Catfish Production - Release - 04-02-2019

Catfish Production
ISSN: 1948-271X

Released April 2, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Catfish Value of Sales Down 5 percent from 2017
Catfish growers in the United States had sales of 360 million dollars during 2018, down 5 percent from 380 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 335 million dollars decreased by 6 percent from the
previous year. Sales of stockers totaled 7.73 million dollars in 2018, compared to 4.50 million dollars in 2017. Fingerling
and fry sales totaled 16.3 million dollars, down 13 percent from 2017.
By point of first sale, direct sales to processors accounted for 94.3 percent of total foodsize fish sales, down 2 percent
from the previous year. Direct sales to other producers accounted for 31.6 percent of stocker sales compared to 62.5
percent in 2017.

Water Surface Acres Down 1 Percent from January 1, 2018
The water surface acres being used for catfish production as of January 1, 2019, totaled 63.3 thousand acres, down 1
percent from the 63.8 thousand acres used a year earlier. Of the total acres, 5.49 thousand are to be renovated during the
period of January 1 to June 30, 2019. An additional 780 acres are under construction or expected to be constructed and in
use by July 1, 2019. During the period of July 1 through December 31, 2018, the area taken out of production totaled
1,890 acres. As of January 1, 2019, foodsize fish were produced on 51.6 thousand acres, fingerling producing acres
totaled 6.99 thousand, and 1.83 thousand acres were being used for broodfish production.

Inventory Numbers
Catfish producers had 560 thousand broodfish on hand January 1, 2019, down 16 percent from January 1, 2018. Large
foodsize fish on hand totaled 6.41 million on January 1, 2019, up 36 percent from a year ago. The number of medium
foodsize fish were down 12 percent from last year to 49.6 million, while small foodsize fish numbers are also down 11
percent from January 2018 to 88.9 million. Large stockers on hand January 1, 2019, at 106 million fish, were down 14
percent from the previous year. Small stocker numbers were down 35 percent from last year to 167 million. There were
344 million fingerlings on hand January 1, 2019, up 62 percent from January 1, 2018.

Catfish Water Surface Acres Used for Production and Total Sales – States and
United States: 2017-2019
Water surface acres
used for production
during January 1 - June 30

State

Total sales

2018

2019

2017

2018

(acres)

(acres)

(1,000 dollars)

(1,000 dollars)

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

16,600
4,800
1,300
36,200
1,100
1,700

16,800
4,300
1,100
35,700
1,300
1,900

114,596
20,607
5,051
214,596
3,126
15,636

91,128
21,624
9,109
207,543
2,932
20,889

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

2,060

2,220

6,101

7,176

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

63,760

63,320

379,713

360,401

1

Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure.

Catfish Water Surface Acre Usage – States and United States: 2017-2019
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

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2017

2018

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

(acres)

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

16,000
3,000
1,000
27,000
1,000
1,600

16,500
3,000
910
27,100
1,200
1,700

290
1,300
150
5,900
60
40

110
910
(D)
4,900
(D)
55

60
195
70
1,400
(D)
40

(D)
235
35
1,300
(D)
50

570
390
95
2,100
100
240

300
440
90
(D)
(D)
80

170
(D)
(D)
100
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
660
(D)

270
(D)
25
45
(D)
350

350
550
(D)
540
(D)
195

Other States 1 ....

960

1,220

660

1,010

175

210

120

4,575

120

120

200

255

United States .....

50,560

51,630

8,400

6,985

1,940

1,830

3,615

5,485

390

780

890

1,890

- 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 (April 2019)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish, Foodsize Inventory by Size Category – States and United States: January 1, 2018 and 2019
Live weight

Number of fish

Size category
and State

Total

Average

2018

2019

2018

2019

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

2018

2019

(pounds per fish) (pounds per fish)

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

1,650
440
(D)
1,990
140
230

3,300
(D)
(D)
1,600
200
(D)

6,150
1,520
(D)
7,400
478
973

12,200
(D)
(D)
6,000
647
(D)

3.7
3.5
(D)
3.7
3.4
4.2

3.7
(D)
(D)
3.8
3.2
(D)

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

250

1,310

811

4,861

3.2

3.7

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

4,700

6,410

17,332

23,708

3.7

3.7

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

15,000
3,370
680
30,100
620
6,270

18,000
(D)
(D)
22,700
730
3,520

29,500
6,400
1,190
56,500
1,140
12,300

35,400
(D)
(D)
41,200
1,550
6,850

2.0
1.9
1.8
1.9
1.8
2.0

2.0
(D)
(D)
1.8
2.1
1.9

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

485

4,625

849

8,409

1.8

1.8

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

56,525

49,575

107,879

93,409

1.9

1.9

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

23,100
6,510
(D)
66,400
920
1,080

24,100
6,370
(D)
50,500
1,770
(D)

24,100
6,550
(D)
70,300
912
1,080

24,600
6,150
(D)
50,500
1,810
(D)

1.0
1.0
(D)
1.1
1.0
1.0

1.0
1.0
(D)
1.0
1.0
(D)

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

2,425

6,150

2,097

6,722

0.9

1.1

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

100,435

88,890

105,039

89,782

1.0

1.0

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

39,750
10,320
2,665
98,490
1,680
7,580

45,400
10,620
2,450
74,800
2,700
6,960

59,750
14,470
3,234
134,200
2,530
14,353

72,200
14,950
2,901
97,700
4,007
11,680

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

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

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

1,175

1,945

1,713

3,461

(NA)

(NA)

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

161,660

144,875

230,250

206,899

(NA)

(NA)

(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 (April 2019)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Catfish, Stockers and Fingerlings Inventory by Size Category – States and United States:
January 1, 2018 and 2019
Size category
and State

Live weight

Number of fish
2018
(1,000)

Total

2019
(1,000)

2018

Average
2019

2018

2019

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds per
1,000 fish)

(pounds per
1,000 fish)

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

56,400
5,190
330
58,100
2,870
(D)

34,100
(D)
(D)
60,100
(D)
(D)

20,800
1,490
97
23,200
1,810
(D)

14,000
(D)
(D)
21,900
(D)
(D)

369
287
294
399
631
(D)

411
(D)
(D)
364
(D)
(D)

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

1,020

11,970

401

4,424

393

370

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

123,910

106,170

47,798

40,324

386

380

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

66,100
23,500
900
154,000
11,200
(D)

42,500
(D)
(D)
92,000
(D)
(D)

5,850
2,350
80
14,100
1,460
(D)

4,000
(D)
(D)
9,500
(D)
(D)

88.5
100.0
88.9
91.6
130.4
(D)

94.1
(D)
(D)
103.3
(D)
(D)

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

2,460

32,890

223

2,725

90.7

82.9

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

258,160

167,390

24,063

16,225

93.2

96.9

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

122,500
28,690
1,230
212,100
14,070
470

76,600
36,650
840
152,100
1,910
1,340

26,650
3,840
177
37,300
3,270
117

18,000
4,850
123
31,400
1,236
222

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

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

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

3,010

4,120

507

718

(NA)

(NA)

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

382,070

273,560

71,861

56,549

(NA)

(NA)

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

15,900
29,900
2,000
145,000
3,200
310

36,700
13,300
2,890
264,000
(D)
(D)

790
1,240
48
5,350
85
14

1,350
521
92
6,800
(D)
(D)

49.7
41.5
24.0
36.9
26.6
45.2

36.8
39.2
31.8
25.8
(D)
(D)

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

15,500

26,985

574

621

37.0

23.0

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

211,810

343,875

8,101

9,384

38.2

27.3

(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.

4

Catfish Production (April 2019)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish, Broodfish Inventory by Size Category – States and United States: January 1, 2018 and 2019
Live weight

Number of fish

Size category
and State

Total

Average

2018

2019

2018

2019

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

2018

2019

(pounds per fish) (pounds per fish)

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

(D)
50
10
550
(D)
5

(D)
(D)
10
300
(D)
5

(D)
198
58
3,050
(D)
25

(D)
(D)
60
1,540
(D)
30

(D)
4.0
5.8
5.5
(D)
5.0

(D)
(D)
6.0
5.1
(D)
6.0

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

55

245

255

1,029

4.6

4.2

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

670

560

3,586

2,659

5.4

4.7

(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 (April 2019)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Catfish Sales – States and United States: 2017 and 2018
Live weight
Size category
and State

Number of fish
2017

Sales

Total

Average

2018

2017

2018

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000
pounds)

(1,000
pounds)

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

66,300
11,100
910
112,000
1,380
6,740

63,600
10,900
1,600
121,000
1,400
8,520

112,900
16,800
1,580
180,500
2,600
14,000

104,600
18,300
2,850
192,000
2,500
20,200

1.7
1.5
1.7
1.6
1.9
2.1

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

1,400

1,780

2,048

3,151

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

199,830

208,800

330,428

343,601

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000
pounds)

(1,000
pounds)

2017

Average price
per pound

Total
2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

(1,000
dollars)

(1,000
dollars)

(dollars)

(dollars)

1.6
1.7
1.8
1.6
1.8
2.4

114,029
18,144
4,945
196,745
3,068
15,540

91,002
18,666
9,063
188,160
2,900
20,806

1.01
1.08
3.13
1.09
1.18
1.11

0.87
1.02
3.18
0.98
1.16
1.03

1.5

1.8

2,961

4,409

1.45

1.40

1.7

1.6

355,432

335,006

1.08

0.97

(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 .................
Mississippi ..............
North Carolina .........
Texas ......................

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

24,960

65,465

2,856

6,553

114

100

4,501

7,727

1.58

1.18

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

24,960

65,465

2,856

6,553

114

100

4,501

7,727

1.58

1.18

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

390
(D)
220
162,000
(D)
470

(D)
12,400
190
168,000
(D)
(D)

9
(D)
5
6,900
(D)
21

(D)
472
5
5,950
(D)
(D)

23.1
(D)
22.7
42.6
(D)
44.7

(D)
38.1
26.3
35.4
(D)
(D)

82
(D)
56
15,456
(D)
59

(D)
939
42
14,340
(D)
(D)

9.15
(D)
11.20
2.24
(D)
2.81

(D)
1.99
8.30
2.41
(D)
(D)

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

31,875

54,685

1,138

315

35.7

5.8

3,064

956

2.69

3.03

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

194,955

235,275

8,073

6,742

41.4

28.7

18,717

16,277

2.32

2.41

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

6

Catfish Production (April 2019)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish, Broodfish Sales – States and United States: 2017 and 2018
Live weight
Size category
and State

Number of fish
2017
(1,000)

Total

Sales
Average

Average price
per pound

Total

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

(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 .................
Mississippi ...............
North Carolina .........
Texas .......................

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

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

210

410

884

1,708

4.2

4.2

1,063

1,391

1.20

0.81

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

210

410

884

1,708

4.2

4.2

1,063

1,391

1.20

0.81

- 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 (April 2019)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Catfish, Foodsize and Stockers Percent Sold by Point of First Sale – United States: 2017 and 2018
[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

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

96.4

94.3

0.3

0.6

1.6

2.4

0.6

1.2

1.2

1.5

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

Wholesale to
other producers

Recreational
stocking

Live haulers
and brokers

Government
agencies

Other
outlets

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

62.5

31.6

18.8

5.5

10.3

59.4

7.0

3.6

1.4

-

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 (April 2019)
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 six published states and a
sample of producers from the remaining states. 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 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
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.
Reliability: In the six 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 (April 2019)
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]
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Tony Dorn, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ..................................................................... (202) 690-3223
Holly Brenize – Poultry Slaughter ............................................................................................................. (202) 720-0585
Alissa Cowell-Mytar – Cold Storage, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses .......................................... (202) 720-4751
Liana Cuffman – Catfish and Trout, Egg Products, Mink, Census of Aquaculture ................................. (202) 720-8784
Adam Peters – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ................................................................................ (202) 690-3237
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3676
Fatema Haque – Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ................................................................................. (202) 720-3244
Erica Sadler – Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies ............................................................. (202) 720-6147

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: 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 www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” or “State” in upper right corner above “search”
box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive.
 Cornell’s Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS’s and other agency’s archived reports. The
new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from the new
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subscribe, they are located at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist [email protected] in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders.
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].
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for
employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where
applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program
or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or
employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form (PDF), found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, or
at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the
information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax
(202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].