How many catfish farms are in Alabama?
85 catfish farms
The majority of Alabama’s roughly 85 catfish farms are located in Alabama’s historic Blackbelt Region in the counties of Hale, Dallas, Greene, Perry and Sumter.
What are the top four catfish farming counties in Alabama?
Around 3,000 people are employed in the catfish industry. The counties with the highest production are Dallas, Greene, and Hale, where the catfish capital, Greensboro, is located. After a decline in the early 2000s, the industry has leveled off and is relatively stable.
What is the largest aquaculture sector in Alabama?
The catfish industry
The catfish industry is the largest aquaculture sector in west Alabama with more than 70 commercial farms. Alabama is the second-largest producer of catfish in the United States, with more than 17,000 water acres in production.
Is catfish farming profitable?
Under the right circumstances, catfish farming can be very profitable. Like other forms of farming, however, catfish production involves substantial capital investment and many risks. Growing catfish successfully also requires daily attention.
What is the top fish raised in ponds in Alabama?
The largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish (or largemouth bass, bluegill, and shellcracker) combination is the most common stocking strategy used in the Southeast. The combination generally works well in ponds larger than 1/2 acre and provides excellent fishing for both species indefinitely.
What is Alabama ranked in catfish sales?
Alabama ranks sixth in U.S. aquaculture (including catfish) sales, at $95 million.
Where does Al rank nationally in poultry production?
Alabama is ranked third nationally in poultry production and it is a major source of our income.
How much does it cost to build a catfish farm?
Production costs Long-term investment costs include land, ponds, and water supply (Table 1). Land costs are estimated at $33,750, pond construction costs at $24,000, and water supply at $17,500 for a total investment cost of $75,250 ($6,271 per water acre). Equipment costs total $45,453, or $3,788 per acre (Table 2).
How do catfish farmers make money?
Catfish farming doesn’t have a good cash flow. You won’t be able to sell every day or every week. You have to spend a minimum of 4 months raising the fishes before they reach market size of 1kg each. You can boost your profitability in catfish farming by smoking them and selling them to individuals or supermarkets.
How many bass can you have in a 10 acre pond?
If adult bass are needed, stocking them at a rate of 5-10 bass per acre will help maintain a pond’s food chain and result in a healthy, thriving pond.
What fish can live in a bass pond?
If you have at least a 1-acre farm pond, there are three species of fish that do best in this size body of water: bass, bluegill, and catfish. Bass, especially largemouth bass, are a sizeable fish and great for eating. Because bass tend to be predatory, regular fishing must control their population.