS : 128,000 124,000 126,000 125,000 1.0 1.0 : Four State : Total : 212,000 210,050 209,750 208,150 1.0 1.0 : : Total Foodsize : : AL : 66,800 68,700 93,500 90,700 AR : 52,250 49,330 70,600 64,900 LA : 10,560 6,005 15,050 7,370 MS : 161,900 166,800 192,800 206,500 : Four State : Total : 291,510 290,835 371,950 369,470 : : Broodfish : : AL : 100 80 460 360 4.6 4.5 AR : 120 130 580 590 4.8 4.5 LA : 29 20 115 100 4.0 5.0 MS : 780 700 3,700 3,300 4.7 4.7 : Four State : Total : 1,029 930 4,855 4,350 4.7 4.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2005-2006 (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight : of :-------------------------------------- Size Category : Fish : Total : Average and : : : per 1,000 Fish State :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 1/ : 2006 : 2005 1/ : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----1,000---- 1,000 Pounds ----Pounds---- : Large Stockers : : AL : 56,800 72,100 19,600 26,900 345 373 AR : 32,400 37,500 13,900 12,000 429 320 LA : 3,960 2,290 1,480 1,140 374 498 MS : 182,000 189,000 77,000 76,600 423 405 : Four State : Total : 275,160 300,890 111,980 116,640 407 388 : : Small Stockers : : AL : 64,500 67,700 7,500 7,000 116 103 AR : 34,900 60,700 3,540 5,830 101 96.0 LA : 6,820 3,420 720 315 106 92.1 MS : 197,000 204,000 19,000 19,700 96.4 96.6 : Four State : Total : 303,220 335,820 30,760 32,845 101 97.8 : : Total Stockers : : AL : 121,300 139,800 27,100 33,900 AR : 67,300 98,200 17,440 17,830 LA : 10,780 5,710 2,200 1,455 MS : 379,000 393,000 96,000 96,300 : Four State : Total : 578,380 636,710 142,740 149,485 : : Fingerlings : and Fry : : AL : 48,000 74,000 900 1,100 18.8 14.9 AR : 342,000 299,000 3,600 5,000 10.5 16.7 LA : 98,000 34,100 484 277 4.9 8.1 MS : 962,0001,050,000 10,500 16,800 10.9 16.0 : Four State : Total :1,450,0001,457,100 15,484 23,177 10.7 15.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish: Round Weight Processed, United States, by Month, 1997-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : May : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : 1997 : 42,409 45,067 48,431 45,721 43,409 42,282 1998 : 46,723 47,606 53,761 49,393 45,218 46,244 1999 : 48,723 48,891 56,310 46,830 47,703 48,445 2000 : 50,552 50,942 56,856 48,781 48,424 48,011 2001 : 46,999 50,257 57,766 52,478 51,736 47,883 2002 : 52,551 52,856 58,340 50,694 52,902 49,450 2003 : 55,523 55,461 65,007 57,105 58,424 52,441 2004 : 53,849 54,173 60,272 53,896 52,324 50,155 2005 : 53,856 51,720 57,117 50,306 51,552 49,626 2006 : 49,666 49,145 56,315 43,185 42,865 41,214 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jul : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : 1997 : 43,376 44,154 43,472 46,275 40,137 40,216 524,949 1998 : 46,383 47,739 46,579 47,904 43,224 43,581 564,355 1999 : 50,074 50,372 50,414 52,407 48,118 48,341 596,628 2000 : 49,023 53,204 49,422 51,412 45,535 41,441 593,603 2001 : 47,829 51,690 49,699 52,264 44,670 43,837 597,108 2002 : 52,363 54,383 53,366 56,576 50,072 47,048 630,601 2003 : 54,089 54,153 51,885 57,652 51,246 48,518 661,504 2004 : 51,055 53,295 51,329 52,396 49,536 48,170 630,450 2005 : 47,241 50,686 47,151 49,034 46,674 45,707 600,670 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Prices Paid to Producers by Processors, United States, by Month, 1997-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : May : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dollars per Pound : 1997 : 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.72 1998 : 0.69 0.73 0.78 0.79 0.79 0.78 1999 : 0.703 0.714 0.732 0.756 0.777 0.775 2000 : 0.744 0.788 0.789 0.789 0.785 0.786 2001 : 0.693 0.696 0.697 0.694 0.687 0.669 2002 : 0.549 0.555 0.565 0.561 0.574 0.588 2003 : 0.529 0.544 0.585 0.630 0.618 0.586 2004 : 0.668 0.703 0.723 0.728 0.720 0.689 2005 : 0.725 0.731 0.733 0.725 0.722 0.721 2006 : 0.726 0.729 0.745 0.785 0.796 0.807 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Annual : Jul : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dollars per Pound : 1997 : 0.71 0.70 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.712 1998 : 0.76 0.74 0.73 0.71 0.70 0.70 0.743 1999 : 0.768 0.743 0.728 0.716 0.713 0.716 0.737 2000 : 0.760 0.741 0.727 0.710 0.696 0.682 0.751 2001 : 0.656 0.624 0.610 0.596 0.566 0.554 0.647 2002 : 0.590 0.582 0.576 0.568 0.560 0.544 0.568 2003 : 0.564 0.552 0.560 0.567 0.610 0.629 0.581 2004 : 0.682 0.683 0.683 0.695 0.689 0.690 0.697 2005 : 0.723 0.724 0.724 0.724 0.724 0.726 0.725 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Price of fish delivered to processing plant door. Price includes charges for services provided by the processing plant, but does not include any adjustments based on year-end settlements. Methodology and Definitions Survey Procedures: All known catfish operators were contacted during the first half of July by mail, telephone, and personal interview. Estimation Procedures: Sound statistical methodology was employed to derive the estimates from reported data. All data were analyzed for unusual values. Data from each operation were compared to their own past operating profile and to trends of similar operations. Data for missing operations were estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Reliability: Production estimates are based on a census of all known active producers and, therefore, have no sampling variability. However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and 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. Definitions: 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. Large foodsize - Fish weighing over 3 pounds. Medium foodsize - Fish weighing over one and one-half pounds to 3 pounds. Small foodsize - Fish weighing over three-fourths pound to one and one-half pounds. Large stockers - Fish weighing over 180 pounds to 750 pounds per 1,000 fish. Small stockers - Fish weighing over 60 pounds to 180 pounds per 1,000 fish. Fingerlings/fry - Fish weighing 60 pounds per 1,000 fish and less. Prices paid to producers by processors - Prices paid by processors for fish delivered to the processing plant door. The prices include charges for any services provided by the processing plant, such as seining and hauling, but do not include any adjustments based on year-end settlements. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch(202) 720-3570 Darin Jantzi, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section(202) 720-3570 David Colwell - Cold Storage(202) 720-8784 Fleming Gibson - Egg Products, Poultry Slaughter, Catfish Processing, Mink(202) 690-3237 John Lange - Turkeys Raised, Turkey Hatchery, Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture. . . . .(202) 720-0585 Sharyn Lavender - Layers, Eggs(202) 720-3244 Jody Roberts - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey (202) 690-8632 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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