Catfish Production - Release

Catfish
Production
Washington, D.C.

Released January 29, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture. For information on Catfish Production call Chris Hawthorn at (202) 720-0585, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Catfish Value of Sales Down 9 Percent from 2008
Catfish growers in the U.S. had sales of 373 million dollars during 2009, down 9 percent from 410 million
dollars the previous year. The top four States (Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas) accounted for 93
percent of the U.S. total sales. The U.S. sales total of all foodsize fish decreased by 10 percent from 2008 to
352 million dollars in 2009. Fingerling and fry sales totaled 13 million dollars, an increase of 7 percent from
2008. Sales of stockers totaled 7 million dollars in 2009, compared to 8 million dollars in 2008.
By point of first sale, direct sales to processors accounted for 94 percent of total foodsize fish sales
compared with 95 percent from the previous year. Direct sales to other producers accounted for 87 percent
of stocker sales compared with 89 percent in 2008.

Water Surface Acres Down 22 Percent from January 1, 2009
The water surface acres being used for catfish production as of January 1, 2010 totaled 115 thousand acres,
down 22 percent from the 147 thousand acres used a year earlier. Of the total acres, 3 thousand are to be
renovated during the period of January 1 to June 30, 2010. An additional 140 acres are under construction or
expected to be constructed and in use by July 1, 2010. During the period of July 1 through
December 31, 2009, the area taken out of production totaled 10 thousand acres. As of January 1, 2010,
foodsize fish were produced on 97 thousand acres, fingerling-producing acres totaled 14 thousand, and
2 thousand acres were being used for broodfish production.

Inventory Numbers
Catfish producers had 544 thousand broodfish on hand January 1, 2010, down 23 percent from
January 1, 2009. Large foodsize fish on hand totaled 9 million on January 1, 2010, an 8 percent decrease
from a year ago. The number of medium foodsize fish decreased 13 percent to 92 million, while small
foodsize fish numbers decreased 13 percent to 169 million. Large stockers on hand January 1, 2010, at
152 million fish, were down 41 percent from the previous year. Small stocker numbers decreased
35 percent to 213 million. There were 430 million fingerlings on hand January 1, 2010, down 41 percent
from January 1, 2009.

Aq 2 (1-10)

Catfish: Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres Used for
Production, 2009-2010, and Total Sales, 2008-2009, by State and United States
Number of
Water Surface Acres
Operations
Used for Production
Total Sales
on Jan 1
During Jan 1 - Jun 30

State

2009 1

2010 1

2009

2010

2008

2009

Number

Number

Acres

Acres

1,000 Dollars

1,000 Dollars

AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

22,100
25,000
2,400
6,300
80,200
2,200
3,800

19,800
19,200
1,500
1,800
64,000
1,900
2,900

93,254
64,263
7,913
11,883
206,288
7,221
13,212

90,688
44,914
8,074
8,395
196,787
5,495
12,644

4,900

3,700

5,964

5,570

146,900

114,800

409,998

372,567

Oth Sts 2
US

1,306

994

1

State level number of operations will only be published every five years in conjunction with the Census of Agriculture.
2
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish: Water Surface Acre Usage, by State and United States, 2008-2010
Acres Intended for Utilization During January 1- June 30
State

Foodsize

Fingerlings

Acres Taken Out
of Production
During
July 1New Construction
December 31

Currently Under
or Scheduled for:

Broodfish

Renovation

AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

2008

2009

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

21,100
21,300
1,700
4,900
64,000
2,000
3,100

19,200
16,600
1,100
1,700
52,000
1,600
2,600

480
2,800
290
480
12,100
160
420

380
2,200
190
50
9,700
200
190

320
250
100

120
250
80

1,400
70
220

1,300
50
70

180
700
140
640
2,800
150
205

120
570
70
10
2,100
90
85

370
2,200
*
2,800
3,500
40
135

2,500

1,900

1,700

1,300

340

370

200

120,600

96,700

18,430

14,210

2,700

2,240

5,015

85

30

320

*

*
75

50
*
50

1,000
2,500
*
1,300
6,700
55
550

65

40

10

660

840

3,110

520

140

12,765

9,885

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production
January 2010

2

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State
and United States, January 1, 2009-2010
Size Category
and State

Large Foodsize
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US
Medium Foodsize
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US
Small Foodsize
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US
Total Foodsize
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US

Live Weight

Number of Fish

Total

Average

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

1,000

1,000

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Pounds per Fish

Pounds per Fish

2,200
1,290
*
430
4,290
260
530

2,400
1,190
100
380
3,800
230
340

7,750
4,550
*
1,490
15,200
825
1,760

8,500
4,300
340
1,300
12,900
740
1,190

3.5
3.5
*
3.5
3.5
3.2
3.3

3.5
3.6
3.4
3.4
3.4
3.2
3.5

316

130

1,121

442

3.5

3.4

9,316

8,570

32,696

29,712

3.5

3.5

23,500
14,300
*
3,210
57,100
1,570
4,140

30,400
11,300
270
830
42,700
1,900
3,440

50,000
28,100
*
7,000
111,300
3,050
8,050

56,400
21,700
540
1,670
82,800
4,000
6,700

2.1
2.0
*
2.2
1.9
1.9
1.9

1.9
1.9
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.1
1.9

1,790

750

3,380

1,440

1.9

1.9

105,610

91,590

210,880

175,250

2.0

1.9

37,400
29,300
890
2,820
114,000
2,540
5,170

42,500
19,400
1,980
1,300
94,000
3,040
5,190

39,300
30,900
943
2,800
119,500
2,850
4,500

44,800
19,700
1,790
1,220
93,500
3,850
5,050

1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.1
0.9

1.1
1.0
0.9
0.9
1.0
1.3
1.0

1,750

1,210

1,630

1,010

0.9

0.8

193,870

168,620

202,423

170,920

1.0

1.0

63,100
44,890
1,624
6,460
175,390
4,370
9,840

75,300
31,890
2,350
2,510
140,500
5,170
8,970

97,050
63,550
2,593
11,290
246,000
6,725
14,310

109,700
45,700
2,670
4,190
189,200
8,590
12,940

3,122

2,090

4,481

2,892

308,796

268,780

445,999

375,882

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production
January 2010

3

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State
and United States, January 1, 2009-2010
Size Category
and State

2009
1,000

Large Stockers
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

Live Weight

Number of Fish

Total

2010

2009

1,000

Average
2010

1,000 Pounds

2009

1,000 Pounds

1

2010

Pounds per 1,000 Pounds per 1,000
Fish
Fish

40,700
27,500
*
2,820
179,000
4,870
*

21,000
19,100
*
*
103,000
5,070
*

16,900
11,400
*
1,120
67,900
2,800
*

10,200
7,550
*
*
44,200
3,150
*

415
415
*
397
379
575
*

486
395
*
*
429
621
*

3,750

4,020

1,216

1,395

324

347

258,640

152,190

101,336

66,495

392

437

32,600
38,100
*
4,580
234,000
11,400
*

25,700
33,100
890
*
144,000
350
*

3,200
4,650
*
475
24,600
1,640
*

2,900
3,250
120
*
14,100
38
*

98.2
122.0
*
103.7
105.1
143.9
*

112.8
98.2
134.8
*
97.9
108.6
*

6,749

9,140

670

808

99.3

88.4

327,429

213,180

35,235

21,216

107.6

99.5

73,300
65,600
5,030
7,400
413,000
16,270
99

46,700
52,200
1,490
*
247,000
5,420
980

20,100
16,050
1,084
1,595
92,500
4,440
12

13,100
10,800
450
*
58,300
3,188
140

5,370

11,580

790

1,733

586,069

365,370

136,571

87,711

Fingerlings
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

78,800
74,700
4,500
7,710
511,000
5,530
25,100

23,400
44,200
5,160
*
323,000
8,000
10,300

3,150
3,000
129
289
14,100
139
1,190

1,250
1,700
190
*
10,500
230
490

40.0
40.2
28.7
37.5
27.6
25.1
47.4

53.4
38.5
36.8
*
32.5
28.8
47.6

Oth Sts 2

21,000

15,530

683

685

32.5

44.1

728,340

429,590

22,680

15,045

31.1

35.0

Oth Sts 2
US
Small Stockers
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 2
US
Total Stockers
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 2
US

US

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1
Revised.
2
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production
January 2010

4

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State
and United States, January 1, 2009-2010
Size Category
and State

Broodfish
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US

Live Weight

Number of Fish

Total

Average

2009

2010

2009

2010

2009

2010

1,000

1,000

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Pounds per Fish

Pounds per Fish

5.1
5.0
4.7
5.1
6.3
4.9

7.3
4.2
5.3
*
5.4
6.8
6.0

39
70
19
420
10
86

10
50
17
*
350
11
20

197
352
89
2,150
63
424

73
212
90
*
1,900
75
120

60

86

265

478

4.4

5.6

704

544

3,540

2,948

5.0

5.4

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production
January 2010

5

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Catfish: Sales by Size Category, by State
and United States, 2008-2009
Live Weight
Size Category
and State

Number of Fish
2008

Foodsize
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US

Stockers
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

Total

Sales

Average

Average price
per pound

Total

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

1,000

1,000

1,000
Pounds

1,000
Pounds

Pounds per
fish

Pounds per
fish

1,000
Dollars

1,000
Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

82,600
51,100
2,220
7,420
143,000
4,040
11,100

66,600
31,200
2,550
4,660
146,000
3,120
10,500

131,600
83,700
3,150
15,400
252,370
8,050
16,900

128,900
58,100
3,400
11,500
249,000
6,150
16,100

1.6
1.6
1.4
2.1
1.8
2.0
1.5

1.9
1.9
1.3
2.5
1.7
2.0
1.5

92,120
62,775
7,592
11,827
191,801
6,843
12,844

90,230
42,994
7,820
8,395
181,770
5,166
12,558

0.70
0.75
2.41
0.77
0.76
0.85
0.76

0.70
0.74
2.30
0.73
0.73
0.84
0.78

2,530

1,680

3,750

2,800

1.5

1.7

3,488

3,080

0.93

1.10

304,010

266,310

514,920

475,950

1.7

1.8

389,290

352,013

0.76

0.74

1,000

1,000

1,000
Pounds

1,000
Pounds

Pounds per
1,000 fish

Pounds per
1,000 fish

1,000
Dollars

1,000
Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

3,700
*
135

500
*

262
*
76

280
*

71
*
563

560
*

472
*
219

202
*

1.80
*
2.88

0.72
*

60,200
*
*

40,000
*
130

6,000
*
*

4,500
*
20

100
*
*

113
*
154

6,060
*
*

4,635
*
22

1.01
*
*

1.03
*
1.08

Oth Sts 1

10,440

17,790

1,574

2,657

151

149

1,587

2,626

1.01

0.99

US

74,475

58,420

7,912

7,457

106

128

8,338

7,485

1.05

1.00

11,100
52,300
370
1,540
207,000
3,540
3,170

3,800
29,100
1,300

95
272
73

253
541
222
10,295
329
62

2.77
1.68
4.08
1.80
1.44
1.78
1.27

2.66
1.99
3.04

202,000
3,200
1,270

210
453
16
31
5,800
200
167

20,900

14,700

299,920

255,370

Fingerlings & Fry
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX
Oth Sts 1
US

25.0
9.3
56.2

7,100
190
65

18.9
8.7
43.2
20.1
28.0
56.5
52.7

35.1
59.4
51.2

582
761
65
56
8,352
356
212

544

481

26.0

32.7

1,692

1,193

3.11

2.48

7,421

8,276

24.7

32.4

12,076

12,895

1.63

1.56

1.45
1.73
0.96

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production
January 2010

6

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Catfish: Sales by Size Category, by State
and United States, 2008-2009
Live Weight
Size Category
and State

Number of Fish
2008
1,000

Broodfish
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

7
*
*

Total

Average

2009

2008

2009

1,000

1,000
Pounds

1,000
Pounds

39
*
*

*
*
2
*
25
*
1

Oth Sts 1

29

US

75

36
*
*

Sales

2008

2009

Pounds per Pounds per
Fish
Fish

5.1
*
*

112
*
*

*
*
13
*
100
*
2

15

138

43

286

Average price
per pound

Total
2008

2009

2008

2009

1,000
Dollars

1,000
Dollars

Dollars

Dollars

2.21
*
*
0.67
*
*

*
*
2.46
*
0.87
*
1.17

80
*
*

2.9
*
*

*
*
6.5
*
4.0
*
2.0

75
*
*

*
*
32
*
87
*
2

69

4.8

4.6

139

53

1.01

0.77

184

3.8

4.3

294

174

1.03

0.95

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production
January 2010

7

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Size Category
and State

Foodsize
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

Catfish: Foodsize and Stockers Percent Sold by Point of First Sale,
by State and United States, 2008-2009
Fee-Fishing and
Processor
Live Haulers
Retail
Recreational Use
2008 1

2009

2008 1

2009

2008

2009

2008 1

2009

2008

2009

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

97
96

95
95

98
100
96
83

Oth Sts 2
US 3

95
99
95
83

*
*
10
1
*
*
1

1
*
13
5

20

21

33

95.3

93.9

Other
Producers

Stockers
AL
AR
CA
LA
MS
NC
TX

Other

0.6

1
3
11

1
5
22

*
1

*
*
10

*
15

43

30

24

1.1

1.6

Fee-Fishing and
Recreational Use

*
*
73
*
*
*

1
*
53

2
*
6

2
*
12

*

*
1
6

1
3
1

12

4

6

8

1.5

0.9

1.4

2.1

Live Haulers

1.6
Government

Other

2008

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

2008

2009

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

96
62
*

97
89

1

1

100
*
95

99
*
88

*
*
5

*
*

Oth Sts 2

29

40

4

1

US 3

89.0

86.9

0.8

0.2

2
*
7

*

1
11

1
*
*

1

*
*

1

*
58
8.9

57

4

1

4

1

11.9

0.6

0.2

0.7

0.8

* Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations or data are less than 0.5 percent.
1
Revised.
2
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.
3
Sum of US Point of First Sale by outlet may not add to 100 percent.

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.

Catfish Production
January 2010

8

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Reliability of Catfish Production Estimates
Survey Procedures: Data for catfish production are collected from all known producers in the seven
published states and a sample of producers from the remaining states. Individual NASS 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 January 1 and given adequate time to respond by
mail. Those that do not respond by mail are telephoned or possibly enumerated in person during the middle
of January.
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 were estimated based on
similar operations or historical data. NASS 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 seven published states, Catfish production estimates are based on a census of all known
active producers and therefore, have no sampling variability. However, since all operations in the other
states category are not included in the sample, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey
results are also 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.
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ................................................................................. (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section.......................................... (202) 720-4447
Doug Bounds - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ............................. (202) 690-3237
David Colwell - Cold Storage ........................................................................................... (202) 720-8784
Chris Hawthorn - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink ....................................... (202) 720-0585
Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs .............................................................................................. (202) 690-8632
Troy Marshall - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey .......................................... (202) 720-3244

Catfish Production
January 2010

9

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

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