Aq 2 (7-05) Catfish Production National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 27, 2005, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on Catfish Production call John Lange at (202) 720-0585, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Foodfish Inventory Numbers Down 8 Percent From Year Ago Levels Commercial catfish operations in the four major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) had 292 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2005, down 8 percent from the July 1, 2004 total of 317 million. The breakouts of foodsize fish inventory numbers on July 1, 2005, with their respective percent change from the previous year were: large foodsize, 7.22 million, down 7 percent; medium foodsize, 72.4 million, down 8 percent; and small foodsize, 212 million, down 8 percent. The four major States also had 1.03 million broodfish on hand on July 1, 2005, up 13 percent from last year's 913 thousand. The number of large stockers on hand on July 1, 2005, totaled 275 million fish, down 8 percent from the 300 million fish on hand a year ago. There were 303 million small stockers, down 7 percent from last year. Producers had 1.45 billion fingerlings and fry on hand on July 1, 2005, up 12 percent from the 1.30 billion on hand July 1, 2004. Live weight, at 15.5 million pounds, was down 8 percent from the 16.9 million pounds a year ago. Water Acres Down 7 Percent The water surface area to be used for catfish production during July 1 through December 31, 2005, totaled 158 thousand acres, down 7 percent from a year ago. Acres used for foodsize fish totaled 128 thousand acres, down 10 percent from July 2004. Acres for broodfish were up 13 percent to 3.83 thousand acres, and acres used for fingerling production increased 10 percent to 22.7 thousand acres. Acres taken out of production during the January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005 period totaled 5.94 thousand, while 5.49 thousand acres of the total in production were scheduled to be renovated from July 1, 2005 to December 31. The total number of operations on July 1, 2005 in the four major states was 766, down 14 percent from the year ago total of 886. Catfish: Number of Operations and Water Surface Acres, Used for Production, 2004-2005, by State and United States ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of : Water Surface Acres : Operations : Used for Production State : on Jul 1 : During Jul 1 - Dec 31 :--------------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ Number ----- -------- Acres -------- : AL : 250 210 25,700 23,700 AR : 158 124 33,000 29,000 LA : 48 32 8,400 7,400 MS : 430 400 103,000 98,000 : Four State : Total : 886 766 170,100 158,100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish Production: Water Surface Acre Usage, by State and United States, 2004-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :Acres Intended for Utilization During Jul 1-Dec 31 for- : :--------------------------------------------------------:Acres Taken : : : : Currently Under : Out of State : : : : or Scheduled for - : Production : Foodsize :Fingerlings:Broodfish:-----------------------: During : : : : : New :Jan 1-Jun 30 : : : :Renovation:Construction: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : : AL : 23,200 1,400 420 580 100 1,000 AR : 28,600 3,500 550 750 4,800 LA : 7,400 820 120 210 540 MS : 82,000 15,000 2,300 2,400 700 6,400 : Four State: Total : 141,200 20,720 3,390 3,940 800 12,740 : 2005 : : AL : 21,600 1,100 330 660 95 450 AR : 23,500 4,500 570 560 330 670 LA : 6,100 1,100 125 670 * 420 MS : 76,300 16,000 2,800 3,600 400 4,400 : Four State: Total : 127,500 22,700 3,825 5,490 * 5,940 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2004-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight Size Category : of :-------------------------------------- and : Fish : Total : Average per Fish State :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----1,000---- 1,000 Pounds ----Pounds---- : Large Foodsize : : AL : 3,100 2,300 10,400 8,200 3.4 3.6 AR : 1,210 1,360 4,100 5,000 3.4 3.7 LA : 690 660 2,490 2,400 3.6 3.6 MS : 2,800 2,900 9,800 9,800 3.5 3.4 : Four State : Total : 7,800 7,220 26,790 25,400 3.4 3.5 : : Medium Foodsize : : AL : 17,300 22,000 33,100 42,900 1.9 2.0 AR : 16,400 15,600 30,500 29,800 1.9 1.9 LA : 4,970 3,800 9,800 7,200 2.0 1.9 MS : 39,800 31,000 77,000 57,000 1.9 1.8 : Four State : Total : 78,470 72,400 150,400 136,900 1.9 1.9 : : Small Foodsize : : AL : 40,500 42,500 40,600 42,400 1.0 1.0 AR : 45,700 35,400 45,600 35,900 1.0 1.0 LA : 6,700 6,100 6,600 5,450 1.0 0.9 MS : 138,000 128,000 136,000 126,000 1.0 1.0 : Four State : Total : 230,900 212,000 228,800 209,750 1.0 1.0 : : Total Foodsize : : AL : 60,900 66,800 84,100 93,500 AR : 63,310 52,360 80,200 70,700 LA : 12,360 10,560 18,890 15,050 MS : 180,600 161,900 222,800 192,800 : Four State : Total : 317,170 291,620 405,990 372,050 : : Broodfish : : AL : 130 100 730 460 5.6 4.6 AR : 110 120 590 580 5.4 4.8 LA : 23 29 133 115 5.8 4.0 MS : 650 780 3,100 3,700 4.8 4.7 : Four State : Total : 913 1,029 4,553 4,855 5.0 4.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Inventory by Size Category, by State and United States, July 1, 2004-2005 (continued) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Live Weight : of :-------------------------------------- Size Category : Fish : Total : Average and : : : per 1,000 Fish State :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----1,000---- 1,000 Pounds ----Pounds---- : Large Stockers : : AL : 69,300 56,800 25,800 19,600 372 345 AR : 47,400 32,400 16,800 13,900 354 429 LA : 8,970 3,960 2,850 1,480 318 374 MS : 174,000 182,000 71,000 77,000 408 423 : Four State : Total : 299,670 275,160 116,450 111,980 389 407 : : Small Stockers : : AL : 43,900 64,500 4,200 7,500 95.7 116 AR : 55,000 34,900 5,550 3,540 101 101 LA : 5,750 6,820 630 720 110 106 MS : 220,000 197,000 21,500 19,000 97.7 96.4 : Four State : Total : 324,650 303,220 31,880 30,760 98.2 101 : : Total Stockers : : AL : 113,200 121,300 30,000 27,100 AR : 102,400 67,300 22,350 17,440 LA : 14,720 10,780 3,480 2,200 MS : 394,000 379,000 92,500 96,000 : Four State : Total : 624,320 578,380 148,330 142,740 : : Fingerlings : and Fry : : AL : 91,000 48,000 1,220 900 13.4 18.8 AR : 220,000 342,000 3,000 3,610 13.6 10.6 LA : 49,000 98,000 570 484 11.6 4.9 MS : 940,000 962,000 12,100 10,500 12.9 10.9 : Four State : Total :1,300,0001,450,000 16,890 15,494 13.0 10.7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Round Weight Processed, United States, by Month, 1996-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : May : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : 1996 : 38,475 38,004 46,376 38,557 39,517 36,752 1997 : 42,409 45,067 48,431 45,721 43,409 42,282 1998 : 46,723 47,606 53,761 49,393 45,218 46,244 1999 : 48,723 48,891 56,310 46,830 47,703 48,445 2000 : 50,552 50,942 56,856 48,781 48,424 48,011 2001 : 46,999 50,257 57,766 52,478 51,736 47,883 2002 : 52,551 52,856 58,340 50,694 52,902 49,450 2003 : 55,523 55,461 65,007 57,105 58,424 52,441 2004 : 53,849 54,173 60,272 53,896 52,324 50,155 2005 : 53,856 51,720 57,117 50,306 51,552 49,626 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Jul : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : 1996 : 39,025 40,463 38,807 42,070 37,203 36,874 472,123 1997 : 43,376 44,154 43,472 46,275 40,137 40,216 524,949 1998 : 46,383 47,739 46,579 47,904 43,224 43,581 564,355 1999 : 50,074 50,372 50,414 52,407 48,118 48,341 596,628 2000 : 49,023 53,204 49,422 51,412 45,535 41,441 593,603 2001 : 47,829 51,690 49,699 52,264 44,670 43,837 597,108 2002 : 52,363 54,383 53,366 56,576 50,072 47,048 630,601 2003 : 54,089 54,153 51,885 57,652 51,246 48,518 661,504 2004 : 51,055 53,295 51,329 52,396 49,536 48,170 630,450 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catfish: Prices Paid to Producers by Processors, United States, by Month, 1996-2005 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year : Jan : Feb : Mar : Apr : May : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dollars per Pound : 1996 : 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.79 0.79 1997 : 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.72 1998 : 0.69 0.73 0.78 0.79 0.79 0.78 1999 : 0.70 0.71 0.73 0.76 0.78 0.78 2000 : 0.744 0.788 0.789 0.789 0.785 0.786 2001 : 0.693 0.696 0.697 0.694 0.687 0.669 2002 : 0.549 0.555 0.565 0.561 0.574 0.588 2003 : 0.529 0.544 0.585 0.630 0.618 0.586 2004 : 0.668 0.703 0.723 0.728 0.720 0.689 2005 : 0.725 0.731 0.733 0.725 0.722 0.721 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : Annual : Jul : Aug : Sep : Oct : Nov : Dec : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Dollars per Pound : 1996 : 0.79 0.78 0.77 0.76 0.75 0.73 0.773 1997 : 0.71 0.70 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.712 1998 : 0.76 0.74 0.73 0.71 0.70 0.70 0.743 1999 : 0.77 0.74 0.73 0.72 0.71 0.72 0.737 2000 : 0.760 0.741 0.727 0.710 0.696 0.682 0.751 2001 : 0.656 0.624 0.610 0.596 0.566 0.554 0.647 2002 : 0.590 0.582 0.576 0.568 0.560 0.544 0.568 2003 : 0.564 0.552 0.560 0.567 0.610 0.629 0.581 2004 : 0.682 0.683 0.683 0.695 0.689 0.690 0.697 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Price of fish delivered to processing plant door. Price includes charges for services provided by the processing plant, but does not include any adjustments based on year-end settlements. Methodology and Definitions Survey Procedures: All known catfish operators were contacted during the first half of January by mail, telephone, and personal interview. Estimation Procedures: Sound statistical methodology was employed to derive the estimates from reported data. All data were analyzed for unusual values. Data from each operation were compared to their own past operating profile and to trends of similar operations. Data for missing operations were estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Reliability: Production estimates are based on a census of all known active producers and, therefore, have no sampling variability. However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of the 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. 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. Definitions: 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. Large foodsize - Fish weighing over 3 pounds. Medium foodsize - Fish weighing over one and one-half pounds to 3 pounds. Small foodsize - Fish weighing over three-fourths pound to one and one-half pounds. Large stockers - Fish weighing over 180 pounds to 750 pounds per 1,000 fish. Small stockers - Fish weighing over 60 pounds to 180 pounds per 1,000 fish. Fingerlings/fry - Fish weighing 60 pounds per 1,000 fish and less. Prices paid to producers by processors - Prices paid by processors for fish delivered to the processing plant door. The prices include charges for any services provided by the processing plant, such as seining and hauling, but do not include any adjustments based on year-end settlements. 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. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Starting with the NASS Home Page at www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-605-6220 FAX: 703-605-6900 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (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 USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.