Catfish Production ISSN: 1948-271X Released July 16, 2025, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Water Surface Acres Down 8 Percent 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, 2025, totaled 42,300 acres, down 8 percent from a year ago. Acres used for Foodsize fish totaled 34,100, down 9 percent from the same time period in 2024. Acres used for Fingerling production at 4,965 acres, are down 9 percent, and acres for Broodfish at 1,770 acres, are up 4 percent. Of the total acres in production, 1,105 acres were scheduled to be renovated from July 1 to December 31, 2025 compared with 1,825 acres taken out of production during the period of January 1 through June 30, 2025. Foodsize Inventory Down 14 Percent Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 93.5 million Foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2025, down 14 percent from July 1, 2024. The breakouts of Foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2025, with their respective percent change from the previous year were: Large foodsize at 2.51 million fish, down 21 percent; Medium foodsize at 24.0 million fish, down 39 percent; and Small foodsize at 67.0 million fish, up slightly. The three major Catfish producing States also had 775,000 Broodfish on hand on July 1, 2025, down 31 percent from last year's 1.12 million Broodfish. Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 183 million Stockers on hand on July 1, 2025, down 1 percent from the July 1, 2024 total of 184 million Stockers. The breakouts of Stocker fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2025, with their respective change from the previous year were: Large stockers at 84.8 million fish, down 4 percent from the previous year and Small stockers at 97.8 million fish, up 2 percent from last year. Producers had 243 million Fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2025, down 28 percent from July 1, 2024. Water Surface Acres Used for Production - Major States: 2024 and 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Water surface acres used for production July 1 - December 31 State : : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 2024 : 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : acres : Alabama ................................: 12,800 10,500 Arkansas ...............................: 3,400 3,700 Mississippi ............................: 29,900 28,100 : 3 State total ..........................: 46,100 42,300 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catfish Water Surface Acres by Use - Major States: 2024 and 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Acres intended for utilization during July 1 - December 31 for: :--------------------------------------------------------------:Acres taken out : : : : Currently under : of production Year and State : : : : or scheduled for : during : Foodsize :Fingerlings: Broodfish :--------------------------: January 1 - : : : : : New : June 30 : : : : Renovation :construction : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : acres : : 2024 : Alabama ......................: 12,300 310 (D) 115 (D) (D) Arkansas .....................: 2,300 650 (D) 85 - (D) Mississippi ..................: 23,000 4,500 1,500 1,000 (D) 1,800 : 3 State total ................: 37,600 5,460 1,710 1,200 240 2,870 : 2025 : Alabama ......................: 10,300 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .....................: 2,400 (D) (D) (D) - (D) Mississippi ..................: 21,400 4,200 1,500 890 (D) 490 : 3 State total ................: 34,100 4,965 1,770 1,105 35 1,825 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2024 and 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :------------------------------------------------------- : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ---- 1,000 ---- 1,000 pounds pounds per fish : Large foodsize : Alabama ..............: 1,260 770 4,900 2,900 3.9 3.8 Arkansas .............: 370 420 1,400 1,500 3.8 3.6 Mississippi ..........: 1,530 1,320 5,400 4,750 3.5 3.6 : 3 State total ........: 3,160 2,510 11,700 9,150 3.7 3.6 : Medium foodsize : Alabama ..............: 10,300 5,470 20,900 10,200 2.0 1.9 Arkansas .............: 2,350 2,570 4,700 5,300 2.0 2.1 Mississippi ..........: 26,600 16,000 51,900 29,500 2.0 1.8 : 3 State total ........: 39,250 24,040 77,500 45,000 2.0 1.9 : Small foodsize : Alabama ..............: 20,600 15,700 19,700 14,200 1.0 0.9 Arkansas .............: 5,300 5,150 5,300 5,150 1.0 1.0 Mississippi ..........: 40,900 46,100 40,900 44,700 1.0 1.0 : 3 State total ........: 66,800 66,950 65,900 64,050 1.0 1.0 : Total foodsize : Alabama ..............: 32,160 21,940 45,500 27,300 (X) (X) Arkansas .............: 8,020 8,140 11,400 11,950 (X) (X) Mississippi ..........: 69,030 63,420 98,200 78,950 (X) (X) : 3 State total ........:109,210 93,500 155,100 118,200 (X) (X) : Broodfish : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 1,030 700 4,500 4,250 4.4 6.1 : 3 State total ........: 1,120 775 4,916 4,525 4.4 5.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2024 and 2025 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 : 2024 : 2025 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- 1,000 pounds pounds per 1,000 fish : Large stockers : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 57,900 50,200 23,500 22,900 406 456 : 3 State total ........: 88,550 84,800 37,000 36,600 418 432 : Small stockers : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 62,900 53,500 6,400 6,650 102 124 : 3 State total ........: 95,460 97,840 10,410 11,790 109 121 : Total stockers : Alabama ..............: 48,500 61,500 12,650 13,750 (X) (X) Arkansas .............: 14,710 17,440 4,860 5,090 (X) (X) Mississippi ..........: 120,800 103,700 29,900 29,550 (X) (X) : 3 State total ........: 184,010 182,640 47,410 48,390 (X) (X) : Fingerlings and fry : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 280,000 183,000 6,200 2,300 22.1 12.6 : 3 State total ........: 337,110 242,930 7,525 3,208 22.3 13.2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 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. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: All known catfish producers in the three published States are surveyed to collect production data. Individual NASS regional 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 regional 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. 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. 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@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch................................................ (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter............................................. (202) 690-8632 Tiffany Byrne - Dairy Products...................................................... (651) 440-7789 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed................................................. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production......................................................... (202) 720-3278 Fatema Haque - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink, Trout........... (202) 690-3237 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs...................................................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats.. (202) 720-4448 Shulonda Shaw - Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage................... (202) 720-3240 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs......................................................... (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery................................. (202) 720-6147 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: www.nass.usda.gov. The national specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Cornell's Mann Library website houses NASS's and other agency's archived reports at https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To receive the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the website and subscribe to the reports. 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