Catfish Production - Publication

Catfish Production
ISSN: 1948-271X

Released January 28, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

Catfish Value of Sales Down 20 Percent from 2011
Catfish growers in the United States had sales of 341 million dollars during 2012, down 20 percent from 423 million
dollars the previous year. The top four States (Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas) accounted for 95 percent of
the United States total sales. The United States total foodsize sales of 319 million dollars decreased by 18 percent from the
previous year. Sales of stockers totaled 10.8 million dollars in 2012, compared to 17.1 million dollars in 2011. Fingerling
and fry sales totaled 10.9 million dollars, down 25 percent from 2011.
By point of first sale, direct sales to processors accounted for 96 percent of total foodsize fish sales, up 1 percent from the
previous year. Direct sales to other producers accounted for 93 percent of stocker sales compared with 73 percent in 2011.

Water Surface Acres Down 7 Percent from January 1, 2012
The water surface acres being used for catfish production as of January 1, 2013, totaled 83.0 thousand acres, down 7
percent from the 89.4 thousand acres used a year earlier. Of the total acres, 2.07 thousand are to be renovated during the
period of January 1 to June 30, 2013. An additional 85 acres are under construction or expected to be constructed and in
use by July 1, 2013. During the period of July 1 through December 31, 2012, the area taken out of production totaled
5.29 thousand acres. As of January 1, 2013, foodsize fish were produced on 65.6 thousand acres, fingerling-producing
acres totaled 12.7 thousand, and 2.18 thousand acres were being used for broodfish production.

Inventory Numbers
Catfish producers had 540 thousand broodfish on hand January 1, 2013, down 4 percent from January 1, 2012. Large
foodsize fish on hand totaled 5.2 million on January 1, 2013, a 43 percent increase from a year ago. The number of
medium foodsize fish decreased 10 percent to 58.0 million, while small foodsize fish numbers decreased 8 percent to
104 million. Large stockers on hand January 1, 2013, at 127 million fish, were down 23 percent from the previous year.
Small stocker numbers decreased 29 percent to 212 million. There were 399 million fingerlings on hand January 1, 2013,
down 12 percent from January 1, 2012.

Number of Catfish Operations, Water Surface Acres Used for Production, and Total Sales – States and
United States: 2011-2013
Number of
operations
on January 1 1

State

Water surface acres
used for production
during January 1 - June 30

Total sales

2012

2013

2012

2013

2011

2012

(number)

(number)

(acres)

(acres)

(1,000 dollars)

(1,000 dollars)

Alabama .......................
Arkansas .......................
California ......................
Louisiana ......................
Mississippi ....................
North Carolina ...............
Texas ............................

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

18,500
9,700
1,600
890
51,200
1,600
2,800

18,200
8,200
1,300
320
48,600
1,500
2,200

132,782
33,452
8,535
2,610
215,134
5,539
19,896

110,581
22,006
6,629
1,081
175,366
5,701
14,433

Other States 2 ...............

(NA)

(NA)

3,100

2,700

5,257

4,767

United States ................

718

624

89,390

83,020

423,205

340,564

(NA) Not available.
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 – States and United States: 2011-2013
Acres intended for utilization during January 1 - June 30
State

Foodsize

Fingerlings

Currently under
or scheduled for:

Broodfish

Renovation

New construction

Acres taken out
of production
during
July 1 December 31

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2011

2012

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama ............
Arkansas ............
California ...........
Louisiana ...........
Mississippi .........
North Carolina ....
Texas .................

17,800
7,200
1,100
890
39,300
1,400
2,500

17,700
6,200
950
320
36,300
1,100
2,000

430
1,900
240
9,600
(D)
105

420
1,600
180
9,100
290
50

130
200
85
1,500
(D)
65

55
270
80
1,400
(D)
65

510
320
(D)
(D)
1,700
75
90

175
120
(D)
(D)
1,300
60
(D)

(D)
(D)
85
(D)
40

(D)
(D)
(D)

200
1,200
(D)
480
700
15
210

650
1,100
(D)
(D)
3,000
(D)
170

Other States 1 ....

1,300

1,000

1,455

1,100

260

310

385

415

295

85

150

370

United States .....

71,490

65,570

13,730

12,740

2,240

2,180

3,080

2,070

420

85

2,955

5,290

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

2

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish Inventory by Size Category – States and United States: January 1, 2012 and 2013
Live weight

Number of fish

Size category
and State

Total

Average

2012

2013

2012

2013

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

2012

2013

(pounds per fish) (pounds per fish)

Large foodsize
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana .....................................
Mississippi ...................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ...........................................

1,360
190
(D)
(D)
1,210
135
290

1,560
450
(D)
20
2,450
(D)
270

4,700
608
(D)
(D)
4,100
487
993

5,800
1,530
(D)
69
8,400
(D)
970

3.5
3.2
(D)
(D)
3.4
3.6
3.4

3.7
3.4
(D)
3.5
3.4
(D)
3.6

Other States 1 ..............................

410

405

1,477

1,319

3.6

3.3

United States ...............................

3,595

5,155

12,365

18,088

3.4

3.5

Medium foodsize
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana .....................................
Mississippi ...................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ...........................................

18,300
4,490
230
(D)
33,400
1,080
5,780

15,800
5,470
(D)
(D)
31,800
1,470
2,550

36,300
8,300
449
(D)
61,000
1,990
11,000

30,400
10,500
(D)
(D)
60,700
2,650
5,200

2.0
1.8
2.0
(D)
1.8
1.8
1.9

1.9
1.9
(D)
(D)
1.9
1.8
2.0

Other States 1 ..............................

1,460

925

2,530

1,820

1.7

2.0

United States ...............................

64,740

58,015

121,569

111,270

1.9

1.9

Small foodsize
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana .....................................
Mississippi ...................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ...........................................

31,800
8,410
(D)
1,560
65,700
2,150
1,140

27,800
7,080
1,650
(D)
62,200
(D)
2,380

32,200
8,150
(D)
1,130
65,900
2,050
1,290

27,800
7,450
1,460
(D)
61,800
(D)
2,900

1.0
1.0
(D)
0.7
1.0
1.0
1.1

1.0
1.1
0.9
(D)
1.0
(D)
1.2

Other States 1 ..............................

2,210

2,410

2,030

2,523

0.9

1.0

United States ...............................

112,970

103,520

112,750

103,933

1.0

1.0

Total foodsize
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana .....................................
Mississippi ...................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ...........................................

51,460
13,090
1,520
2,665
100,310
3,365
7,210

45,160
13,000
2,065
475
96,450
3,160
5,200

73,200
17,058
1,837
3,184
131,000
4,527
13,283

64,000
19,480
2,399
803
130,900
4,831
9,070

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

Other States 1 ..............................

1,685

1,180

2,595

1,808

(NA)

(NA)

United States ...............................

181,305

166,690

246,684

233,291

(NA)

See footnote(s) at end of table.

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

(NA)
--continued

3

Catfish Inventory by Size Category – States and United States: January 1, 2012 and 2013 (continued)
Size category
and State

Live weight

Number of fish
2012
(1,000)

Total

2013
(1,000)

2012

Average
2013

2012

2013

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds per
1,000 fish)

(pounds per
1,000 fish)

Large stockers
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana ....................................
Mississippi ..................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ..........................................

49,600
11,000
(D)
(D)
92,000
5,280
(D)

33,200
14,100
1,110
73,700
(D)
(D)

17,300
4,100
(D)
(D)
36,100
2,950
(D)

13,200
5,450
361
28,200
(D)
(D)

349
373
(D)
(D)
392
559
(D)

398
387
325
383
(D)
(D)

Other States 1 .............................

7,525

5,000

4,044

2,191

537

438

United States ..............................

165,405

127,110

64,494

49,402

390

389

Small stockers
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana ....................................
Mississippi ..................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ..........................................

126,000
42,100
(D)
118,000
7,960
(D)

38,100
31,900
1,490
132,000
(D)
(D)

12,100
3,700
(D)
11,900
1,160
(D)

3,500
3,100
139
12,100
(D)
(D)

96.0
87.9
(D)
100.8
145.7
(D)

91.9
97.2
93.3
91.7
(D)
(D)

Other States 1 .............................

4,020

8,660

369

990

91.8

114.3

United States ..............................

298,080

212,150

29,229

19,829

98.1

93.5

Total stockers
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana ....................................
Mississippi ..................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ..........................................

175,600
53,100
(D)
(D)
210,000
13,240
(D)

71,300
46,000
2,600
205,700
8,240
(D)

29,400
7,800
(D)
(D)
48,000
4,110
(D)

16,700
8,550
500
40,300
2,162
(D)

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

Other States 1 .............................

11,545

5,420

4,413

1,019

(NA)

(NA)

United States ..............................

463,485

339,260

93,723

69,231

(NA)

(NA)

Fingerlings
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana ....................................
Mississippi ..................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ..........................................

38,100
42,000
3,710
332,000
7,090
(D)

16,600
39,400
4,400
299,000
8,350
(D)

1,120
1,570
110
10,400
197
(D)

568
1,490
97
7,350
182
(D)

29.4
37.4
29.6
31.3
27.8
(D)

34.2
37.8
22.0
24.6
21.8
(D)

Other States 1 .............................

28,200

30,760

644

716

22.8

23.3

United States ..............................

451,100

398,510

14,041

10,403

31.1

26.1

See footnote(s) at end of table.

4

--continued

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish Inventory by Size Category – States and United States: January 1, 2012 and 2013 (continued)
Live weight

Number of fish

Size category
and State

Total

Average

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

2013

(pounds per fish) (pounds per fish)

Broodfish
Alabama ......................................
Arkansas .....................................
California .....................................
Louisiana .....................................
Mississippi ...................................
North Carolina .............................
Texas ...........................................

15
70
15
380
7
15

10
40
10
400
(D)
10

52
266
95
1,930
68
63

47
206
69
2,250
(D)
47

3.5
3.8
6.3
5.1
9.7
4.2

4.7
5.2
6.9
5.6
(D)
4.7

Other States 1 ..............................

60

70

337

297

5.6

4.2

United States ...............................

562

540

2,811

2,916

5.0

5.4

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Catfish Sales by Size Category – States and United States: 2011 and 2012
Live weight
Size category
and State

Number of fish
2011

Sales

Total

Average

2012

2011

2012

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000
pounds)

(1,000
pounds)

Foodsize
Alabama ..................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Louisiana ................
Mississippi ..............
North Carolina .........
Texas ......................

62,300
14,800
1,360
1,810
107,000
2,970
10,400

64,700
11,300
1,260
570
117,000
2,940
7,700

119,200
25,500
2,850
2,250
173,900
5,200
16,900

122,600
20,000
2,150
756
174,800
5,200
12,700

1.9
1.7
2.1
1.2
1.6
1.8
1.6

Other States 1 .........

1,240

1,160

2,200

1,960

United States ..........

201,880

206,630

348,000

340,166

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000
pounds)

(1,000
pounds)

2011

Average price
per pound

Total
2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

(1,000
dollars)

(1,000
dollars)

(dollars)

(dollars)

1.9
1.8
1.7
1.3
1.5
1.8
1.6

132,312
26,775
8,379
2,610
193,029
5,408
19,266

110,340
17,400
6,472
1,081
160,816
5,668
14,224

1.11
1.05
2.94
1.16
1.11
1.04
1.14

0.90
0.87
3.01
1.43
0.92
1.09
1.12

1.8

1.7

2,970

2,783

1.35

1.42

1.7

1.6

390,749

318,784

1.12

0.94

(1,000
dollars)

(1,000
dollars)

(pounds per (pounds per
fish)
fish)

(pounds per (pounds per
1,000 fish) 1,000 fish)

(dollars)

(dollars)

Stockers
Alabama ..................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Louisiana ................
Mississippi ..............
North Carolina .........
Texas ......................

(D)
(D)
(D)
48,900
(D)
25

(D)
(D)
(D)
26,800
(D)
40

(D)
(D)
(D)
7,700
(D)
6

(D)
(D)
(D)
5,450
(D)
7

(D)
(D)
(D)
157
(D)
240

(D)
(D)
(D)
203
(D)
175

(D)
(D)
(D)
10,780
(D)
12

(D)
(D)
(D)
6,813
(D)
11

(D)
(D)
(D)
1.40
(D)
1.95

(D)
(D)
(D)
1.25
(D)
1.59

Other States 1 .........

27,760

25,675

4,069

2,938

147

114

6,312

3,926

1.55

1.34

United States ..........

76,685

52,515

11,775

8,395

154

160

17,104

10,750

1.45

1.28

Fingerlings and fry
Alabama ..................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Louisiana ................
Mississippi ..............
North Carolina .........
Texas ......................

(D)
19,700
870
216,000
(D)
(D)

2,500
(D)
830
217,000
(D)
2,250

(D)
543
26
8,800
(D)
(D)

76
(D)
22
6,200
(D)
103

(D)
27.6
29.9
40.7
(D)
(D)

30.4
(D)
26.5
28.6
(D)
45.8

(D)
1,368
111
11,000
(D)
(D)

220
(D)
135
7,688
(D)
198

(D)
2.52
4.27
1.25
(D)
(D)

2.90
(D)
6.15
1.24
(D)
1.92

Other States 1 .........

21,020

25,640

769

951

36.6

37.1

2,073

2,694

2.70

2.83

United States ..........

257,590

248,220

10,138

7,352

39.4

29.6

14,552

10,935

1.44

See footnote(s) at end of table.

6

1.49
--continued

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish Sales by Size Category – States and United States: 2011 and 2012 (continued)
Live weight
Size category
and State

Number of fish
2011
(1,000)

Total

Sales
Average

Average price
per pound

Total

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

(1,000)

(1,000
pounds)

(1,000
pounds)

(pounds
per fish)

(pounds
per fish)

(1,000
dollars)

(1,000
dollars)

(dollars)

(dollars)

Broodfish
Alabama ..................
Arkansas .................
California .................
Louisiana .................
Mississippi ...............
North Carolina .........
Texas .......................

(D)
(D)
(D)
50
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
215
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
4.3
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
325
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
1.51
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

Other States 1 ..........

105

15

348

77

3.3

5.1

475

95

1.36

1.23

United States ...........

155

15

563

77

3.6

5.1

800

95

1.42

1.23

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Catfish, Foodsize and Stockers Percent Sold by Point of First Sale – United States: 2011 and 2012
[Point of First Sale by outlet may not add to 100 percent due to rounding]
Size category

Recreational
stocking

Processors

Live haulers
and brokers

Retail
outlets

Other
outlets

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

95.1

95.6

0.5

0.3

1.2

1.9

1.6

0.9

1.6

1.3

Foodsize
United States ..............

Wholesale to
other producers

Recreational
stocking

Live haulers
and brokers

Government
agencies

Other
outlets

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

2011

2012

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

73.2

93.0

3.0

1.6

17.7

5.4

6.0

-

-

0.1

Stockers
United States ..............
- Represents zero.

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.

8

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Terms and Definitions Used to Describe Point of First Sale
Government Agencies: Sales to Federal, State, or local government agencies for the purpose of stocking public waters.
Live Hauler/Broker: Sales made to an individual or company that generally purchases live fish from a producer and
transports them in an oxygenated tank truck to other outlets.
Other Outlets: Sales to outlets not meeting one of the other defined outlets.
Point of First Sale Outlet: The first point at which money changes hands.
Processors: Sales made directly to a plant for processing.
Recreational Stocking: Only includes fish sold to individuals or private entities for the sole purpose of stocking
recreational waters.
Retail Outlets: Fish sold directly to entities who buy fish to re-sell to consumers. Includes grocers, restaurants, and fish
markets.
Wholesale to Other Producers: Fish sold to other producers for the intention of growing out for further sale at a later
time.

Statistical Methodology
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.

Catfish Production (January 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

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 [email protected]
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ................................................................... (202) 720-4447
Cody Brokmeyer – Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ............................................... (202) 690-3237
David Colwell – Cold Storage .................................................................................................................. (202) 720-8784
LaKeya Jones – Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Honey, Mink ................................................................................................. (202) 720-0585
Dawn Keen – Egg Products ...................................................................................................................... (202) 720-4448
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-8632
Miste Salmon – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery .............................................................................. (202) 720-3244
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: http://www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive reports by
Email,” click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].
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