Released February 22, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). NASS US Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. Special Note NASS is in the process of modifying report layouts in order to improve readability. This is the first issue produced using the new layout. This report issue is published using both layouts but future issues will only be produced using this layout. The previous layout is available on the NASS website: http://www.nass.usda.gov. January 2011 Catfish Feed Deliveries Down 25 Percent from Last Year Total catfish feed delivered in the United States during January 2011 was 1,121 tons, down 25 percent from January 2010 and down 66 percent from the previous month. Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 1,045 tons, down 27 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for fingerlings and broodfish totaled 76 tons, up 29 percent from the corresponding month a year ago. January feed delivered to Alabama catfish growers for foodsize fish totaled 212 tons, down 46 percent from last year. Alabama accounted for 20 percent of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to United States farmers. The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in January and their comparison to the previous year were Arkansas with 52 tons, down 32 percent; Louisiana with 18 tons, up 157 percent; and Mississippi with 209 tons, down 7 percent. Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - United States: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ----- percent ----- tons ----- percent : January ..............: 1,433 1,045 73 1,433 1,045 73 February .............: 1,528 2,961 March ................: 12,680 15,641 April ................: 38,080 53,721 May ..................: 60,913 114,634 June .................: 80,769 195,403 July .................: 89,734 285,137 August ...............: 86,024 371,161 September ............: 77,963 449,124 October ..............: 33,567 482,691 November .............: 12,525 495,216 December .............: 3,270 498,486 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - United States: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun. To avoid disclosure of individual operations, State sums may not equal the total] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 59 76 129 59 76 129 February .............: 142 201 March ................: 900 1,101 April ................: 2,065 3,166 May ..................: 3,198 6,364 June .................: 4,917 11,281 July .................: 6,579 17,860 August ...............: 7,004 24,864 September ............: 4,949 29,813 October ..............: 2,198 32,011 November .............: 346 32,357 December .............: 54 32,411 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Delivered - Alabama: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 392 212 54 392 212 54 February .............: 599 991 March ................: 3,472 4,463 April ................: 12,416 16,879 May ..................: 19,589 36,468 June .................: 27,165 63,633 July .................: 30,783 94,416 August ...............: 30,537 124,953 September ............: 25,700 150,653 October ..............: 10,298 160,951 November .............: 5,619 166,570 December .............: 1,524 168,094 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Arkansas: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 76 52 68 76 52 68 February .............: 75 151 March ................: 1,406 1,557 April ................: 4,087 5,644 May ..................: 6,336 11,980 June .................: 7,102 19,082 July .................: 8,802 27,884 August ...............: 8,559 36,443 September ............: 7,740 44,183 October ..............: 3,132 47,315 November .............: 643 47,958 December .............: 107 48,065 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Arkansas: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons --- percent : January ..............: 27 10 37 27 10 37 February .............: 122 149 March ................: 552 701 April ................: 718 1,419 May ..................: 789 2,208 June .................: 474 2,682 July .................: 902 3,584 August ...............: 976 4,560 September ............: 1,086 5,646 October ..............: 516 6,162 November .............: 82 6,244 December .............: 30 6,274 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Louisiana: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- tons --- percent ---- tons --- percent : January ..............: 7 18 257 7 18 257 February .............: 4 11 March ................: 286 297 April ................: 565 862 May ..................: 678 1,540 June .................: 735 2,275 July .................: 679 2,954 August ...............: 601 3,555 September ............: 500 4,055 October ..............: 136 4,191 November .............: 67 4,258 December .............: 27 4,285 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Mississippi: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 224 209 93 224 209 93 February .............: 193 417 March ................: 4,536 4,953 April ................: 17,203 22,156 May ..................: 29,285 51,441 June .................: 39,337 90,778 July .................: 43,676 134,454 August ...............: 40,022 174,476 September ............: 37,849 212,325 October ..............: 15,488 227,813 November .............: 3,900 231,713 December .............: 385 232,098 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Mississippi: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 8 47 588 8 47 588 February .............: 2 10 March ................: 280 290 April ................: 1,134 1,424 May ..................: 2,294 3,718 June .................: 4,287 8,005 July .................: 5,579 13,584 August ...............: 5,900 19,484 September ............: 3,723 23,207 October ..............: 1,593 24,800 November .............: 230 25,030 December .............: 1 25,031 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States East of the Mississippi River: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons --- percent ---- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 90 88 98 90 88 98 February .............: 123 213 March ................: 715 928 April ................: 1,563 2,491 May ..................: 1,540 4,031 June .................: 2,009 6,040 July .................: 1,647 7,687 August ...............: 1,923 9,610 September ............: 2,266 11,876 October ..............: 1,149 13,025 November .............: 604 13,629 December .............: 103 13,732 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foodsize Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- tons ---- percent ----- tons ---- percent : January ..............: 644 466 72 644 466 72 February .............: 534 1,178 March ................: 2,265 3,443 April ................: 2,246 5,689 May ..................: 3,485 9,174 June .................: 4,421 13,595 July .................: 4,147 17,742 August ...............: 4,382 22,124 September ............: 3,908 26,032 October ..............: 3,364 29,396 November .............: 1,692 31,088 December .............: 1,124 32,212 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fingerlings and Broodfish Catfish Feed Delivered - Other States West of the Mississippi River: 2010-2011 [Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month : By month : 2011 as : Cumulative : 2011 as :-------------------: percent :-------------------: percent : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : of 2010 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- tons --- percent --- tons --- percent : January ..............: 2 - (X) 2 - (X) February .............: 2 4 March ................: 42 46 April ................: 102 148 May ..................: 31 179 June .................: 69 248 July .................: 62 310 August ...............: 48 358 September ............: 78 436 October ..............: 46 482 November .............: 6 488 December .............: 1 489 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (X) Not applicable. Statistical Methodology 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. 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 *Estimated Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Feed Deliveries Estimates Broodfish: Fish kept for egg production, including males. Broodfish produce the fertilized eggs that 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. 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 nass@nass.usda.gov 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 Charles Butler - Catfish Feed Deliveries .................................... (601) 965-4542 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 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 "Receive NASS Updates" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. 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: nass@nass.usda.gov. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377- 8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.