Catfish Feed Deliveries ISSN: 1944-9267 Released September 20, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). August 2012 Catfish Feed Deliveries Down 27 Percent from Last Year Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during August 2012 was 73,483 tons, down 27 percent from August 2011, and down 2 percent from the previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 68,772 tons, down 25 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for fingerlings and broodfish totaled 4,711 tons, down 43 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. August feed delivered to Mississippi catfish growers for foodsize fish totaled 34,001 tons, down 27 percent from last year. Mississippi accounted for 49 percent of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to United States farmers. The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in August and their comparison to the previous year were Alabama with 23,695, down 26 percent; Arkansas with 4,888 tons, down 31 percent; and Louisiana with 318 tons, down 37 percent. Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - United States: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ----- percent ------ tons ----- percent : January ..............: 1,045 5,658 541 1,045 5,658 541 February .............: 4,631 7,298 158 5,676 12,956 228 March ................: 17,797 25,500 143 23,473 38,456 164 April ................: 29,131 35,452 122 52,604 73,908 140 May ..................: 47,896 60,871 127 100,500 134,779 134 June .................: 73,483 69,170 94 173,983 203,949 117 July .................: 80,905 68,983 85 254,888 272,932 107 August ...............: 92,282 68,772 75 347,170 341,704 98 September ............: 65,023 412,193 October ..............: 37,703 449,896 November .............: 11,407 461,303 December .............: 3,930 465,233 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - United States: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun. To avoid disclosure of individual operations, State sums may not equal the total] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 76 176 232 76 176 232 February .............: 328 314 96 404 490 121 March ................: 568 1,260 222 972 1,750 180 April ................: 1,177 1,608 137 2,149 3,358 156 May ..................: 2,172 2,702 124 4,321 6,060 140 June .................: 4,038 4,155 103 8,359 10,215 122 July .................: 5,831 5,693 98 14,190 15,908 112 August ...............: 8,210 4,711 57 22,400 20,619 92 September ............: 3,734 26,134 October ..............: 2,311 28,445 November .............: 1,176 29,621 December .............: 30 29,651 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Alabama: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ----- percent ------ tons ----- percent : January ..............: 212 2,718 1,282 212 2,718 1,282 February .............: 1,647 3,142 191 1,859 5,860 315 March ................: 7,597 8,287 109 9,456 14,147 150 April ................: 10,192 11,469 113 19,648 25,616 130 May ..................: 18,168 20,613 113 37,816 46,229 122 June .................: 27,706 22,218 80 65,522 68,447 104 July .................: 27,527 23,155 84 93,049 91,602 98 August ...............: 32,038 23,695 74 125,087 115,297 92 September ............: 21,310 146,397 October ..............: 12,706 159,103 November .............: 4,924 164,027 December .............: 1,841 165,868 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Arkansas: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 52 269 517 52 269 517 February .............: 462 485 105 514 754 147 March ................: 1,431 2,471 173 1,945 3,225 166 April ................: 2,548 3,155 124 4,493 6,380 142 May ..................: 3,924 5,417 138 8,417 11,797 140 June .................: 5,970 5,741 96 14,387 17,538 122 July .................: 6,792 4,981 73 21,179 22,519 106 August ...............: 7,042 4,888 69 28,221 27,407 97 September ............: 5,766 33,987 October ..............: 3,097 37,084 November .............: 603 37,687 December .............: 129 37,816 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Arkansas: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 10 4 40 10 4 40 February .............: 96 50 52 106 54 51 March ................: 133 298 224 239 352 147 April ................: 131 197 150 370 549 148 May ..................: 403 239 59 773 788 102 June .................: 658 351 53 1,431 1,139 80 July .................: 676 595 88 2,107 1,734 82 August ...............: 1,361 758 56 3,468 2,492 72 September ............: 912 4,380 October ..............: 605 4,985 November .............: 125 5,110 December .............: - 5,110 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Louisiana: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 18 8 44 18 8 44 February .............: 83 30 36 101 38 38 March ................: 298 124 42 399 162 41 April ................: 348 367 105 747 529 71 May ..................: 493 459 93 1,240 988 80 June .................: 537 416 77 1,777 1,404 79 July .................: 339 318 94 2,116 1,722 81 August ...............: 503 318 63 2,619 2,040 78 September ............: 272 2,891 October ..............: 154 3,045 November .............: 48 3,093 December .............: 30 3,123 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Mississippi: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ----- percent ------ tons ----- percent : January ..............: 209 1,706 816 209 1,706 816 February .............: 1,456 2,246 154 1,665 3,952 237 March ................: 5,746 11,317 197 7,411 15,269 206 April ................: 12,757 16,571 130 20,168 31,840 158 May ..................: 21,465 29,818 139 41,633 61,658 148 June .................: 33,344 35,308 106 74,977 96,966 129 July .................: 40,684 34,891 86 115,661 131,857 114 August ...............: 46,342 34,001 73 162,003 165,858 102 September ............: 32,582 194,585 October ..............: 16,991 211,576 November .............: 3,155 214,731 December .............: 758 215,489 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Mississippi: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 47 149 317 47 149 317 February .............: 204 155 76 251 304 121 March ................: 365 740 203 616 1,044 169 April ................: 1,000 1,251 125 1,616 2,295 142 May ..................: 1,657 2,277 137 3,273 4,572 140 June .................: 3,277 3,693 113 6,550 8,265 126 July .................: 5,036 4,992 99 11,586 13,257 114 August ...............: 6,642 3,818 57 18,228 17,075 94 September ............: 2,526 20,754 October ..............: 1,590 22,344 November .............: 1,029 23,373 December .............: 13 23,386 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States East of the Mississippi River: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 88 89 101 88 89 101 February .............: 304 320 105 392 409 104 March ................: 1,362 1,001 73 1,754 1,410 80 April ................: 1,505 1,275 85 3,259 2,685 82 May ..................: 1,338 1,525 114 4,597 4,210 92 June .................: 1,914 1,678 88 6,511 5,888 90 July .................: 1,914 2,138 112 8,425 8,026 95 August ...............: 2,113 1,744 83 10,538 9,770 93 September ............: 1,667 12,205 October ..............: 1,932 14,137 November .............: 728 14,865 December .............: 181 15,046 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 466 868 186 466 868 186 February .............: 679 1,075 158 1,145 1,943 170 March ................: 1,363 2,300 169 2,508 4,243 169 April ................: 1,781 2,615 147 4,289 6,858 160 May ..................: 2,508 3,039 121 6,797 9,897 146 June .................: 4,012 3,809 95 10,809 13,706 127 July .................: 3,649 3,500 96 14,458 17,206 119 August ...............: 4,244 4,126 97 18,702 21,332 114 September ............: 3,426 22,128 October ..............: 2,823 24,951 November .............: 1,949 26,900 December .............: 991 27,891 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2011-2012 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2012 as : Cumulative : 2012 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons --- percent : January ..............: - 16 (X) - 16 (X) February .............: - 73 (X) - 89 (X) March ................: 18 109 606 18 198 1,100 April ................: 6 28 467 24 226 942 May ..................: 5 26 520 29 252 869 June .................: 18 29 161 47 281 598 July .................: 4 35 875 51 316 620 August ...............: 95 55 58 146 371 254 September ............: 97 243 October ..............: 14 257 November .............: 4 261 December .............: 2 263 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (X) Not applicable. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: All participating catfish feed mills are feed mills that produce and deliver catfish feed to bonafide catfish producers. Survey data for catfish feed are collected from feed mills by the USDA-NASS Mississippi Field Office, which is responsible for ensuring survey coverage is as complete as possible. Mills are contacted by mail, telephone, fax, or internet. Diligent effort is made to ensure that all operations are accounted for in the estimate. Estimation Procedures: The Catfish Feed Deliveries report refers strictly to catfish feed delivered to bonafide catfish producers and excludes catfish feed delivered to producers of other species. The totals include both bagged and bulk feed. Prior to summarization, questionnaires are compared to previous reports for comparability. Estimates are made for feed mills whose reports are not available in time to be included in the release. Those mills are identified by an asterisk on page 6 of this release. Estimates are based on the mill's previous reports and current conditions. Published totals are a straight summation of the individual reports and estimated data. If a mill uses a fiscal accounting system, proration is used to convert reported data to a calendar month basis. Two unusual features of this report are worthy of note: (1) cooperating feed mills are listed by name, and (2) it is impossible for the public to infer the amount of catfish feed produced in each State. Since many mills deliver feed to more than one State and to growers of other species, any inferences about overall production per State or per mill are not valid. Revision Policy: Revisions may be necessary in the following month's publication pending a review of late reports received from mills. Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve month-to-month relationships. Estimates for the previous month are subject to revision in all States and regions monthly totals. In February, all monthly estimates for the previous year are reviewed and subject to revisions. The review is primarily based on data that may have been received after the original estimates were published. Reliability: Estimates are based on data from cooperating catfish feed mills, and therefore have no sampling variability. However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of 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. Data were compiled in cooperation with the following feed mills: Alabama Catfish Feed Mill, LLC Land O' Lakes Purina Feed, LLC Carolina Fish Feeds Rangen, Inc. Delta Western SouthFresh Feeds Fishbelt Feeds, Inc. Star Milling Co. Flint River Mills, Inc. Topwater Feed Mill Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Feed Deliveries Estimates Broodfish - Fish kept for egg production, including males. Broodfish produce the fertilized eggs that go to hatcheries. The most desirable size is 3 to 10 pounds or 4 to 6 years of age. Catfish Feed - For the purposes of this report catfish feed is defined as feed delivered to bonafide catfish producers. Thus, it is not the absolute total amount of feed produced or even sold by a mill. (Some catfish feed is sold to producers of other species of fish.) The definition includes medicated feed. Catfish feed is designed to float on the surface of the water. Catfish are fed this way from the moment they hatch. Therefore, they learn to go to the surface for feed. The result is a clean nutritious diet for American farm raised catfish. Catfish Feed for Foodsize Fish - Feed containing pellets larger than 1/8 of an inch. Catfish Feed for Fingerlings/Broodfish - Feed containing pellets 1/8 of an inch or smaller. Fingerlings - Fish weighing 2 to 60 pounds per 1,000 fish or 2 to 6 inches in length. Foodsize Fish - Fish being grown commercially for human consumption. Optimum sizes at harvest depend on the market but are generally no lower than 3/4 pound but near one pound. 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 Cody Brokmeyer - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .. (202) 690-3237 Charles Butler - Catfish Feed Deliveries ............................. (601) 965-4575 David Colwell - Cold Storage ......................................... (202) 720-8784 LaKeya Jones - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Honey, Egg Products, Mink ............ (202) 720-0585 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs ........................................... (202) 690-8632 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 "Receive NASS Updates" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. 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