Catfish Production ISSN: 1948-271X Released July 15, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Water Surface Acres Down 3 Percent The water surface area to be used for catfish production in the three major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi) during July 1 through December 31, 2026, totaled 41,100 acres, down 3 percent from a year ago. Acres used for Foodsize fish totaled 32,100, down 6 percent from the same time period in 2025. Acres used for Fingerling production at 6,165 acres, are up 24 percent, and acres for Broodfish at 2,145 acres, are up 4 percent. Of the total acres in production, 805 acres were scheduled to be renovated from July 1 to December 31, 2026 compared with 705 acres taken out of production during the period of January 1 through June 30, 2026. Foodsize Inventory Down Slightly Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 93.4 million Foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2026, down slightly from July 1, 2025. The breakouts of Foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2026, with their respective percent change from the previous year were: Large foodsize at 2.19 million fish, down 13 percent; Medium foodsize at 24.6 million fish, up 2 percent; and Small foodsize at 66.6 million fish, down slightly. The three major Catfish producing States also had 770,000 Broodfish on hand on July 1, 2026, down 1 percent from last year's 775,000 Broodfish. Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 153 million Stockers on hand on July 1, 2026, down 16 percent from the July 1, 2025 total of 183 million Stockers. The breakouts of Stocker fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2026, with their respective change from the previous year were: Large stockers at 86.5 million fish, up 2 percent from the previous year and Small stockers at 66.8 million fish, down 32 percent from last year. Producers had 227 million Fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2026, down 7 percent from July 1, 2025. Water Surface Acres Used for Production - Major States: 2025 and 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Water surface acres used for production July 1 - December 31 :------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 2025 : 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : acres : Alabama ................................: 10,500 9,700 Arkansas ...............................: 3,700 3,500 Mississippi ............................: 28,100 27,900 : 3 State total ..........................: 42,300 41,100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catfish Water Surface Acres by Use - Major States: 2025 and 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Acres intended for utilization during July 1 - December 31 for: :--------------------------------------------------------------:Acres taken out : : : : Currently under : of production Year and State : : : : or scheduled for : during : Foodsize :Fingerlings: Broodfish :--------------------------: January 1 - : : : : : New : June 30 : : : : Renovation :construction : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : acres : : 2025 : Alabama ......................: 10,300 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .....................: 2,400 (D) (D) (D) - (D) Mississippi ..................: 21,400 4,200 1,800 890 (D) 490 : 3 State total ................: 34,100 4,965 2,055 1,105 35 1,825 : 2026 : Alabama ......................: 9,600 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .....................: 2,200 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..................: 20,300 5,100 1,900 530 (D) 510 : 3 State total ................: 32,100 6,165 2,145 805 310 705 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2025 and 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :------------------------------------------------------- : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ---- 1,000 ---- 1,000 pounds pounds per fish : Large foodsize : Alabama ..............: 770 480 2,900 1,650 3.8 3.4 Arkansas .............: 420 520 1,500 1,750 3.6 3.4 Mississippi ..........: 1,320 1,190 4,750 4,250 3.6 3.6 : 3 State total ........: 2,510 2,190 9,150 7,650 3.6 3.5 : Medium foodsize : Alabama ..............: 5,470 4,950 10,200 9,100 1.9 1.8 Arkansas .............: 2,570 3,150 5,300 6,400 2.1 2.0 Mississippi ..........: 16,000 16,500 29,500 30,500 1.8 1.8 : 3 State total ........: 24,040 24,600 45,000 46,000 1.9 1.9 : Small foodsize : Alabama ..............: 15,700 13,800 14,200 14,100 0.9 1.0 Arkansas .............: 5,150 5,930 5,150 6,100 1.0 1.0 Mississippi ..........: 46,100 46,900 44,700 45,800 1.0 1.0 : 3 State total ........: 66,950 66,630 64,050 66,000 1.0 1.0 : Total foodsize : Alabama ..............: 21,940 19,230 27,300 24,850 (X) (X) Arkansas .............: 8,140 9,600 11,950 14,250 (X) (X) Mississippi ..........: 63,420 64,590 78,950 80,550 (X) (X) : 3 State total ........: 93,500 93,420 118,200 119,650 (X) (X) : Broodfish : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 700 630 4,650 4,150 6.6 6.6 : 3 State total ........: 775 770 4,925 4,604 6.4 6.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2025 and 2026 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 : 2025 : 2026 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- 1,000 pounds pounds per 1,000 fish : Large stockers : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 50,200 39,300 22,900 14,600 456 372 : 3 State total ........: 84,800 86,500 36,600 37,200 432 430 : Small stockers : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 53,500 42,500 6,650 5,450 124 128 : 3 State total ........: 97,840 66,800 11,790 8,450 121 126 : Total stockers : Alabama ..............: 61,500 43,300 13,750 15,060 (X) (X) Arkansas .............: 17,440 28,200 5,090 10,540 (X) (X) Mississippi ..........: 103,700 81,800 29,550 20,050 (X) (X) : 3 State total ........: 182,640 153,300 48,390 45,650 (X) (X) : Fingerlings and fry : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 183,000 164,000 3,300 5,900 18.0 36.0 : 3 State total ........: 242,930 227,100 4,208 6,690 17.3 29.5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 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. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: All known catfish producers in the three published States are surveyed to collect production data. Individual NASS regional field offices maintain a list of all known catfish producers and use known sources of producers to update their lists. Operators are mailed a questionnaire as close as possible to July 1 and given time to respond by mail. Those that do not respond by mail are telephoned or possibly enumerated in person during the middle of July. Estimating 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. Missing data for large operations are estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Summary expansions account for the remaining non-response operations. NASS regional 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: In the three published States, 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. 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@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch................................................ (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter............................................. (202) 690-8632 Shulonda Blackmon - Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage............... (202) 720-3240 Tiffany Byrne - Dairy Products...................................................... (651) 440-7789 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed................................................. (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production......................................................... (202) 720-3278 Fatema Haque - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Trout................. (202) 690-3237 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs...................................................... (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats.. (202) 720-4448 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs......................................................... (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery................................. (202) 720-6147 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: www.nass.usda.gov. The national specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Economics, Statistics, and Market Information (ESMIS) - National Agricultural Library (NAL) website houses NASS's and other agency archived reports at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. 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