Catfish Feed Deliveries ISSN: 1944-9267 Released February 20, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). January 2013 Catfish Feed Deliveries Down 50 Percent from Last Year Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during January 2013 was 2,928 tons, down 50 percent from January 2012, and down 48 percent from the previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 2,804 tons, down 50 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for fingerlings and broodfish totaled 124 tons, down 30 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. January feed delivered to Alabama catfish growers for foodsize fish totaled 1,488 tons, down 45 percent from last year. Alabama accounted for 53 percent of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to United States farmers. The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in January and their comparison to the previous year were Arkansas with 87 tons, down 68 percent; Louisiana with 81 tons, up significantly; and Mississippi with 390 tons, down 77 percent. Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - United States: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ----- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 5,658 2,804 50 5,658 2,804 50 February .............: 7,298 12,956 March ................: 25,500 38,456 April ................: 35,452 73,908 May ..................: 60,871 134,779 June .................: 69,170 203,949 July .................: 68,983 272,932 August ...............: 73,592 346,524 September ............: 53,594 400,118 October ..............: 35,393 435,511 November .............: 10,589 446,100 December .............: 5,376 451,476 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - United States: 2012-2013 [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 : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 176 124 70 176 124 70 February .............: 314 490 March ................: 1,260 1,750 April ................: 1,608 3,358 May ..................: 2,702 6,060 June .................: 4,155 10,215 July .................: 5,693 15,908 August ...............: 4,735 20,643 September ............: 2,990 23,633 October ..............: 1,855 25,488 November .............: 541 26,029 December .............: 257 26,286 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Alabama: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ----- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 2,718 1,488 55 2,718 1,488 55 February .............: 3,142 5,860 March ................: 8,287 14,147 April ................: 11,469 25,616 May ..................: 20,613 46,229 June .................: 22,218 68,447 July .................: 23,155 91,602 August ...............: 26,594 118,196 September ............: 15,120 133,316 October ..............: 11,372 144,688 November .............: 3,872 148,560 December .............: 2,280 150,840 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Arkansas: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 269 87 32 269 87 32 February .............: 485 754 March ................: 2,471 3,225 April ................: 3,155 6,380 May ..................: 5,417 11,797 June .................: 5,741 17,538 July .................: 4,981 22,519 August ...............: 4,888 27,407 September ............: 4,096 31,503 October ..............: 2,710 34,213 November .............: 498 34,711 December .............: 186 34,897 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Arkansas: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- tons --- percent ---- tons --- percent : January ..............: 4 21 525 4 21 525 February .............: 50 54 March ................: 298 352 April ................: 197 549 May ..................: 239 788 June .................: 351 1,139 July .................: 595 1,734 August ...............: 758 2,492 September ............: 731 3,223 October ..............: 603 3,826 November .............: 64 3,890 December .............: 57 3,947 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Louisiana: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- tons --- percent ---- tons --- percent : January ..............: 8 81 1,013 8 81 1,013 February .............: 30 38 March ................: 124 162 April ................: 367 529 May ..................: 459 988 June .................: 416 1,404 July .................: 318 1,722 August ...............: 318 2,040 September ............: 210 2,250 October ..............: 145 2,395 November .............: 55 2,450 December .............: 83 2,533 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Mississippi: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 1,706 390 23 1,706 390 23 February .............: 2,246 3,952 March ................: 11,317 15,269 April ................: 16,571 31,840 May ..................: 29,818 61,658 June .................: 35,308 96,966 July .................: 34,891 131,857 August ...............: 35,941 167,798 September ............: 28,455 196,253 October ..............: 16,918 213,171 November .............: 3,946 217,117 December .............: 1,027 218,144 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Mississippi: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 149 42 28 149 42 28 February .............: 155 304 March ................: 740 1,044 April ................: 1,251 2,295 May ..................: 2,277 4,572 June .................: 3,693 8,265 July .................: 4,992 13,257 August ...............: 3,814 17,071 September ............: 2,053 19,124 October ..............: 1,049 20,173 November .............: 393 20,566 December .............: 125 20,691 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States East of the Mississippi River: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 89 106 119 89 106 119 February .............: 320 409 March ................: 1,001 1,410 April ................: 1,275 2,685 May ..................: 1,525 4,210 June .................: 1,678 5,888 July .................: 2,138 8,026 August ...............: 1,725 9,751 September ............: 1,732 11,483 October ..............: 1,113 12,596 November .............: 262 12,858 December .............: 102 12,960 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 868 652 75 868 652 75 February .............: 1,075 1,943 March ................: 2,300 4,243 April ................: 2,615 6,858 May ..................: 3,039 9,897 June .................: 3,809 13,706 July .................: 3,500 17,206 August ...............: 4,126 21,332 September ............: 3,981 25,313 October ..............: 3,135 28,448 November .............: 1,956 30,404 December .............: 1,698 32,102 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2012-2013 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2013 as : Cumulative : 2013 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : of 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- tons --- percent --- tons --- percent : January ..............: 16 22 138 16 22 138 February .............: 73 89 March ................: 109 198 April ................: 28 226 May ..................: 26 252 June .................: 29 281 July .................: 35 316 August ...............: 55 371 September ............: 70 441 October ..............: 129 570 November .............: 58 628 December .............: 64 692 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Rangen, Inc. Carolina Fish Feeds SouthFresh Feeds Delta Western Star Milling Co. Fishbelt Feeds, Inc. Topwater Feed Mill Flint River Mills, Inc. 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 Dawn Keen - Egg Products ............................................. (202) 720-4448 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. Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. 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