A Bright Spot in the Farm Economy

August 18, 1999

Catfish farmers are making a profit these days as their grain and oilseed producing colleagues worry about low prices. Catfish is produced for about 60-65 cents per pound and has been selling between 75-80 cents per pound.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, however, says catfish farming is very risky. AFBF quotes Belzoni, MS, farmer Billy George Janous as saying that the oxygen levels in the ponds must be monitored 24 hours a day throughout summer. If oxygen gets too low, aerators must be turned on that will churn up the water and increase the oxygen content.

Catfish farmers also must be concerned about predators and diseases, especially since they do not have the same status as livestock producers. "Livestock farmers have legal ownership rights. Most fish farmers do not. Farmed salmon, trout and striped bass are considered to be wildlife and therefore public resources," says Mark Jenner, aquaculture policy specialist for the AFBF.

"USDA certifies the health of U.S. livestock and animal products, but that international recognition does not cover farm-raised fish and fish products," he adds. So fish farmers trade at a disadvantage. They also lack approved animal drugs and adequate insurance protection for their fish.