Hugh Warren, executive vice president, Catfish Farmers of America, says catfish farming is still one of the few ag operations in the region with the capability of being a profitable enterprise. Particularly for row crop farmers who have diversified into catfish production, profits from catfish farming can help offset low prices for other commodities. Although drought and heat have greatly affected many segments of Mississippi agriculture, catfish production has not suffered significantly. Catfish is a warm water fish, and for the most part the fish are continuing to eat and gain weight during the heat of summer, Warren said.
Pond aeration is used to keep oxygen levels high to combat the heat.
Normally it starts getting cooler at night this time of year, said Jim Steeby, area extension agent for aquaculture for the Delta, but with nighttime temperatures staying higher than normal, he likens it to a runner having to go another half mile at the end of the day. That makes it tough on both the fish and workers. Water temperatures have ranged between 90 and 95 degrees recently with ideal temperatures about 10 degrees lower. Catfish producers are also keeping a wary eye on increasing imports of Vietnamese catfish. Although the Vietnamese catfish haven t yet commanded a large share of the market, the imports are a concern, particularly for the long term.