Catfish Production ISSN: 1948-271X Released February 8, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Catfish Value of Sales Down 2 percent from 2019 Catfish growers in the United States had sales of 371 million dollars during 2020, down 2 percent from 380 million dollars the previous year. The top four States (Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Arkansas) accounted for 97 percent of the United States total sales. The United States total foodsize sales of 351 million dollars decreased by 3 percent from the previous year. Sales of stockers totaled 3.41 million dollars in 2020, compared to 5.18 million dollars in 2019. Fingerling and fry sales totaled 15.7 million dollars, up 29 percent from 2019. By point of first sale, direct sales to processors accounted for 94.6 percent of total foodsize fish sales, unchanged from the previous year. Direct sales to other producers accounted for 65.6 percent of stocker sales compared to 60.9 percent in 2019. Water Surface Acres Down 3 Percent from January 1, 2020 The water surface acres being used for catfish production as of January 1, 2021, totaled 59,305 acres, down 3 percent from the 61,245 acres used a year earlier. Of the total acres, 2,745 are to be renovated during the period of January 1 to June 30, 2021. An additional 610 acres are under construction or expected to be constructed and in use by July 1, 2021. During the period of July 1 through December 31, 2020, the area taken out of production totaled 1,900 acres. As of January 1, 2021, foodsize fish were produced on 46,360 acres, fingerling producing acres totaled 7,320, and 1,815 acres were being used for broodfish production. Inventory Catfish producers had 435 thousand broodfish on hand January 1, 2021, down 13 percent from January 1, 2020. Large foodsize fish on hand totaled 4.84 million on January 1, 2021, down 6 percent from a year ago. The inventory of medium foodsize fish was down 32 percent to 40.7 million, while small foodsize fish inventory was up slightly at 93.1 million. Large stockers on hand January 1, 2021, at 99.4 million fish, were down 16 percent from the previous year. Small stocker inventory was up 4 percent to 178 million. There were 221 million fingerlings on hand January 1, 2021, down 1 percent from January 1, 2020. Contents Water Surface Acres Used for Production and Total Sales - States and United States: 2019-2021............. 3 Water Surface Acre Usage - States and United States: 2019-2021............................................ 3 Foodsize Inventory by Size Category - States and United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021.................. 4 Stockers and Fingerlings Inventory by Size Category - States and United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021.. 5 Broodfish Inventory by Size Category - States and United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021................. 6 Sales - States and United States: 2019 and 2020........................................................... 7 Broodfish Sales - States and United States: 2019 and 2020................................................. 8 Foodsize and Stockers Sold by Point of First Sale - United States: 2019 and 2020.......................... 9 Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Production Estimates .............................................. 9 Terms and Definitions Used to Describe Point of First Sale................................................ 10 Statistical Methodology................................................................................... 10 Information Contacts...................................................................................... 11 Water Surface Acres Used for Production and Total Sales - States and United States: 2019-2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Water surface acres : : : used for production : Total sales State : during January 1 - June 30 : : :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 : 2019 : 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------- acres -------- ----- 1,000 dollars ----- : Alabama ............: 15,900 15,600 97,714 98,763 Arkansas ...........: 4,000 3,600 21,671 18,451 California .........: (D) 1,200 (D) (D) Mississippi ........: 35,300 34,700 226,194 223,972 North Carolina .....: (D) 550 (D) (D) Texas ..............: 1,800 1,800 18,682 18,724 : Other States 1/ ....: 4,245 1,855 15,600 10,825 : United States ......: 61,245 59,305 379,861 370,735 : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure. Water Surface Acre Usage - States and United States: 2019-2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres intended for utilization during January 1 - June 30 : Acres taken out :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------: of production : : : : : : : Currently under : during : : : : : : : or scheduled for: : July 1 - State : Foodsize : Fingerlings : Broodfish :-----------------------------------: December 31 : : : : : : : Renovation :New construction : : :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2019 : 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : acres : Alabama ........: 15,600 15,300 250 225 25 (D) 290 490 115 215 580 320 Arkansas .......: 2,700 2,400 770 860 (D) 100 150 135 - (D) 230 (D) California .....: (D) 1,000 (D) (D) 35 40 80 (D) (D) - (D) (D) Mississippi ....: 26,700 24,600 4,200 5,500 1,400 1,500 2,000 1,700 (D) 260 700 740 North Carolina .: (D) 460 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) 5 (D) (D) Texas ..........: 1,700 1,700 (D) 35 30 45 (D) 185 - (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ : 2,650 900 1,205 700 285 130 415 235 265 130 880 840 : United States ..: 49,350 46,360 6,425 7,320 1,775 1,815 2,935 2,745 380 610 2,390 1,900 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - 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. Foodsize Inventory by Size Category - States and United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- -- 1,000 pounds -- pounds per fish : Large foodsize : Alabama ............: 3,180 3,000 11,800 10,900 3.7 3.6 Arkansas ...........: 230 290 808 1,030 3.5 3.6 California .........: 100 (D) 370 (D) 3.7 (D) Mississippi ........: 1,460 1,250 4,800 4,400 3.3 3.5 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ ....: 175 300 667 1,080 3.8 3.6 : United States ......: 5,145 4,840 18,445 17,410 3.6 3.6 : Medium foodsize : Alabama ............: 19,400 12,800 38,900 25,900 2.0 2.0 Arkansas ...........: 2,840 2,890 5,450 5,500 1.9 1.9 California .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ........: 32,300 19,800 58,100 35,800 1.8 1.8 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: 3,870 (D) 7,100 (D) 1.8 (D) : Other States 1/ ....: 1,380 5,175 2,497 9,568 1.8 1.8 : United States ......: 59,790 40,665 112,047 76,768 1.9 1.9 : Small foodsize : Alabama ............: 27,200 25,400 27,200 25,100 1.0 1.0 Arkansas ...........: 3,960 3,900 3,950 3,900 1.0 1.0 California .........: 720 (D) 760 (D) 1.1 (D) Mississippi ........: 57,000 59,900 57,000 59,100 1.0 1.0 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: (D) 2,860 (D) 2,600 (D) 0.9 : Other States 1/ ....: 4,205 1,075 3,887 1,158 0.9 1.1 : United States ......: 93,085 93,135 92,797 91,858 1.0 1.0 : Total foodsize : Alabama ............: 49,780 41,200 77,900 61,900 (NA) (NA) Arkansas ...........: 7,030 7,080 10,208 10,430 (NA) (NA) California .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) (NA) Mississippi ........: 90,760 80,950 119,900 99,300 (NA) (NA) North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) (NA) Texas ..............: 7,185 7,200 10,378 10,920 (NA) (NA) : Other States 1/ ....: 3,265 2,210 4,903 3,486 (NA) (NA) : United States ......: 158,020 138,640 223,289 186,036 (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. Stockers and Fingerlings Inventory by Size Category - States and United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ----- 1,000 pounds pounds per 1,000 fish : Large stockers : Alabama ............: 34,200 29,600 14,000 12,500 409 422 Arkansas ...........: (D) 7,660 (D) 2,200 (D) 287 California .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ........: 74,000 61,100 27,500 24,800 372 406 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ ....: 10,370 1,005 3,278 615 316 612 : United States ......: 118,570 99,365 44,778 40,115 378 404 : Small stockers : Alabama ............: 24,500 26,700 2,250 2,400 91.8 89.9 Arkansas ...........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) California .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ........: 119,000 126,000 13,800 14,300 116.0 113.0 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: (D) 125 (D) 10 (D) 80.0 : Other States 1/ ....: 26,440 24,725 2,291 2,105 86.6 85.1 : United States ......: 169,940 177,550 18,341 18,815 108.0 106.0 : Total stockers : Alabama ............: 58,700 56,300 16,250 14,900 (NA) (NA) Arkansas ...........: 30,590 (D) 3,990 (D) (NA) (NA) California .........: 1,310 (D) 554 (D) (NA) (NA) Mississippi ........: 193,000 187,100 41,300 39,100 (NA) (NA) North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) (NA) Texas ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (NA) (NA) : Other States 1/ ....: 4,910 33,515 1,025 4,930 (NA) (NA) : United States ......: 288,510 276,915 63,119 58,930 (NA) (NA) : Fingerlings : Alabama ............: 21,800 22,100 1,110 1,080 50.9 48.9 Arkansas ...........: 19,300 18,600 712 703 36.9 37.8 California .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ........: 170,000 172,000 5,800 6,350 34.1 36.9 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ ....: 11,835 8,680 260 278 22.0 32.0 : United States ......: 222,935 221,380 7,882 8,411 35.4 38.0 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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. Broodfish Inventory by Size Category - States and United States: January 1, 2020 and 2021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Live weight Size category : Fish :------------------------------------------- and State : : : Total : Average :----------------------------------------------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 --- 1,000 pounds pounds per fish : Broodfish : Alabama ............: 10 5 40 20 4.0 4.0 Arkansas ...........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) California .........: 10 5 44 30 4.4 6.0 Mississippi ........: 420 370 2,000 1,940 4.8 5.2 North Carolina .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ..............: 5 (D) 30 (D) 6.0 (D) : Other States 1/ ....: 55 55 279 279 5.1 5.1 : United States ......: 500 435 2,393 2,269 4.8 5.2 : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States include State estimates not shown and States suppressed due to disclosure. Sales - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Live weight : Sales : Fish :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Size category : : : Total : Average : Total : Average price and State : : : : : : : : : per pound :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 ----- 1,000 pounds pounds per fish 1,000 dollars ---- dollars --- : Foodsize : Alabama ..........: 60,300 55,300 102,500 94,000 1.7 1.7 97,375 98,700 0.95 1.05 Arkansas .........: 10,700 9,960 18,600 15,700 1.7 1.6 19,716 16,642 1.06 1.06 California .......: 1,210 (D) 2,400 (D) 2.0 (D) 7,632 (D) 3.18 (D) Mississippi ......: 113,000 128,000 203,500 192,100 1.8 1.5 213,675 207,468 1.05 1.08 North Carolina ...: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ............: (D) 8,100 (D) 17,000 (D) 2.1 (D) 18,530 (D) 1.09 : Other States 1/ ..: 11,235 2,655 20,990 4,748 1.9 1.8 23,650 10,090 1.13 2.13 : United States ....: 196,445 204,015 347,990 323,548 1.8 1.6 362,048 351,430 1.04 1.09 : : : ----- 1,000 ----- 1,000 pounds pounds per 1,000 fish 1,000 dollars ---- dollars --- : Stockers : Alabama ..........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) California .......: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ......: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) North Carolina ...: (D) - (D) - (D) - (D) - (D) - Texas ............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ ..: 22,450 20,740 2,819 2,449 126.0 118.0 5,181 3,405 1.84 1.39 : United States ....: 22,450 20,740 2,819 2,449 126.0 118.0 5,181 3,405 1.84 1.39 : Fingerlings and fry : Alabama ..........: 310 210 9 4 29.0 19.0 68 57 7.60 14.20 Arkansas .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) California .......: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Mississippi ......: 146,000 177,000 3,850 5,550 26.4 31.4 8,971 13,542 2.33 2.44 North Carolina ...: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Texas ............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ ..: 26,035 23,515 891 799 34.2 34.0 3,177 2,106 3.57 2.64 : United States ....: 172,345 200,725 4,750 6,353 27.6 31.7 12,216 15,705 2.57 2.47 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. Broodfish Sales - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : Live weight : Sales Size category : Fish :----------------------------------------------------------------------- and State : : : Total : Average : Total : Average price : : : : : : : : per pound :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : --- 1,000 -- 1,000 pounds pounds per fish 1,000 dollars --- dollars --- : Broodfish : Alabama ........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Arkansas .......: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) California .....: - - - - - - - - - - Mississippi ....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) North Carolina .: (D) - (D) - (D) - (D) - (D) - Texas ..........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) : Other States 1/ : 75 35 296 150 3.9 4.3 416 195 1.41 1.30 : United States ..: 75 35 296 150 3.9 4.3 416 195 1.41 1.30 : ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - 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. Foodsize and Stockers Sold by Point of First Sale - United States: 2019 and 2020 [Point of First Sale by outlet may not add to 100 percent due to rounding] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Recreational : Live haulers : Retail : Other Size category : Processors : stocking : and brokers : outlets : outlets :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent : Foodsize : : United States ....: 94.6 94.6 0.7 0.7 2.6 2.2 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.8 : :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Wholesale to : Recreational : Live haulers : Government : Other : other producers : stocking : and brokers : agencies : outlets :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2020 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent : Stockers : : United States ....: 60.9 65.6 12.7 10.4 20.7 19.9 4.6 4.1 1.1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 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. 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. 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@usda.gov Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ..................................... (202) 692-0069 Vacant, 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, Mink, Census of Aquaculture ........... (202) 720-8784 Fatema Haque - Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ........................... (202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Chicken Hatchery, Egg Products............................ (202) 690-3237 Adam Peters - Honey, Honey Bee Colonies .................................. (202) 690-4870 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs .............................................. (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler Hatchery......................................... 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