Catfish Feed Deliveries
ISSN: 1944-9267
Released April 20, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
March 2012 Catfish Feed Deliveries Up 39 Percent from Last Year
Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during March 2012 was
25,457 tons, up 39 percent from March 2011, and up 234 percent from the
previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 24,197 tons, up 36
percent from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for
fingerlings and broodfish totaled 1,260 tons, up 122 percent from the
corresponding month a year ago.
March feed delivered to Mississippi catfish growers for foodsize fish totaled
10,802 tons, up 88 percent from last year. Mississippi accounted for
45 percent of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to United States
farmers.
The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in
March and their comparison to the previous year were Alabama with 7,459, down
2 percent; Arkansas with 2,471 tons, up 73 percent; and Louisiana with 124
tons, down 58 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 24,197 136 23,473 37,153 158
April ................: 29,131 52,604
May ..................: 47,896 100,500
June .................: 73,483 173,983
July .................: 80,905 254,888
August ...............: 92,282 347,170
September ............: 65,023 412,193
October ..............: 37,703 449,896
November .............: 11,407 461,303
December .............: 3,930 465,233
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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 2,149
May ..................: 2,172 4,321
June .................: 4,038 8,359
July .................: 5,831 14,190
August ...............: 8,210 22,400
September ............: 3,734 26,134
October ..............: 2,311 28,445
November .............: 1,176 29,621
December .............: 30 29,651
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Foodsize Catfish 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 7,459 98 9,456 13,319 141
April ................: 10,192 19,648
May ..................: 18,168 37,816
June .................: 27,706 65,522
July .................: 27,527 93,049
August ...............: 32,038 125,087
September ............: 21,310 146,397
October ..............: 12,706 159,103
November .............: 4,924 164,027
December .............: 1,841 165,868
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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 4,493
May ..................: 3,924 8,417
June .................: 5,970 14,387
July .................: 6,792 21,179
August ...............: 7,042 28,221
September ............: 5,766 33,987
October ..............: 3,097 37,084
November .............: 603 37,687
December .............: 129 37,816
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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 ................: 131 370
May ..................: 403 773
June .................: 658 1,431
July .................: 676 2,107
August ...............: 1,361 3,468
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 ................: 348 747
May ..................: 493 1,240
June .................: 537 1,777
July .................: 339 2,116
August ...............: 503 2,619
September ............: 272 2,891
October ..............: 154 3,045
November .............: 48 3,093
December .............: 30 3,123
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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 10,802 188 7,411 14,754 199
April ................: 12,757 20,168
May ..................: 21,465 41,633
June .................: 33,344 74,977
July .................: 40,684 115,661
August ...............: 46,342 162,003
September ............: 32,582 194,585
October ..............: 16,991 211,576
November .............: 3,155 214,731
December .............: 758 215,489
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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 1,616
May ..................: 1,657 3,273
June .................: 3,277 6,550
July .................: 5,036 11,586
August ...............: 6,642 18,228
September ............: 2,526 20,754
October ..............: 1,590 22,344
November .............: 1,029 23,373
December .............: 13 23,386
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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 3,259
May ..................: 1,338 4,597
June .................: 1,914 6,511
July .................: 1,914 8,425
August ...............: 2,113 10,538
September ............: 1,667 12,205
October ..............: 1,932 14,137
November .............: 728 14,865
December .............: 181 15,046
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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 2,340 172 2,508 4,283 171
April ................: 1,781 4,289
May ..................: 2,508 6,797
June .................: 4,012 10,809
July .................: 3,649 14,458
August ...............: 4,244 18,702
September ............: 3,426 22,128
October ..............: 2,823 24,951
November .............: 1,949 26,900
December .............: 991 27,891
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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 24
May ..................: 5 29
June .................: 18 47
July .................: 4 51
August ...............: 95 146
September ............: 97 243
October ..............: 14 257
November .............: 4 261
December .............: 2 263
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- 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 10 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 Feed Mill LLC *Land O Lakes
Carolina Fish Feeds Rangen Inc.
Delta Western SouthFresh Feeds
Fishbelt Feeds Inc. Star Milling Co.
Flint River Mills Inc. Topwater Feed Mill
*Estimated
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
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