Catfish Production ISSN: 1948-271X Released July 19, 2023, 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, 2023, totaled 50,300 acres, down 3 percent from a year ago. Acres used for Foodsize fish totaled 41,200, up 1 percent from the same time period in 2022. Acres used for Fingerling production at 6,260 acres, are down 6 percent, and acres for Broodfish at 2,050 acres, are up 12 percent. Of the total acres in production, 1,455 acres were scheduled to be renovated from July 1 to December 31, 2023 compared with 455 acres taken out of production during the period of January 1 through June 30, 2023. Foodsize Inventory Down 6 Percent Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 109 million Foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2023, down 6 percent from July 1, 2022. The breakouts of Foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2023, with their respective percent change from the previous year were: Large foodsize at 3.55 million fish, up 15 percent; Medium foodsize at 38.0 million fish, down 3 percent; and Small foodsize at 67.8 million fish, down 8 percent. The three major Catfish producing States also had 885,000 Broodfish on hand on July 1, 2023, up 22 percent from last year's 725,000 Broodfish. Catfish operations in the three major producing States had 252 million Stockers on hand on July 1, 2023, down 15 percent from the July 1, 2022 total of 296 million Stockers. The breakouts of Stocker fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2023, with their respective change from the previous year were: Large stockers at 114 million fish, down 5 percent from the previous year and Small stockers at 138 million fish, down 21 percent from last year. Producers had 265 million Fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2023, down 11 percent from July 1, 2022. Water Surface Acres Used for Production - Major States: 2022 and 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Water surface acres used for production July 1 - December 31 State : : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 2022 : 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : acres : Alabama ................................: 14,900 14,000 Arkansas ...............................: 3,600 3,400 Mississippi ............................: 33,300 32,900 : 3 State total ..........................: 51,800 50,300 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catfish Water Surface Acres by Use - Major States: 2022 and 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :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 : : 2022 : Alabama ......................: 14,400 (D) 20 (D) 125 (D) Arkansas .....................: 2,300 (D) 110 (D) - - Mississippi ..................: 24,200 5,500 1,700 1,500 380 (D) : 3 State total ................: 40,900 6,650 1,830 2,005 505 1,190 : 2023 : Alabama ......................: 13,900 (D) (D) 300 (D) (D) Arkansas .....................: 2,200 (D) (D) 55 - - Mississippi ..................: 25,100 5,000 1,800 1,100 (D) (D) : 3 State total ................: 41,200 6,260 2,050 1,455 255 455 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2022 and 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :------------------------------------------------------- : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ---- 1,000 ---- 1,000 pounds pounds per fish : Large foodsize : Alabama ..............: 1,240 1,520 4,900 5,800 4.0 3.8 Arkansas .............: 185 300 653 1,090 3.5 3.6 Mississippi ..........: 1,650 1,730 5,600 6,100 3.4 3.5 : 3 State total ........: 3,075 3,550 11,153 12,990 3.6 3.7 : Medium foodsize : Alabama ..............: 10,600 9,190 21,300 18,000 2.0 2.0 Arkansas .............: 1,920 1,900 3,700 3,550 1.9 1.9 Mississippi ..........: 26,700 26,900 47,200 53,000 1.8 2.0 : 3 State total ........: 39,220 37,990 72,200 74,550 1.8 2.0 : Small foodsize : Alabama ..............: 29,100 22,800 29,400 20,800 1.0 0.9 Arkansas .............: 3,360 3,420 3,400 3,450 1.0 1.0 Mississippi ..........: 41,000 41,600 40,800 46,800 1.0 1.1 : 3 State total ........: 73,460 67,820 73,600 71,050 1.0 1.0 : Total foodsize : Alabama ..............: 40,940 33,510 55,600 44,600 (X) (X) Arkansas .............: 5,465 5,620 7,753 8,090 (X) (X) Mississippi ..........: 69,350 70,230 93,600 105,900 (X) (X) : 3 State total ........:115,755 109,360 156,953 158,590 (X) (X) : Broodfish : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 690 830 3,350 4,850 4.9 5.8 : 3 State total ........: 725 885 3,504 5,093 4.8 5.8 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued Catfish Inventory by Size Category - Major States: July 1, 2022 and 2023 (continued) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 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 ..........: 60,700 62,700 23,700 23,200 390 370 : 3 State total ........: 120,220 113,880 45,400 42,600 378 374 : Small stockers : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 110,000 103,000 11,400 9,100 104.0 88.3 : 3 State total ........: 175,480 137,870 18,613 13,057 106.0 94.7 : Total stockers : Alabama ..............: 113,300 71,600 25,400 18,150 (X) (X) Arkansas .............: 11,700 14,450 3,513 5,207 (X) (X) Mississippi ..........: 170,700 165,700 35,100 32,300 (X) (X) : 3 State total ........: 295,700 251,750 64,013 55,657 (X) (X) : Fingerlings and fry : Alabama ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ..........: 244,000 209,000 6,100 5,450 25.0 26.1 : 3 State total ........: 296,950 265,390 7,373 6,831 24.8 25.7 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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. Due to sequestration, NASS did not produce July catfish production estimates in 2013. 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 Jean Porter, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .......... (202) 690-3223 Holly Brenize - Poultry Slaughter................................... (202) 720-0585 Liana Cuffman - Catfish and Trout, Mink, Census of Aquaculture ..... (202) 720-8784 Fatema Haque - Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ..................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Chicken Hatchery, Egg Products...................... (202) 690-3237 Seth Riggins - Honey, Honey Bee Colonies ........................... (202) 690-4870 Shulonda Shaw - Cold Storage, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses .. (202) 720-3240 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs ........................................ 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