Aq 4 (2-08) Catfish Feed Deliveries National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 21, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Catfish Feed Deliveries" call Charles Butler at 601-965-4575, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. January 2008 Catfish Feed Deliveries Down 24 Percent from Last Year Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during January 2008 was 3,609 tons, down 24 percent from January 2007 and down 51 percent from the previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 3,316 tons, down 26 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for fingerlings and broodfish totaled 293 tons, up 5 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. January feed delivered to Alabama catfish growers for foodsize fish totaled 1,617 tons, down 20 percent from last year. Alabama accounted for 49 percent of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to U.S. farmers. The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in January and their comparison to the previous year were: Arkansas with 160 tons, down 20 percent; Louisiana with 30 tons, up significantly; and Mississippi with 825 tons, down 21 percent from last year. Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, United States, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 1/ : 2008 : Year : 2007 1/ : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Tons ------ Percent ------ Tons ------ Percent : Jan : 4,500 3,316 74 4,500 3,316 74 Feb : 6,058 10,558 Mar : 38,718 49,276 Apr : 40,998 90,274 May : 102,859 193,133 Jun : 127,246 320,379 Jul : 133,478 453,857 Aug : 135,806 589,663 Sep : 126,105 715,768 Oct : 73,196 788,964 Nov : 21,830 810,794 Dec : 7,209 818,003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Fingerlings and Broodfish, United States, 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 2/ : 2008 : Year : 2007 2/ : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Tons ----- Percent ------ Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 280 293 105 280 293 105 Feb : 367 647 Mar : 2,126 2,773 Apr : 1,967 4,740 May : 4,686 9,426 Jun : 5,560 14,986 Jul : 6,937 21,923 Aug : 10,028 31,951 Sep : 5,118 37,069 Oct : 2,612 39,681 Nov : 544 40,225 Dec : 225 40,450 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ The sum of the published States may not equal the total to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 2/ Revised. Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, Alabama, 2007-2008 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month: By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Tons ------ Percent ------ Tons ------ Percent : Jan : 2,023 1,617 80 2,023 1,617 80 Feb : 1,803 3,826 Mar : 9,324 13,150 Apr : 8,565 21,715 May : 23,384 45,099 Jun : 33,829 78,928 Jul : 36,960 115,888 Aug : 35,532 151,420 Sep : 29,747 181,167 Oct : 19,288 200,455 Nov : 6,628 207,083 Dec : 3,103 210,186 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, Arkansas, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Tons ----- Percent ------ Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 199 160 80 199 160 80 Feb : 529 728 Mar : 6,656 7,384 Apr : 8,029 15,413 May : 21,303 36,716 Jun : 20,950 57,666 Jul : 20,636 78,302 Aug : 23,786 102,088 Sep : 21,371 123,459 Oct : 9,525 132,984 Nov : 2,076 135,060 Dec : 506 135,566 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Fingerlings and Broodfish, Arkansas, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 1/ : 2008 : Year : 2007 1/ : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- Tons ----- Percent ----- Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 108 198 183 108 198 183 Feb : 114 222 Mar : 568 790 Apr : 355 1,145 May : 576 1,721 Jun : 663 2,384 Jul : 774 3,158 Aug : 1,427 4,585 Sep : 1,125 5,710 Oct : 677 6,387 Nov : 181 6,568 Dec : 98 6,666 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, Louisiana, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- Tons ---- Percent ----- Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 11 30 273 11 30 273 Feb : 410 421 Mar : 1,932 2,353 Apr : 1,690 4,043 May : 2,972 7,015 Jun : 3,544 10,559 Jul : 3,658 14,217 Aug : 4,447 18,664 Sep : 3,912 22,576 Oct : 2,890 25,466 Nov : 1,382 26,848 Dec : 133 26,981 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Fingerlings and Broodfish, Louisiana, 2007-2008 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month: By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- Tons --- Percent --- Tons --- Percent : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : 3 3 May : 3 Jun : 2 5 Jul : 5 Aug : 5 Sep : 5 Oct : 5 Nov : 5 Dec : 5 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, Mississippi, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 1/ : 2008 : Year : 2007 1/ : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Tons ----- Percent ------ Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 1,045 825 79 1,045 825 79 Feb : 2,146 3,191 Mar : 16,944 20,135 Apr : 19,217 39,352 May : 49,837 89,189 Jun : 62,580 151,769 Jul : 65,230 216,999 Aug : 65,099 282,098 Sep : 63,635 345,733 Oct : 36,018 381,751 Nov : 8,855 390,606 Dec : 1,645 392,251 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Fingerlings and Broodfish, Mississippi, 2007-2008 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month: By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- Tons ---- Percent ----- Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 66 41 62 66 41 62 Feb : 207 273 Mar : 1,369 1,642 Apr : 1,348 2,990 May : 3,812 6,802 Jun : 4,646 11,448 Jul : 5,764 17,212 Aug : 8,111 25,323 Sep : 3,422 28,745 Oct : 1,737 30,482 Nov : 280 30,762 Dec : 85 30,847 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, Other States East of the Mississippi River, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- Tons ----- Percent ------ Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 568 159 28 568 159 28 Feb : 308 876 Mar : 1,623 2,499 Apr : 1,573 4,072 May : 2,212 6,284 Jun : 2,575 8,859 Jul : 3,548 12,407 Aug : 2,670 15,077 Sep : 2,867 17,944 Oct : 2,223 20,167 Nov : 817 20,984 Dec : 567 21,551 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Foodsize Fish, Other States West of the Mississippi River, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- Tons ----- Percent ------ Tons ----- Percent : Jan : 654 525 80 654 525 80 Feb : 862 1,516 Mar : 2,239 3,755 Apr : 1,924 5,679 May : 3,151 8,830 Jun : 3,768 12,598 Jul : 3,446 16,044 Aug : 4,272 20,316 Sep : 4,573 24,889 Oct : 3,252 28,141 Nov : 2,072 30,213 Dec : 1,255 31,468 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Feed: Tons Delivered For Fingerlings and Broodfish, Other States West of the Mississippi River, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By Month :Percent of : Cumulative :Percent of :-----------------------: Previous :-----------------------: Previous : 2007 : 2008 : Year : 2007 : 2008 : Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- Tons ---- Percent ----- Tons ---- Percent : Jan : 43 11 26 43 11 26 Feb : 20 63 Mar : 114 177 Apr : 110 287 May : 126 413 Jun : 122 535 Jul : 129 664 Aug : 177 841 Sep : 301 1,142 Oct : 85 1,227 Nov : 30 1,257 Dec : 13 1,270 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reliability of Catfish Feed Deliveries Estimates Survey Procedures: All participating catfish feed mills are feed mills that produce and deliver catfish feed to bonafide catfish producers. Survey data for catfish feed are collected from feed mills by the USDA-NASS Mississippi Field Office, which is responsible for ensuring survey coverage is as complete as possible. Mills are contacted by mail, telephone, fax, or internet. Diligent effort is made to ensure that all operations are accounted for in the estimate. Estimation Procedures: The "Catfish Feed Deliveries" report refers strictly to catfish feed delivered to bonafide catfish producers and excludes catfish feed delivered to producers of other species. The totals include both bagged and bulk feed. Prior to summarization, questionnaires are compared to previous reports for comparability. Estimates are made for feed mills whose reports are not available in time to be included in the release. Those mills are identified by an asterisk on page 11 of this release. Estimates are based on the mill's previous reports and current conditions. Published totals are a straight summation of the individual reports and estimated data. If a mill uses a fiscal accounting system, proration is used to convert reported data to a calendar month basis. Two unusual features of this report are worthy of note: (1) cooperating feed mills are listed by name, and (2) it is impossible for the public to infer the amount of catfish feed produced in each State. Since many mills deliver feed to more than one State and to growers of other species, any inferences about overall production per State or per mill are not valid. Revision Policy: Revisions may be necessary in the following month's publication pending a review of late reports received from mills. Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve month to month relationships. Estimates for the previous month are subject to revision in all States and regions monthly totals. In February, all monthly estimates for the previous year are reviewed and subject to revisions. The review is primarily based on data that may have been received after the original estimates were published. Reliability: Estimates are based on data from cooperating catfish feed mills, and therefore have no sampling variability. However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of 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. Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Feed Deliveries 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. Catfish Feed - For the purposes of this report catfish feed is defined as feed delivered to bonafide catfish producers. Thus, it is not the absolute total amount of feed produced or even sold by a mill. (Some catfish feed is sold to producers of other species of fish.) The definition includes medicated feed. Catfish feed is designed to float on the surface of the water. Catfish are fed this way from the moment they hatch. Therefore, they learn to go to the surface for feed. The result is a clean nutritious diet for American farm raised catfish. Catfish Feed for Foodsize Fish - Feed containing pellets larger than 1/8 of an inch. Catfish Feed for Fingerlings/Broodfish - Feed containing pellets 1/8 of an inch or smaller. Fingerlings - Fish weighing 2 to 60 pounds per 1,000 fish or 2 to 6 inches in length. Foodsize Fish - Fish being grown commercially for human consumption. Optimum sizes at harvest depend on the market but are generally no lower than 3/4 pound but near one pound. Data were compiled in cooperation with the following feed mills: Alabama Feed Mill LLC Land O Lakes Arkat Feeds Melick Aqua Feed LLC Cargill Animal Nutrition Rangen Inc. Carolina Fish Feeds Silver Cup Delta Western Southfresh Feeds Fishbelt Feeds Inc. Star Milling Co. Flint River Mills Inc. Topwater Feed Mill 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 Darin Jantzi, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section......(202) 720-3570 Charles Butler - Catfish Feed Deliveries......................(601) 965-4575 David Colwell - Cold Storage..................................(202) 720-8784 Fleming Gibson - Egg Products, Poultry Slaughter, Catfish Processing, Mink.....................(202) 690-3237 Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey...(202) 720-3244 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs....................................(202) 690-8632 Toby Paterson - Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised...............(202) 720-0585 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. 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