Aq 2 (7-09) Catfish Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 24, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Catfish Production" call Chris Hawthorn at (202) 720-0585, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Foodfish Inventory Numbers Down 9 Percent from a Year Ago Catfish operations in the three major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi) had 241 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2009, down 9 percent from the July 1, 2008 total of 265 million foodsize fish. The breakouts of foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2009, with their respective percent change from the previous year were: large foodsize, 6.58 million fish, up 3 percent; medium foodsize, 59.3 million fish, down 16 percent; and small foodsize, 175 million fish, down 7 percent. The three major States also had 529 thousand broodfish on hand on July 1, 2009, down 19 percent from last year's 655 thousand broodfish. The number of large stockers on hand on July 1, 2009, totaled 231 million fish, down 21 percent from the 293 million fish on hand a year ago. There were 216 million small stockers, down 25 percent from last year. Producers had 877 million fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2009 Water Acres Down 15 Percent The water surface area to be used for catfish production during July 1 through December 31, 2009, totaled 112 thousand acres, down 15 percent from a year ago. Acres used for foodsize fish totaled 92.5 thousand acres, down 15 percent from the same time period in 2008. Acres for broodfish decreased 5 percent to 2.41 thousand acres, and acres used for fingerling production decreased 19 percent to 14.5 thousand acres. Acres taken out of production during the January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009 period totaled 11.4 thousand acres, while 3.09 thousand acres of the total in production were scheduled to be renovated from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. The number of operations on July 1, 2009 in the three major States totaled 613, down 22 percent from last year's total of 788 operations. Special Notes The number of operations by State will no longer be published on an annual basis. State level numbers will only be published in conjunction with the Census of Agriculture every five years. The number of operations at the U.S. level will continue to be published on an annual basis. Operations for 2008 were revised at the U.S. and State level based on the Census of Agriculture. No new information is available to revise operations data for prior years. Revisions: Revisions to the data were made after a thorough review of survey and administrative data, and information from the 2007 Census of Agriculture. The 2004-2007 estimates shown herein are considered final and will not be revised again. Contents Page Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres Used for Production...................3 Water Surface Acre Usage...........................................................4 Inventory by Size Category.........................................................5 Terms and Definitions.............................................................11 Reliability of Catfish Production Estimates.......................................11 Catfish: Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres, Used for Production, 2004-2005, by State and United States 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of : Water Surface Acres : Operations : Used for Production State : on July 1 : During July 1 - December 31 :--------------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Number ----- -------- Acres -------- : AL : 250 210 27,900 23,900 AR : 158 124 34,900 29,500 LA : 48 32 9,400 7,700 MS : 430 400 103,000 98,000 : Total : 886 766 175,200 159,100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish: Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres, Used for Production, 2006-2007, by State and United States 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of : Water Surface Acres : Operations : Used for Production State : on July 1 : During July 1 - December 31 :--------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Number ----- -------- Acres -------- : AL : 217 203 24,500 23,200 AR : 132 131 30,200 32,000 LA : 24 19 5,700 5,500 MS : 380 360 95,700 92,700 : Total : 753 713 156,100 153,400 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish: Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres, Used for Production, 2008-2009, by State and United States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of : Water Surface Acres : Operations : Used for Production State : on July 1 : During July 1 - December 31 :--------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 1/ : 2009 2/ : 2008 1/ : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Number ----- -------- Acres -------- : AL : 240 22,100 21,700 AR : 141 26,600 20,500 LA 3/ : 31 5,700 MS : 407 83,200 70,000 : Total : 819 613 137,600 112,200 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. 2/ State level number of operations will only be published every five years in conjunction with the Census of Agriculture. 3/ LA estimates discontinued in 2009. Catfish: Water Surface Acre Usage, by State and United States, 2004-2005 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres Intended for Utilization During July 1- December 31 : Acres Taken Out :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: of Production : : : : : : : Currently Under : During : : : : : : : or Scheduled for: : January 1- State : Foodsize : Fingerlings : Broodfish :-----------------------------------: June 30 : : : : : : : Renovation :New Construction : : :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres : AL : 25,000 21,800 1,500 1,100 460 350 610 670 110 100 1,100 470 AR : 30,300 23,800 3,600 4,500 530 570 790 570 0 260 4,800 670 LA : 8,100 6,300 900 1,300 130 145 230 750 0 * 590 470 MS : 82,400 76,300 14,800 16,000 2,200 2,800 2,300 3,600 650 400 6,400 4,400 : Total : 145,800 128,200 20,800 22,900 3,320 3,865 3,930 5,590 760 * 12,890 6,010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Revised. Catfish: Water Surface Acre Usage, by State and United States, 2006-2007 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres Intended for Utilization During July 1- December 31 : Acres Taken Out :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: of Production : : : : : : : Currently Under : During : : : : : : : or Scheduled for: : January 1- State : Foodsize : Fingerlings : Broodfish :-----------------------------------: June 30 : : : : : : : Renovation :New Construction : : :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres : AL : 22,000 21,900 1,200 630 400 420 960 380 330 110 430 750 AR : 24,700 27,300 4,100 4,000 560 * 640 290 * * 950 710 LA : 4,900 4,900 610 610 105 * 145 370 0 * 730 140 MS : 73,200 70,100 17,500 16,100 2,800 2,600 4,100 3,100 165 290 2,400 2,300 : Total : 124,800 124,200 23,410 21,340 3,865 3,660 5,845 4,140 * 480 4,510 3,900 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Revised. Catfish: Water Surface Acre Usage, by State and United States, 2008-2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres Intended for Utilization During July 1- December 31 : Acres Taken Out :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: of Production : : : : : : : Currently Under : During : : : : : : : or Scheduled for: : January 1- State : Foodsize : Fingerlings : Broodfish :-----------------------------------: June 30 : : : : : : : Renovation :New Construction : : :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres : AL : 21,200 20,100 530 910 280 590 850 290 20 70 660 300 AR : 21,900 17,400 4,000 2,600 660 220 380 1,300 * 0 2,800 2,800 LA 2/ : 5,000 440 0 115 * 770 MS : 65,800 55,000 13,300 11,000 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,500 50 0 7,600 8,300 : Total : 113,900 92,500 18,270 14,510 2,540 2,410 3,045 3,090 80 70 11,830 11,400 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Revised. 2/ LA estimates discontinued in 2009. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2004-2005 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live Weight Size Category : Number of Fish :----------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ----- 1,000 ---- 1,000 Pounds Pounds per Fish : Large Foodsize : AL : 3,340 2,350 11,300 8,300 3.4 3.5 AR : 1,280 1,370 4,300 5,100 3.4 3.7 LA : 760 690 2,750 2,500 3.6 3.6 MS : 2,780 2,860 9,850 9,850 3.5 3.4 : Total : 8,160 7,270 28,200 25,750 3.5 3.5 : Medium Foodsize : AL : 18,700 22,200 35,800 43,200 1.9 1.9 AR : 17,400 15,800 32,300 30,200 1.9 1.9 LA : 5,450 3,940 10,800 7,500 2.0 1.9 MS : 40,100 30,100 77,700 57,000 1.9 1.9 : Total : 81,650 72,040 156,600 137,900 1.9 1.9 : Small Foodsize : AL : 44,100 42,900 44,200 42,800 1.0 1.0 AR : 48,400 35,900 48,300 36,400 1.0 1.0 LA : 7,340 6,340 7,200 5,650 1.0 0.9 MS : 139,000 128,000 137,100 126,700 1.0 1.0 : Total : 238,840 213,140 236,800 211,550 1.0 1.0 : Total Foodsize : AL : 66,140 67,450 91,300 94,300 AR : 67,080 53,070 84,900 71,700 LA : 13,550 10,970 20,750 15,650 MS : 181,880 160,960 224,650 193,550 : Total : 328,650 292,450 421,600 375,200 : Broodfish : AL : 143 101 797 482 5.6 4.8 AR : 110 119 595 570 5.4 4.8 LA : 25 35 145 139 5.8 4.0 MS : 600 770 3,000 3,650 5.0 4.7 : Total : 878 1,025 4,537 4,841 5.2 4.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Revised. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2006-2007 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live Weight Size Category : Number of Fish :----------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ----- 1,000 ---- 1,000 Pounds Pounds per Fish : Large Foodsize : AL : 3,470 1,510 12,000 5,300 3.5 3.5 AR : 1,240 1,590 4,550 5,450 3.7 3.4 LA : 194 176 666 588 3.4 3.3 MS : 2,260 3,010 7,900 10,200 3.5 3.4 : Total : 7,164 6,286 25,116 21,538 3.5 3.4 : Medium Foodsize : AL : 18,300 11,900 34,600 23,000 1.9 1.9 AR : 13,400 17,900 25,900 35,700 1.9 2.0 LA : 1,850 1,260 3,200 2,750 1.7 2.2 MS : 40,900 37,500 74,100 70,100 1.8 1.9 : Total : 74,450 68,560 137,800 131,550 1.9 1.9 : Small Foodsize : AL : 47,800 31,700 45,500 30,400 1.0 1.0 AR : 35,200 38,900 35,100 39,000 1.0 1.0 LA : 3,940 8,340 3,450 8,300 0.9 1.0 MS : 125,000 111,000 125,700 109,100 1.0 1.0 : Total : 211,940 189,940 209,750 186,800 1.0 1.0 : Total Foodsize : AL : 69,570 45,110 92,100 58,700 AR : 49,840 58,390 65,550 80,150 LA : 5,984 9,776 7,316 11,638 MS : 168,160 151,510 207,700 189,400 : Total : 293,554 264,786 372,666 339,888 : Broodfish : AL : 73 * 348 * 4.8 * AR : 128 112 591 507 4.6 4.5 LA : 21 * 105 * 5.0 * MS : 680 600 3,250 3,000 4.8 5.0 : Total : 902 799 4,294 3,851 4.8 4.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Revised. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2008-2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live Weight Size Category : Number of Fish :----------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 :2008 1/ : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ----- 1,000 ---- 1,000 Pounds Pounds per Fish : Large Foodsize : AL : 1,700 2,100 5,900 8,350 3.5 4.0 AR : 1,060 1,260 5,300 4,250 5.0 3.4 LA 2/ : 250 864 3.5 MS : 3,600 3,220 12,900 11,700 3.6 3.6 : Total : 6,610 6,580 24,964 24,300 3.8 3.7 : Medium Foodsize : AL : 22,000 15,400 44,100 30,900 2.0 2.0 AR : 10,900 11,000 23,100 20,800 2.1 1.9 LA 2/ : 1,790 3,400 1.9 MS : 37,400 32,900 68,600 60,900 1.8 1.9 : Total : 72,090 59,300 139,200 112,600 1.9 1.9 : Small Foodsize : AL : 35,300 43,200 35,400 47,000 1.0 1.1 AR : 35,500 28,700 33,900 29,000 1.0 1.0 LA 2/ : 6,090 6,100 1.0 MS : 118,000 103,000 112,800 98,400 1.0 1.0 : Total : 194,890 174,900 188,200 174,400 1.0 1.0 : Total Foodsize : AL : 59,000 60,700 85,400 86,250 AR : 47,460 40,960 62,300 54,050 LA 2/ : 8,130 10,364 MS : 159,000 139,120 194,300 171,000 : Total : 273,590 240,780 352,364 311,300 : Broodfish : AL : 60 59 260 266 4.3 4.5 AR : 105 40 509 191 4.8 4.8 LA 2/ : 0 0 0.0 MS : 490 430 2,300 2,000 4.7 4.7 : Total : 655 529 3,069 2,457 4.7 4.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Revised. 2/ LA estimates discontinued in 2009. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2004-2005 1/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Live Weight Size Category : Number of Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- -- 1,000 Pounds -- Pounds per 1,000 Fish : Large Stockers : AL : 74,600 57,200 27,800 19,700 373 344 AR : 50,300 32,900 17,800 14,100 354 429 LA : 9,790 4,120 3,150 1,540 322 374 MS : 176,000 182,000 71,800 77,000 408 423 : Total : 310,690 276,220 120,550 112,340 388 407 : Small Stockers : AL : 47,200 64,800 4,500 7,500 95.3 115.7 AR : 58,300 35,500 5,850 3,600 100.0 101.0 LA : 6,290 7,050 691 742 110.0 105.0 MS : 219,000 196,000 21,400 18,700 97.7 95.4 : Total : 330,790 303,350 32,441 30,542 98.1 100.7 : Total Stockers : AL : 121,800 122,000 32,300 27,200 AR : 108,600 68,400 23,650 17,700 LA : 16,080 11,170 3,841 2,282 MS : 395,000 378,000 93,200 95,700 : Total : 641,480 579,570 152,991 142,882 : Fingerlings : and Fry : AL : 100,000 46,100 1,320 877 13.2 19.0 AR : 231,000 344,000 3,150 3,650 13.6 10.6 LA : 54,000 117,000 630 578 11.7 4.9 MS : 938,000 965,000 12,000 10,600 12.8 11.0 : Total :1,323,000 1,472,100 17,100 15,705 12.9 10.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2006-2007 1/ (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Live Weight Size Category : Number of Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- -- 1,000 Pounds -- Pounds per 1,000 Fish : Large Stockers : AL : 72,800 83,200 27,200 31,600 374 380 AR : 37,800 33,400 12,100 11,200 320 335 LA : 2,280 1,900 1,130 862 496 454 MS : 190,000 206,000 77,000 90,900 405 441 : Total : 302,880 324,500 117,430 134,562 388 415 : Small Stockers : AL : 68,500 55,100 7,100 7,150 104.0 130.0 AR : 61,200 50,800 5,850 4,700 95.6 92.5 LA : 3,410 1,320 314 180 92.1 136.0 MS : 206,000 224,000 19,900 21,700 96.6 96.9 : Total : 339,110 331,220 33,164 33,730 97.8 101.8 : Total Stockers : AL : 141,300 138,300 34,300 38,750 AR : 99,000 84,200 17,950 15,900 LA : 5,690 3,220 1,444 1,042 MS : 396,000 430,000 96,900 112,600 : Total : 641,990 655,720 150,594 168,292 : Fingerlings : and Fry : AL : 71,400 69,300 1,040 1,230 14.6 17.7 AR : 301,000 250,000 5,000 3,850 16.6 15.4 LA : 34,700 28,900 282 281 8.1 9.7 MS :1,058,000 1,127,000 16,900 15,100 16.0 13.4 : Total :1,465,100 1,475,200 23,222 20,461 15.9 13.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2008-2009 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Live Weight Size Category : Number of Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 1/ : 2009 : 2008 1/ : 2009 : 2008 1/ : 2009 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- -- 1,000 Pounds -- Pounds per 1,000 Fish : Large Stockers : AL : 51,300 53,000 20,500 18,900 400 357 AR : 37,800 20,100 14,900 7,600 394 378 LA 2/ : 660 365 553 MS : 204,000 158,000 79,100 63,800 388 404 : Total : 293,760 231,100 114,865 90,300 391 391 : Small Stockers : AL : 39,700 34,100 4,300 3,550 108.0 104.0 AR : 40,800 21,800 4,550 2,400 112.0 110.0 LA 2/ : 3,910 572 146.0 MS : 206,000 160,000 20,700 15,200 101.0 95.0 : Total : 290,410 215,900 30,122 21,150 103.7 98.0 : Total Stockers : AL : 91,000 87,100 24,800 22,450 AR : 78,600 41,900 19,450 10,000 LA 2/ : 4,570 937 MS : 410,000 318,000 99,800 79,000 : Total : 584,170 447,000 144,987 111,450 : Fingerlings : and Fry : AL : * 54,000 * 960 * 17.8 AR : 144,000 81,600 2,550 1,540 17.7 18.9 LA 2/ : * * * MS : 858,000 741,000 14,800 12,000 17.2 16.2 : Total :1,068,460 876,600 19,264 14,500 18.0 16.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Revised. 2/ LA estimates discontinued in 2009. Reliability of Catfish Production Estimates Survey Procedures: Data for catfish production are collected from all known producers. Individual NASS field offices maintain a list of all known catfish producers and use known sources of producers to update their lists. All known catfish producers are mailed a questionnaire as close as possible to July 1 and given adequate time to respond by mail. Those that do not respond by mail are telephoned or possibly enumerated in person during the middle of July. Care is exercised to ensure all operations are accounted for. 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 were estimated based on similar operations or historical data. 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. Reliability: 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. 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. For free access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.nass.usda.gov, under the right navigation, Receive reports by Email, click on National or State. Follow the instructions on the screen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6900 (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. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (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 USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.