June 23, 2010
US catfish feed deliveries up marginally in May
Total catfish feed delivered in the US during May was 64,111 tonnes, up 8% from May 2009, and up 60% from the previous month according to the latest statistics by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Foodsize catfish feed delivered totaled 60,913 tonnes, up 6% from the corresponding month a year ago. Feed delivered for fingerlings and broodfish totalled 3,198 tonnes, up 80% from the corresponding month a year ago.
In May, feed delivered to Mississippi catfish growers for foodsize fish totalled 29,285 tonnes, up 12% from last year. Mississippi accounted for 48% of the total foodsize catfish feed delivered to US farmers.
The other major States with catfish feed deliveries for foodsize fish in May and their comparison to the previous year were Alabama with 19,589 tonnes, up 11%; Arkansas with 6,336 tonnes, down 15%; and Louisiana with 678 tonnes, down 55%.
Meanwhile, battling high feed costs, low prices and foreign competition, the US catfish sector is seeing many acres come out of production as producers fight to remain profitable.
Last year, 15,000 acres of ponds in Mississippi went out of catfish production, and more are expected to leave production this year. Mississippi continues to lead the nation in catfish production and acreage, but the statea€？s current 65,000 acres is 43% short of its peak of 113,000 acres in 2002.