Catfish
Production
     National
     Agricultural
     Statistics
     Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 
Released April 29, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For information on "Catfish Production" call Jim Brewster at (202)
720-8784, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
                 Foodsize Inventory Down 5 Percent
 
Commercial catfish operations in the four major producing States
(Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) had 173 million foodsize
fish on hand on April 1, 1998, down 5 percent from April 1, 1997. Live
weight totaled 210 million pounds for all foodsize fish, 5 percent below
April 1 a year ago. The breakout of the number of foodsize fish on April
1, 1998 with percent changes from the previous year are: large foodsize,
at 3.74 million, up 12 percent; medium foodsize, at 37.6 million, down 2
percent; and small foodsize, at 131 million, down 6 percent.
 
The four major States had 1.21 million broodfish on hand on April 1,
1998, down 6 percent from last year's 1.28 million. Live weight totaled
5.78 million pounds for broodfish, fractionally below April 1, 1997.
 
The number of stockers on hand on April 1, 1998 totaled 532 million
fish, down 14 percent from the 616 million fish on hand a year ago. Of
the total number of stockers on hand, 273 million were large stockers,
down 11 percent from the previous year. The remaining 259 million were
small stockers, down 16 percent. Live weight totaled 141 million pounds
for all stockers, 13 percent below April 1 last year.
 
Producers had 870 million fingerlings on hand on April 1, 1998, up 8
percent from the 803 million fingerlings on hand April 1, 1997. Live
weight, at 22.8 million pounds, increased 1 percent from the 22.7
million pounds a year ago.
 
Aq 2 (4-98)
 
 
 
                  Catfish:  Number and Live Weight of Broodfish
                           by State, April 1, 1997-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :              Number               :            Live Weight
  State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      1997       :      1998       :      1997       :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      -------- 1,000 --------             ----- 1,000 Pounds ----
        :
AL      :        168               109               774               596
AR      :        235               260               955             1,215
LA      :        105                52               560               232
MS      :        776               785             3,511             3,741
        :
Total   :      1,284             1,206             5,800             5,784
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
                Catfish:  Number and Live Weight of Foodsize Fish
                   by Size, State, and Total, April 1, 1997-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :              Number               :            Live Weight
  State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      1997       :      1998       :      1997       :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                               Large 1/
        :     --------- 1,000 ---------           ------ 1,000 Pounds -----
        :
AL      :         574               800             1,912             2,681
AR      :         640               925             2,180             3,239
LA      :         760               745             2,450             2,555
MS      :       1,361             1,265             4,673             4,451
        :
Total   :       3,335             3,735            11,215            12,926
        :
        :                               Medium 2/
        :
AL      :       9,041            10,889            17,887            21,517
AR      :       5,170             6,045             9,670            10,840
LA      :       6,250             3,910            13,750             7,080
MS      :      17,990            16,758            32,322            30,086
        :
Total   :      38,451            37,602            73,629            69,523
        :
        :                               Small 3/
        :
AL      :      22,979            21,813            24,533            22,755
AR      :      21,480            20,300            21,120            19,325
LA      :      11,450            11,350            12,900            11,790
MS      :      83,712            78,026            77,860            74,090
        :
Total   :     139,621           131,489           136,413           127,960
        :
        :                                 Total
        :
AL      :      32,594            33,502            44,332            46,953
AR      :      27,290            27,270            32,970            33,404
LA      :      18,460            16,005            29,100            21,425
MS      :     103,063            96,049           114,855           108,627
        :
Total   :     181,407           172,826           221,257           210,409
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Over three lbs.
2/  Over one and one-half lbs. to three lbs.
3/  Over three-fourths lb. to one and one-half lb.
 
 
 
                  Catfish:  Number and Live Weight of Stockers
                   by Size, State, and Total, April 1, 1997-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :              Number               :            Live Weight
  State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      1997       :      1998       :      1997       :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                               Large 1/
        :     --------- 1,000 ---------           ------ 1,000 Pounds -----
        :
AL      :      19,986            21,223            10,951             9,694
AR      :      30,180            32,300            15,030            11,640
LA      :      31,350            11,620            14,300             4,690
MS      :     223,908           207,584            90,065            90,124
        :
Total   :     305,424           272,727           130,346           116,148
        :
        :                               Small 2/
        :
AL      :      25,344            27,148             2,452             2,499
AR      :      50,420            43,700             5,940             3,772
LA      :      24,250            19,630             2,470             1,790
MS      :     210,488           169,037            21,259            16,702
        :
Total   :     310,502           259,515            32,121            24,763
        :
        :                                 Total
        :
AL      :      45,330            48,371            13,403            12,193
AR      :      80,600            76,000            20,970            15,412
LA      :      55,600            31,250            16,770             6,480
MS      :     434,396           376,621           111,324           106,826
        :
Total   :     615,926           532,242           162,467           140,911
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Not published separately to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1/  Over 180 lbs/1000 to 750 lbs/1,000.
2/  Over 60 lbs/1000 to 180 lbs/1,000.
 
 
 
                 Catfish:  Number and Live Weight of Fingerlings
                          by State, April 1, 1997-98 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :              Number               :            Live Weight
  State :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :      1997       :      1998       :      1997       :      1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :     --------- 1,000 ---------           ----- 1,000 Pounds -----
        :
AL      :      47,967            38,996            1,902             1,502
AR      :     115,410           120,700            4,040             3,540
LA      :      30,350            53,260            1,120             1,160
MS      :     609,579           656,895           15,505            16,560
        :
Total   :     803,306           869,851           22,567            22,762
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Over 2 lbs/1,000 to 60 lbs/1,000.
 
 
 
                   Catfish:  Round Weight Processed by Month,
                           United States, 1991-Current
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Year  :    Jan    :    Feb    :    Mar    :    Apr    :    May    :    Jun
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                             1,000 Pounds
        :
1991    :  32,206      33,036      35,951      31,205      31,322      31,588
1992    :  36,200      39,228      45,048      41,177      39,111      36,813
1993    :  40,327      40,277      43,521      39,920      37,030      35,496
1994    :  36,714      35,035      40,446      34,494      34,163      34,595
1995    :  38,807      38,515      42,200      36,588      37,030      36,047
1996    :  38,475      38,004      46,376      38,557      39,517      36,752
1997    :  42,409      45,067      48,431      45,721      43,409      42,282
1998    :  46,723      47,606      53,761           0           0           0
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :   Jul   :   Aug   :   Sep   :   Oct   :   Nov   :   Dec    :  Total
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                             1,000 Pounds
        :
1991    : 32,720    32,912    33,244    35,400    31,114     30,172    390,870
1992    : 36,128    37,958    37,857    39,212    35,073     33,562    457,367
1993    : 37,086    37,706    37,072    39,472    36,557     34,549    459,013
1994    : 35,901    39,813    38,716    39,072    36,054     34,266    439,269
1995    : 35,800    38,827    37,634    39,456    34,119     31,863    446,886
1996    : 39,025    40,463    38,807    42,070    37,203     36,874    472,123
1997    : 43,376    44,154    43,472    46,275    40,137     40,216    524,949
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
                  Catfish:  Prices Paid To Producers by Month,
                         United States, 1991-Current 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Year  :    Jan    :    Feb    :    Mar    :    Apr    :    May    :    Jun
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                           Dollars per Pound
        :
1991    :   0.69        0.69        0.69        0.69        0.66        0.65
1992    :   0.53        0.56        0.60        0.63        0.63        0.61
1993    :   0.63        0.67        0.70        0.71        0.72        0.72
1994    :   0.74        0.77        0.79        0.80        0.80        0.80
1995    :   0.78        0.79        0.79        0.79        0.79        0.79
1996    :   0.77        0.78        0.78        0.78        0.79        0.79
1997    :   0.73        0.73        0.73        0.73        0.73        0.72
1998    :   0.69        0.73        0.78        0.00        0.00        0.00
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :   Jul   :   Aug   :   Sep   :   Oct   :   Nov   :   Dec    :Ann. Avg.
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                           Dollars per Pound
        :
1991    :  0.63      0.60      0.59      0.58      0.57       0.53      0.631
1992    :  0.59      0.58      0.59      0.61      0.62       0.63      0.598
1993    :  0.72      0.73      0.73      0.73      0.73       0.73      0.709
1994    :  0.80      0.80      0.80      0.77      0.77       0.77      0.784
1995    :  0.79      0.79      0.78      0.78      0.78       0.78      0.786
1996    :  0.79      0.78      0.77      0.76      0.75       0.73      0.773
1997    :  0.71      0.70      0.69      0.69      0.69       0.69      0.712
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Price of fish delivered to processing plant door.  Price includes charges
    for any services provided by the processing plant, but does not include any
    adjustments based on year-end settlements.
 
 
 
 
   Catfish Losses to Wildlife Reported by Sixty-nine Percent
                        of All Operations
 
A survey of producers in the 15 largest catfish producing States in
1996 revealed that 69 percent of the producers reported some wildlife-caused
losses.  The lowest rate of reported losses was in the Southeast, where 46
percent reported wildlife-caused losses.  The highest rate of loss was reported
in Mississippi at 84 percent.
 
The average cost of wildlife-caused loss for all States was $13,700 per
operation reporting a loss while the average expense to prevent loss was
$6,200.  Birds were most frequently cited as the cause of losses and
double-crested cormorants were most frequently cited as the primary bird
species causing losses.  The next most frequently cited birds were great blue
herons.  Muskrats were the most frequently cited mammal (primarily for damaging
dikes and roads).  Of those producers citing wildlife-caused losses, the main
problem reported was feeding on catfish.  In addition, wildlife caused losses
by injuring catfish, disturbing feeding patterns, and damaging roads and
levees.
 
These 15 States had total sales of 425 million dollars during 1996 and a water
surface area of 177,460 acres during January 1 through June 30, 1997.  The
total number of operations on January 1, 1997, was 1,319, down 1 percent from
the January 1, 1996, total of 1,328.  The number of operations in the top 3
producing States (AL, AR, and MS), however, increased 1 percent from January 1,
1996.
 
This Wildlife Damage Survey was funded by USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services.
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :  No. of  :    Water    : Total  :Percentage :  Avg. Cost  : Average
  State  :Operations:   Surface   :  1996  :w/Wildlife-:of Wildlife- : Expense
   and   : Jan. 1,  :Acres During :Sales 1/:Caused Loss: Caused Loss :to Prevent
  Region : 1997 1/  :Jan 1-Jun 30,:        :  1996 2/  : 1996 2/ 3/  :   Loss
         :          :   1997 1/   :        :           :             :1996 2/ 4/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :  Number       Acres      $1,000    Percent    ------- Dollars ------
         :
AL       :    245        21,000     52,795      68            9,000       4,000
         :
AR       :    180        28,500     52,214      74           17,500       6,400
         :
MS       :    360       102,000    274,559      84           18,200       8,700
         :
S. E. 5/ :    181         4,090      7,468      46            8,200       2,700
         :
West 6/  :    171         5,670      9,573      66            8,700       4,000
         :
S. W.  7/:    182        16,200     28,774      63           11,000       6,600
         :
Average  :     NA            NA         NA      69           13,700       6,200
         :
Total    :  1,319       177,460    425,383      NA       12,500,000   5,600,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Source: USDA, NASS, Catfish Production, February 3, 1998.
2/  Source: USDA, APHIS, Wildlife-Caused Losses for Catfish Producers in 1996.
3/  Average of operations reporting wildlife caused losses.  May not calculate
    due to rounding proccedures and non-response calculations.
4/  Average of those operations reporting expenses to prevent wildlife caused
    losses.  May not calculate due to rounding procedures and non-response
    calculations.
5/  Includes FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, and TN.
6/  Includes CA, KS, MO, and OK.
7/  Includes LA and TX.
 
 
 
                   Catfish Production Estimates
 
Survey Procedures: About 1,400 operators were contacted during the first
half of January by mail, telephone, and personal face-to-face interview,
and 86 percent provided a usable report. An attempt was made to contact
all known catfish producers during this time. States use every available
source of producer names to make their list as complete as possible.
Great care is exercised to ensure that all operations are accounted for
in the estimates.
 
Estimation 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. Data for
missing operations are estimated based on similar operations or
historical data.
 
Reliability: Catfish production estimates are based on a census of all
known active producers and, therefore, have no sampling variability.
However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions,
duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of the
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.
 
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.
 
 
Definitions Used for Catfish Production:
 
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.
 
Large Foodsize - Fish weighing over 3 pounds.
 
Medium Foodsize - Fish weighing over one and one-half pounds to 3 pounds.
 
Small Foodsize - Fish weighing over three-fourths pound to one and one-half
pounds.
 
Large Stockers - Fish weighing over (180 pounds to 750 pounds) per 1,000 fish.
 
Small Stockers - Fish weighing over (60 pounds to 180 pounds) per 1,000 fish.
 
Fingerlings/Fry - Fish weighing 60 pounds per 1,000 fish and less.
 
 
The next "Catfish Production" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on July 30,
1998.
 
 
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TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
 
 
 
 
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