Aq 2 (7-99) Catfish Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 30, 1999, 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. Foodsize Inventory Numbers Up 16 Percent Commercial catfish operations in the four major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) had 302 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 1999, up 16 percent from the July 1, 1998, total of 262 million. Live weight totaled 355 million pounds for all foodsize fish, 14 percent above July 1 a year ago. The breakout of foodsize fish inventory numbers, on July 1, 1999, with percent change from the previous year are: large foodsize, 4.99 million, up 5 percent; medium foodsize, 56.8 million, down 1 percent; and small foodsize, 241 million, up 21 percent. The four major States also had 1.16 million broodfish on hand on July 1, 1999, up 4 percent from last year's 1.12 million. Live weight totaled 5.71 million pounds for broodfish, up 3 percent from July 1, 1998. The number of stockers on hand on July 1, 1999, totaled 776 million fish, up 24 percent from the 623 million fish on hand a year ago. Of the total number of stockers on hand, 361 million were large stockers, up 24 percent from the previous year. The remaining 414 million were small stockers, up 25 percent. Live weight totaled 185 million pounds for all stockers, 17 percent above July 1 last year. Producers had 1.77 billion fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 1999, up 8 percent from the 1.63 billion fingerlings and fry on hand July 1, 1998. Live weight, at 24.0 million pounds, was up 16 percent from the 20.8 million pounds a year ago. Water Acres Up 5 Percent The water surface area to be used for catfish production during July 1 through December 31, 1999, totaled 172,200 acres, up 5 percent from a year ago total of 164,600 acres. Of the total acres, 4,660 acres are to be renovated during the period from July 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999. Acres used for broodfish amounted to 5,350; foodsize 138,700; and fingerlings 24,600. An additional 3,040 acres are under construction or expected to be constructed and in use by January 1, 2000. During the January 1, 1999 through June 30, 1999 period, 2,580 acres were taken out of production. The total number of operations on July 1, 1999, in the four major states was 895, up 7 percent from the year ago total of 838. Note: The next release of "Catfish Production" is tentatively scheduled for February 3, 2000, pending input received from the June 8, 1999, Federal Register notice soliciting comments regarding the NASS Aquaculture program. The "Catfish Production" release sheduled for October 28, 1999, is tentatively canceled. Catfish: Number of Operations by State July 1 and Water Surface Area by State Jul 1 - Dec 31 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Operations : Total Water Surface Area State :------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 1 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Number ------ --------- Acres --------- : AL : 225 255 21,400 22,000 AR : 155 145 27,000 28,000 LA : 98 105 13,200 14,200 MS : 360 390 103,000 108,000 : Total : 838 895 164,600 172,200 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Water Surface Area Being Renovated, Under Construction, Used for Broodfish, Foodsize, and Fingerling Production by State, Jul 1-Dec 31, 1998, Taken Out of Production by State, Jan 1-Jun 30, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July 1-December 31 :Jan 1-Jun 30 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : Used : Used : Used : Taken Out : Being : Under : For : For : For : of : Renovated :Construction :Broodfish: Foodsize :Fingerlings: Production -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : AL : 510 350 560 18,300 1,900 290 AR : 950 500 680 22,800 4,000 350 LA : 160 80 290 11,500 1,300 800 MS : 2,000 2,000 4,000 84,000 14,000 2,000 : Total : 3,620 2,930 5,530 136,600 21,200 3,440 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Water Surface Area Being Renovated, Under Construction, Used for Broodfish, Foodsize, and Fingerling Production by State, Jul 1-Dec 31, 1999, Taken Out of Production by State, Jan 1-Jun 30, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : July 1-December 31 :Jan 1-Jun 30 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State : : : Used : Used : Used : Taken Out : Being : Under : For : For : For : of : Renovated :Construction :Broodfish: Foodsize :Fingerlings: Production -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : AL : 460 320 580 19,100 2,000 350 AR : 800 550 800 21,500 6,000 400 LA : 400 70 170 12,100 1,600 630 MS : 3,000 2,100 3,800 86,000 15,000 1,200 : Total : 4,660 3,040 5,350 138,700 24,600 2,580 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Number and Live Weight of Broodfish by State, July 1, 1998-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight State :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------- 1,000 -------- ----- 1,000 Pounds ---- : AL : 110 125 566 670 AR : 141 145 615 760 LA : 31 55 185 280 MS : 836 835 4,172 4,000 : Total : 1,118 1,160 5,538 5,710 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Number and Live Weight of Foodsize Fish by Size, State, and Total, July 1, 1998-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight State :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Large 1/ : --------- 1,000 --------- ------ 1,000 Pounds ----- : AL : 886 1,180 2,988 3,840 AR : 970 1,110 3,310 3,825 LA : 550 490 1,860 1,580 MS : 2,348 2,210 7,616 7,310 : Total : 4,754 4,990 15,774 16,555 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Medium 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- AL : 9,403 13,200 18,714 25,200 AR : 9,525 11,800 18,020 21,500 LA : 4,095 7,360 8,070 14,800 MS : 34,377 24,400 59,789 43,200 : Total : 57,400 56,760 104,593 104,700 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Small 3/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- AL : 26,720 35,400 25,655 36,200 AR : 31,400 32,850 30,600 32,800 LA : 11,330 17,800 11,050 16,750 MS : 130,042 154,500 123,410 147,500 : Total : 199,492 240,550 190,715 233,250 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- AL : 37,009 49,780 47,357 65,240 AR : 41,895 45,760 51,930 58,125 LA : 15,975 25,650 20,980 33,130 MS : 166,767 181,110 190,815 198,010 : Total : 261,646 302,300 311,082 354,505 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Over three lbs. 2/ Over one and one-half lbs. to three lbs. 3/ Over three-fourths lb. to one and one-half lbs. Catfish: Number and Live Weight of Stockers by Size, State, and Total, July 1, 1998-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight State :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Large 1/ : --------- 1,000 --------- ------ 1,000 Pounds ----- : AL : 27,245 33,700 11,943 14,800 AR : 38,300 32,400 16,000 13,800 LA : 16,230 26,300 6,280 10,750 MS : 210,035 268,900 92,187 104,300 : Total : 291,810 361,300 126,410 143,650 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Small 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- AL : 23,488 22,900 2,503 2,520 AR : 76,750 84,200 6,600 8,920 LA : 23,135 23,300 2,265 2,550 MS : 207,913 284,000 20,021 27,600 : Total : 331,286 414,400 31,389 41,590 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- AL : 50,733 56,600 14,446 17,320 AR : 115,050 116,600 22,600 22,720 LA : 39,365 49,600 8,545 13,300 MS : 417,948 552,900 112,208 131,900 : Total : 623,096 775,700 157,799 185,240 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Over 180 lbs./1,000 to 750 lbs/1,000. 2/ Over 60 lbs./1,000 to 180 lbs/1,000. Catfish: Number and Live Weight of Fingerlings and Fry by State, July 1, 1998-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight State :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 ---------- ----- 1,000 Pounds ----- : AL : 78,158 95,200 1,118 1,220 AR : 258,500 325,000 3,560 4,800 LA : 99,160 72,500 830 1,165 MS : 1,193,366 1,273,000 15,251 16,800 : Total : 1,629,184 1,765,700 20,759 23,985 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 60 lbs/1,000 or less. Catfish: Round Weight Processed by Month, United States, 1992-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : May : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : 1992 : 36,200 39,228 45,048 41,177 39,111 36,813 1993 : 40,327 40,277 43,521 39,920 37,030 35,496 1994 : 36,714 35,035 40,446 34,494 34,163 34,595 1995 : 38,807 38,515 42,200 36,588 37,030 36,047 1996 : 38,475 38,004 46,376 38,557 39,517 36,752 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 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jul : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : 1992 : 36,128 37,958 37,857 39,212 35,073 33,562 457,367 1993 : 37,086 37,706 37,072 39,472 36,557 34,549 459,013 1994 : 35,901 39,813 38,716 39,072 36,054 34,266 439,269 1995 : 35,800 38,827 37,634 39,456 34,119 31,863 446,886 1996 : 39,025 40,463 38,807 42,070 37,203 36,874 472,123 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Prices Paid To Producers by Month, United States, 1992-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : May : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dollars per Pound : 1992 : 0.53 0.56 0.60 0.63 0.63 0.61 1993 : 0.63 0.67 0.70 0.71 0.72 0.72 1994 : 0.74 0.77 0.79 0.80 0.80 0.80 1995 : 0.78 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 1996 : 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.79 0.79 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 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jul : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec :Ann. Avg. :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dollars per Pound : 1992 : 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.61 0.62 0.63 0.598 1993 : 0.72 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.709 1994 : 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.77 0.77 0.77 0.784 1995 : 0.79 0.79 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.786 1996 : 0.79 0.78 0.77 0.76 0.75 0.73 0.773 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Price of fish delivered to processing plant door. Price includes charges for any services provided by the processing plant, but does not include any adjustments based on year-end settlements. Catfish Production Estimates Survey Procedures: About 1,003 operators were contacted during the first half of July by mail, telephone, and personal interview, with 89 percent responding. An attempt was made to contact all known catfish producers during this time. States used every available source of producer names to make their list as complete as possible. Estimation 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. Data for missing operations are estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Reliability: Catfish 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 Used for Catfish Production: 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. The next "Catfish Production" report is tentatively scheduled to be released at 3 p.m. ET on February 3, 2000. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION There are two options for subscribing via e-mail. All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 1) Starting with the NASS Home Page at http://www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. 2) If you do NOT have Internet access, send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.