Alabama Catfish Producers, Fingerling Producers and Catfish Processors

182 Pages·2010·8.91 MB·English

Alabama Catfish Producers,
Fingerling Producers and
Catfish Processors
1974
A Directory
olow
Agricultural Experiment Station
of Auburn University
R. Dennis Rouse Auburn, Alabama

ALABAMA CATFISH PRODUCERS, FINGERLING PRODUCERS
AND CATFISH PROCESSORS
1974
A Directory
January 1975
Mimeograph Series of the
Department of Agricultural Economics and
Rural Sociology
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
by
E. W. McCoy*
K. W. Crawford**
*Joint Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and
Rural Sociology and Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and **Research
Associate, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology,
Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This directory was published as a contribution to Research Project
H-630 (S-83), "Processing and Marketing Technology of Commercially Cultured
Catfish." The research project encompassed a multi-disciplinary study of
catfish in the United States. An earlier directory was published in 1971
when the nature and scope of catfish production was unknown. Imperfect
knowledge regarding the level of catfish production in Alabama still
exists. This directory was intended as an informational guide to producers
seeking alternate sources of fingerlings, to buyers seeking alternate
supply sources, and as a general guide to the scope and -location of cat-
fish production within Alabama.
Appreciation is expressed to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
and the Soil Conservation Service personnel for their cooperation and
assistance in compiling this list of catfish producers. Special apprecia-
tion is expressed to the many Alabama catfish producers who provided
information for the study.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...........
S. . . . . . . . . 1
Alabama Catfish Producers
Alabama Catfish Processors
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Alabama Fingerling Producers
METHOD OF STUDY .
SUMMARY OF DIRECTORY ..........
DIRECTORY
Alabama Catfish Processors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Alabama Fingerling Producers S . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . 20
Alabama Catfish Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
CATFISH REFERENCE MATERIAL . ... . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . 174
iii
LIST OF TABLES
1. Percentage of Producers and of Acreage by Type of Catfish
Production, Alabama 1971 and 1974. ........ . . . . .... 6
2. Number of Commercial and all Producers and of Acreage
and Percentage Change in Acreage, Alabama 1971 and 1974 . . . . . 7
3. Number of Catfish Producers by Type of Production and
Size of Operating Unit, Alabama 1971 and 1974 ... .......... .13
4. Number of Producers and Acres of Production for Catfish
Producers with Over Five Acres of Surface Water and for
all Catfish Producers by Type of Production, Alabama 1974 . . . . 14
5. Number of Producers and Acreage of Production of Catfish
in Alabama by Type of Production, 1971 . . .. ............. ...15
6. Number of Producers and Acreage of Production of Catfish
in Alabama by Type of Production, 1974 ................... ...16
iv
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Alabama Catfish Processors .. . ................... 18
2. Alabama Catfish Fingerling Producers....... ........ 21
3. Alabama Catfish Acreage of Production....................... 24
INTRODUCTION
Alabama Catfish Producers
From the mid-1960's to 1971 the catfish industry in Alabama experienced
rapidexpansion. In the following three years this growth continued. How-
ever, the expansion was not at the same rate experienced in the previous
decade.
The catfish operations in the State were classified as belonging to
one of four primary types of production: (1) commercial, (2) fishout,
(3) combination, and (4) personal use. A miscellaneous category included
those people who do raise catfish, but type of production could not be
determined with certainty. The definitions of these primary production
types were the same as in the 1971 study.
Commercial operations were essentially the same as beef cattle feed-
lots. The farmer's major inputs were fingerlings and feed. The size
fingerlings stocked ranged from two to eight inches. These small fish were
fed a high protein ration until they attained marketable size, 3/4 pound
to 1 pound. The majority of the commercially raised fish were sold to
various processors. However, some poundage was marketed through restaurants,
food chains, vendors or sold on the farm.
The essential inputs for fishout operations were similar to commercial
production. However, since these were basically recreational operations
other services may have been provided. The additional services included
such things as fishing supplies, piers, boats, or picnic and concession
areas. In this method of production a fee was charged for the privilege of
fishing and usually an additional charge per pound of liveweight fish caught
was paid by the individual.
Some producers allowed fishing in ponds as soon as the fish reached
harvestable size. When fishing declined in the pond the remaining fish
were harvested. This type of production.was classified as combination.
The degree of fishout and drain and harvest varied with producers with
some harvesting up to 50 percent of the fish by fishout methods.
Many catfish ponds were built for personal use only. These units
usually provided more than a single function and often were used for a
water supply for livestock, to improve the appearance and/or value of the
farm, or simply to provide recreational fishing for family, relatives and
close friends. Financial assistance was often provided for these type
units by various USDA agencies.
The catfish industry was dynamic due to the characterists of the fish
and the method of raising them. Many farmers changed from one type of pro-
duction to another, such as from commercial to combination. Others changed
their operations from catfish production to recreational units with mixed
species of fish, and some drained the ponds and completely abandoned fish
production. Most of the catfish producers who changed the operation were
small scale producers many of whom had no other farming interests. One
factor contributing to the dynamic activity was the length of the "fish
cycle". Because the growing season was relatively short it was easier for
a fish farmer to convert his pond unit to other uses or terminate production
when the cycle passed a peak and prices subsequently decreased. Also, the
same type conversions could be made when prices for the necessary inputs
began to increase greatly. Inflationary prices on the major variable cost
items during 1974 forced some of the smaller scale operators out of the
industry. The inflationary factor did not affect the larger scale pro-
ducers severely, and many of these type operations expanded even in such
periods of rising prices. Although growth had occurred in these type fish
farms, Alabama was still "behind" some of the other major fish producing
areas, such as the Mississippi Delta of Arkansas, Mississippi, and
Louisiana. Some catfish farms in this region contained more than 1,500
acres under water. Alabama's largest producer operated a total of 200
acres.
Alabama Catfish Processors, 1974
Two of the major catfish processors were located in Greensboro, Hale
County. This was the geographic center of the counties which comprised
the major commercial production area. The total annual output for the two
plants was about 4.9 million pounds, liveweight in 1974. Approximately 1.7
million pounds, liveweight were being imported from Mississippi annually.
If both plants operated at their maximum capacity and no fish from
Mississippi were processed in Greensboro, an area within about a 75-mile
radius from this town could increase production of catfish for these pro-
cessors by 12.3 million pounds per year.
The other automated plant was at Holly Pond, Cullman County. This
plant operated on a much smaller scale than either of the two plants at
Greensboro. With a relatively small amount of acreage currently in pro-
duction in Cullman County and surrounding areas, this processor relied
mainly on Mississippi produced catfish for his markets. This area also
had a potential for growth, but some of the land was unsuitable for pond
cons truc tion.
The processor in Choctaw County is located at Lavaca. This facility's
annual output was small. All phases of the processing operation were done
by hand, and most of the fish were marketed through various restaurants in