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  Overview (narratives)


• National Agricultural Statistics
  

  • Data Sources and Estimation Procedures
    
  • Summary
    
  • Electronic Dissemination of Data from NASS
• Crops
  
• Farm Economics
  
• Evironmental
  
• Livestock

National Agricultural Statistics Service

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) administers the United States Department of Agriculture’s program for collecting and publishing timely national, State, and county level agricultural statistics. In 1862, the first Commissioner of the newly formed Department of Agriculture, Isaac Newton, established a goal to “collect, arrange, and publish statistical and other useful agricultural information.” A year later, in July 1863, the Department’s Division of Statistics issued the Nation’s first official Crop Production report.

The structure of farming, ranching, and the agricultural industry has changed dramatically during the succeeding 141 years. The need for accurate, timely, and objective statistical information about the Nation’s agriculture has become even more important as the country has moved from subsistence agriculture to a highly industrialized business that produces food and fiber for the world market.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service now publishes over 500 reports a year with official estimates covering over 120 crops and 45 livestock items. Each report is issued according to a published annual calendar of release dates. Strict security procedures ensure that no one gains premature access to the information. In addition, NASS has a strong tradition of cooperation with other federal agencies, state departments of agriculture, and universities to supplement the federal statistics program. The state-federal cooperative relationship, which began over 80 years ago, eliminates duplication and provides state input while maintaining consistency in surveys conducted across the U.S.

Data Sources and Estimation Procedures

The official estimates prepared by NASS are based on data obtained from farm and ranch operators, agribusinesses such as grain elevators, shippers, processors, and commercial storage firms. Scientifically designed sampling methods are used to determine the operations to be included in each survey. Operators are interviewed by professionally trained interviewers, either in person or by telephone. In some instances operators will receive a questionnaire by mail with a postage-paid return envelope. Anyone not returning the form is usually telephoned.

Survey response is voluntary. Very stringent laws and procedures protect the confidentiality of each operator’s response.

NASS maintains extensive lists of farm and ranch operations along with identifiers that indicate size and type of operation. NASS also maintains complete lists of grain storage facilities, commercial operations such as feedlots, cold storage facilities, and manufactured dairy processors. Nearly every report issued by NASS is based on survey sample data collected from farms or other agribusinesses selected from these lists.

NASS also maintains an area sampling frame. The area frame, which is essentially the entire land mass of the United States, ensures complete coverage of the U.S. farm population. The Area Frame Survey provides accurate estimates of crop acres and is the primary basis for the June Acreage report. The area frame is also used to measure the incompleteness of the list frame.

Sampling from the area frame is a multi-step process. First, all land in each state is classified into land use categories by the intensity of cultivation using a variety of map products and satellite imagery. These land use classifications range from intensively cultivated land to marginally cultivated grazing land to urban areas. The land in each use category is then divided into segments ranging from about 1 square mile in cultivated areas to 0.1 square mile in urban areas. This allows intensively cultivated land segments to be selected with a greater frequency than those less intensively cultivated.

Nearly 12,000 area segments are selected nationwide for the large scale survey conducted each June. Using maps and aerial photos that show the exact site and boundaries of each sample segment, interviewers locate and interview every operator with land inside the segment boundaries. They obtain information on the crops planted in each field, livestock inventory, and quantities of grain in storage.

A considerable amount of data are also available from other organizations, both private and public. The administrative data are used to evaluate the accuracy of production estimates and in some cases to determine the final estimates. The information becomes available during the marketing year but often after the preliminary production estimates are determined. Some examples of administrative data follow.

Utilization data. Information about imports, exports, soybean crush, and industrial use are available from the Bureau of the Census. These data are used in a balance sheet that starts with carryover stocks from the previous year and the current production estimate, which measures total supply. At the end of the marketing year, when subtracting utilization data from the supplies at the beginning of the crop year, the result should correspond closely with the ending stocks. If there is a large unexplained difference between survey stocks and indicated stocks from the balance sheet, then the previous year acreage, yield, and production survey and stocks data are reviewed to determine if revisions should be made.

Slaughter statistics. NASS receives data through the Food Safety and Inspection Service about the number of animals inspected at slaughter operations. These data are used to monitor the accuracy of the livestock production statistics.

Price statistics. Extensive use is made of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service market news data to prepare the monthly average prices received from the sales of livestock species. Also, Bureau of Labor price indices are used to measure the relative changes in prices paid for production input items.

Summary

NASS is a world leader in the use of statistical methodology to produce statistics about agriculture. NASS statisticians provide consultative services to a large number of developing countries around the world, helping them develop statistical information about their agriculture. NASS has also been a leader in making information available through electronic media. Globalization of markets is expanding as buyers and sellers have nearly instant access to market information from around the world.

The 2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture is now available on the internet. The census of agriculture is conducted every 5 years and is the most complete accounting of U.S. agriculture and the only source of uniform, comprehensive data for every county in the nation.

All information is currently available on the Internet at www.usda.gov/nass/. To order a printed copy or a CD-ROM, call our subscription sales desk at 800-999-6779. For more detail on the census of agriculture information call 800-727-9540.

Electronic Dissemination of Data from NASS

All of the NASS National reports are also available via an automated mailing list. You may subscribe to as many reports as you wish and they will be sent directly to your e-mail address within 3 hours of release, all at no charge.

For further information, send an e-mail to:

2004 Corn Grain Production Largest on Record

Corn for grain production is estimated at 11.8 billion bushels, up 17 percent from the 10.1 billion bushels produced in 2003. The average U.S. grain yield is estimated at 160.4 bushels per acre, up 18.2 bushels from 2003. Both production and yield estimates are the largest on record. The previous record for both was set last year when production was estimated at 10.1 billion bushels and yield was 142.2 bushels per acre. Planted area totaled 80.9 million acres, up 3 percent from last year. Area harvested for grain, at 73.6 million acres, is up 4 percent from 2003.

Planting conditions during the Spring were good as growers were able to progress ahead of a normal pace for that time of year. Planting progress slowed after mid-May as heavy rains soaked Corn Belt fields but progress remained ahead of the normal pace. The rapid planting progress and warm conditions also spurred emergence during the month of May. However, in the upper Midwest, temperatures averaged below normal during May which slowed crop development.

Throughout most of July, temperatures were below normal with above-normal precipitation. In the Great Plains, moderate to heavy precipitation caused some flooding in the central and southern parts of the region, while the Dakotas remained mostly dry. Due to early planting and emergence, development in most States advanced ahead of normal, but in the northern Great Plains and northern Corn Belt, the lack of heat units hampered growth.

During August, below-normal temperatures prevailed, particularly in the northernmost areas where crop development progressed behind the normal pace. Along the Atlantic Coast, temperatures also averaged below normal, while Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricanes Alex and Charley brought abundant rainfall to most coastal areas. Moderate precipitation and below-normal temperatures prevailed across the Delta while much needed rainfall was received in the Rocky Mountains.

In the northern Corn Belt and northern Great Plains, where a cool summer hampered crop development, progress failed to gain ground despite above-normal temperatures being prevalent during September. Maturation in that area also remained well behind normal at month’s end. Harvest completion by the end of September was behind the normal pace nationwide, particularly in the northern Corn Belt and northern Great Plains. Wet field conditions in the central and southern Great Plains also hampered fieldwork.

In addition to developmental delays from the unusually cool summer, persistent rainfall during October hampered fieldwork, particularly in the Corn Belt and northern Great Plains. By month’s end, harvest was lagging even further behind the normal pace. At the end of November, nearly all of the corn had been harvested, but progress continued to lag well behind normal in the northern Great Plains and adjacent areas of the Corn Belt.

2004 Soybean Production Largest in History

Soybean production in 2004 totaled 3.14 billion bushels, the largest U.S. soybean crop in history and 28 percent above the 2003 level. The average yield per acre is estimated at a record-high 42.5 bushels, 8.6 bushels above the 2003 final yield and 1.1 bushels above the previous record set in 1994. Planted and harvested area in the U.S., at 75.2 million acres and 74.0 million acres respectively, are both up 2 percent from last year and are record breakers.

Planting of the 2004 soybean crop started off ahead of normal across the U.S. and made excellent progress until mid-May. Wet, cool weather slowed planting progress and crop development from the Delta northward through the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley. Some Minnesota and Wisconsin producers struggled with saturated ground well into June, but most farmers in other areas finished planting ahead of normal as soils dried out and summer began. Below-normal temperatures dominated the U.S. most of the summer, slowing plant development at times, but adequate precipitation and short warm spells provided generally favorable conditions and proved beneficial during the critical reproductive stages of soybean plant development. In the northern Corn Belt and adjacent areas of the Great Plains, where planting was late, the crop struggled to mature in the cool, damp weather throughout the growing season. A cold snap during mid-August brought an early widespread frost across North Dakota, areas of Minnesota and as far south as northern Iowa. This had a negative impact on the late planted, immature fields that were just setting or beginning to fill pods. September brought above-normal temperatures and continued favorable soil moisture conditions across a majority of the growing region, including the Corn Belt, making for excellent conditions during the pod-fill stage. As the Southeast and Atlantic Coast States were enduring one tropical storm or hurricane after another, the soybean crop flourished. A season-ending freeze the first week of October in the northern Great Plains, Corn Belt, and Ohio Valley ended plant growth and promoted maturation. Though about normal, the freezing temperatures came too soon for the late-maturing soybeans in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. During the first half of October, harvest progressed at or ahead of normal across most of the Nation, except in the northern growing areas. Rains lingered during the rest of October from the eastern Great Plains across most of the Corn Belt, through the Tennessee Valley, and down the Atlantic Coast, slowing harvest. By October 31, thirteen of the eighteen major soybean producing States were behind their normal harvest pace, with some producers having to go into late November to finish harvest.

2004 All Wheat Production Down 8 Percent

The production of all wheat totaled 2.16 billion bushels in 2004, 8 percent below 2003. Grain area is 50.0 million acres, down 6 percent from last year. The U.S. yield is 43.2 bushels per acre, down 1.0 bushel from a year ago.

The 2004 winter wheat production is estimated at 1.50 billion bushels, 13 percent below 2003. The U.S. yield is 43.5 bushels per acre, 3.2 bushels below last year’s final yield. Acreage for grain is estimated at 34.5 million acres, 6 percent below 2003. Planted area is 43.4 million acres, down 4 percent from the previous year.

Hard Red Winter (HRW) harvested acreage was down significantly from last year in the central Great Plains and Montana due to fewer planted acres and higher than normal abandonment. Dry spring conditions led to lower yields in all Plains States, except Texas, South Dakota, and Montana. Timely rains in South Dakota and Montana resulted in better yields than in 2003. Yields in Texas rebounded from below average levels last year. Overall, HRW production totals 856 million bushels, down 20 percent from last year.

Soft Red Winter (SRW) producing States’ yields improved significantly from poor yields last year in the South and along the Atlantic coast. Yields declined from very good levels last year in most other States. Overall, SRW production is down fractionally from 2003 and totals 380 million bushels.

White Winter production, at 263 million bushels, is down 1 percent from last year. Improved yields more than offset lower acreage in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, and Washington). Excellent irrigated and non-irrigated yields in Idaho resulted in a State level yield equal to the record high set in 2000.

Other Spring production in 2004 is estimated at 569 million bushels, up 7 percent from 2003. Harvested area is 13.2 million acres, 2 percent lower than last year. The U.S. yield is a record high 43.2 bushels per acre, 3.7 bushels better than last year and 1.4 bushels higher than the previous record set in 1992.

Dry spring conditions resulted in timely seeding of the crop. Early planting combined with timely rains resulted in rapid emergence. Crop development slowed throughout the summer due to cool temperatures and frequent precipitation, especially in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. Cool, damp weather continued into August and September, delaying harvest progress. As of September 26, only 88 percent of the crop was harvested, 10 points behind the 5-year average.

Yields were better than last year in all States except Minnesota and Wisconsin, with large increases in most States. Objective yield survey data showed very high plant populations and weight per head in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. Timely rains in eastern Idaho resulted in very good dryland yields.

Durum production for 2004 totaled 89.9 million bushels, down 7 percent from last year. Grain area harvested totaled 2.36 million acres, 18 percent below a year ago. The U.S. yield is estimated at 38.0 bushels per acre, 4.3 bushels above 2003. North Dakota’s Durum harvest was only 42 percent complete as of September 12, more than 2 weeks behind

the 5-year average and 3 weeks behind last year. Wet weather continued to slow harvest progress throughout September and October. As of November 7, ninety-six percent of the crop was harvested, 4 weeks behind normal.

2004 Fresh Market Vegetable Production Up 3 Percent from 2003

Fresh market vegetable and melon production for the 24 selected crops estimated in 2004 totaled 485 million hundredweight, up 3 percent from the previous year. Harvested area covered 1.95 million acres, up 1 percent from 2003. Value of the 2004 crop was estimated at 9.82 billion dollars, down less than 1 percent from a year ago. The three largest crops, in terms of production, were onions, head lettuce, and watermelon, which combined to account for 39 percent of the total production. Tomatoes, head lettuce, and onions claimed the highest values, accounting for 34 percent of the total value when combined.

For the 24 selected vegetables and melons estimated in 2004, California continued to be the leading fresh market State, accounting for 43 percent of the harvested area, 49 percent of production, and 53 percent of the value.

2004 Processing Production of 8 Selected Vegetables Up 13 Percent from 2003

Processing production of 8 selected vegetables estimated in 2004 totaled 17.6 million tons, up 13 percent from the previous year. Area harvested is estimated at 1.29 million acres, down 3 percent from a year ago. Processing crop value is estimated at 1.39 billion dollars, 8 percent above 2003. The three largest crops, in terms of production, are tomatoes, sweet corn, and snap beans, which combine to account for 91 percent of the 8 processing crops estimated in 2004. The three most valuable of the 8 processed vegetables estimated in 2004 are tomatoes, sweet corn, and cucumbers for pickles, accounting for 78 percent of the total value when combined.

For the 8 processed vegetables estimated in 2004, California leads the nation with 24 percent of the harvested acreage, 68 percent of the production, and 51 percent of the value.

2004 Noncitrus Fruit Utilized Production Down 2 Percent, Value Up 5 Percent

In 2004, the Nation's utilized production of the leading noncitrus fruit crops totaled 16.2 million tons, down 2 percent from the comparable 2003 utilized production. Utilized production increased from 2003 for apples, Oregon blackberries, cultivated blueberries, boysenberries, California raspberries, sweet cherries, cranberries, California dates, California figs, kiwifruit, peaches, prunes and plums, and strawberries.

The value of utilized production for noncitrus fruit crops totaled 9.02 billion dollars, up 5 percent from 2003. The value of utilized production for sweet cherries increased 27 percent from 2003, while grape value is up 10 percent, pears are up 9 percent, strawberries increased 7 percent and cranberries are up 6 percent from the previous year. However, the value of utilized production for California prunes decreased 44 percent, California nectarines decreased 28 percent, Hawaii pineapples are down 21 percent, California plums are down 15 percent, tart cherries decreased 13 percent and apples are down 3 percent from 2003.

Utilized apple production for 2004 is estimated at 9.93 billion pounds, up 15 percent from the 2003 level. Utilized production for Washington and New York increased 30 percent and 7 percent, respectively, while Michigan’s utilized production decreased 19 percent compared to last year. In Washington, excellent growing conditions allowed production to rebound from the short 2003 crop. Yield potential in Michigan was reduced by a hard freeze during the first week of May. Widespread hail storms in the early Fall further curtailed Michigan production. Heat in California and remnants of the hurricanes in Pennsylvania reduced utilized production from 2003.
Utilized grape production for 2004 totaled 5.96 million tons, down 7 percent from the 2003 crop. The California crop, which accounts for 90 percent of the 2004 U.S. utilized grape production, is down 6 percent from the previous year. Also for California, raisin type production dropped 8 percent from 2003, wine type production decreased 7 percent, but table type production is up 8 percent. Utilized production increased from 2003 in Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Utilized peach production in 2004 is estimated at 1.23 million tons, up 2 percent from the previous year and 1 percent above 2002. The California crop, accounting for 76 percent of the U.S. utilized peach production, is up 1 percent from 2003. For California, the Clingstone peach estimate is up 7 percent but the Freestone estimate is down 6 percent from 2003.

Utilized pear production for 2004 is 888,400 tons, down 4 percent from the previous year. Washington, the top producing State, utilized 386,000 tons, down 9 percent from 2003. California, the second largest producer at 269,000 tons, is down 1 percent from the previous season. Utilized pear production in Oregon, the third largest producing State, is 208,000 tons, up 4 percent from 2003.

U.S. Nut Production Up 3 Percent, Value Up 32 Percent

The 2004 U.S. nut production (in-shell basis) is estimated at 1.50 million tons, a 3 percent increase from a year earlier. Almond production totaled 850,000 tons, down 2 percent from 2003. The pistachio crop totaled a record high 174,000 tons, more than double the 59,500 tons produced last year. Hazelnut production, at 37,000 tons, is down 2 percent from 2003. Walnut production for 2004 is estimated at 325,000 tons, virtually unchanged from the previous year. Pecan production for 2004 is estimated at 90,500 tons, a 36 percent decrease from 2003. Macadamia production, at 25,500 tons, is down 4 percent from 2003.

The 2004 U.S. value of utilized nut production is estimated at 3.25 billion dollars, up 32 percent from the revised 2003 value. The 2004 almond value, estimated at 2.05 billion dollars, is up 28 percent from 2003. Pistachio value for 2004, at 438 million dollars, is more than three times larger than the 2003 value. Hazelnut value, at 50.7 million dollars, is 30 percent higher than the 2003 value. The pecan crop showed a 9 percent increase in value, to 301 million dollars. The macadamia value, at 33.2 million dollars, is up 3 percent from the previous year.

Number of Farms

The number of U.S. farms fell to 2.11 million in 2004, 0.6 percent below the 2003 level. The average farm size increased by 2 acres, to 443 acres. Land in farms decreased 2.05 million acres, to 936.6 million acres. Farms with annual sales of over $100,000 accounted for 15.8 percent of all farms and for 58.6 percent of land in farms.

Average Farm Real Estate Values

The value of U.S. farm real estate, including all land and buildings, averaged $1,360 per acre as of January 1, 2004, up 7.1 percent from the previous year. Farm real estate values increased in all states from the previous year. The $90 per acre increase in average U.S. farm real estate values extends an upward trend that began in 1988. The change in value closely tracked increases in U.S. cropland and pasture values, which rose by 7.2 and 6.4 percent, respectively, during 2003. The increase in farm real estate, and its cropland and pasture components, was driven by a combination of factors, including; low interest rates, higher cash receipts, and demand for recreational and development uses.

Cash Receipts

U.S. cash receipts from farm marketings totaled $212 billion in 2003, up 8.5 percent from $195 billion in 2002. Crop cash receipts, at $106 billion, were up 4.8 percent while livestock receipts, at $106 billion, were up 12.5 percent.

Index for Prices Received

The 2004 annual average index of prices received by farmers for all farm products, based on 1990-92=100, was 119, up 11 percent from the 2003 annual average of 107. The 2004 annual average index of all crop prices, at 117, was up 5.4 percent due to higher prices for most crops. The 2004 livestock and products price index, at 122, was up 18 percent from 2003.

Prices Paid Index, Grazing Fees, Overall Expenditures, and Wage Rates

Overall, the 2004 index of annual average prices paid by farmers (PPITW) was 133 (1990-92=100), up 3.9 percent from 2003. The annual average PPITW was 136 for the crop sector and 131 for the livestock sector. Both increased from 2003. In 2004, ranchers in the 17 Western States paid monthly fees for grazing livestock on private non-irrigated grazing lands averaging $13.10 per animal unit month, up 6.5 percent from 2003. Overall farm production expenditures increased 3.0 percent in 2003. The U.S. annual average wage rate for all hired workers rose to $9.22 per hour in 2004, up from $9.08 in 2003.

The inventory of all cattle and calves on hand January 1, 2005, was 95.8 million head, up 1 percent from the previous year. Inventory classes posting increases from a year earlier included beef cows, milk cows, beef replacement heifers, milk replacement heifers, steers 500 pounds and over, bulls 500 pounds and over, and calves. Other heifers were down slightly from last year. Beef replacement heifers posted the largest increase, up 4 percent from the previous year. The 2004 calf crop of 37.6 million head was down 1 percent from a year earlier. The higher inventory of cattle and calves indicates the cattle cycle has finally turned after eight years of herd liquidation. The number of operations with cattle during 2004 was 989,460, down 2 percent from 2003.

On January 1, 2005, the inventory of cattle on feed in the U.S. totaled 13.7 million head, down slightly from the previous year. For feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head, inventories increased slightly over last year. With an inventory of 11.3 million head, these feedlots account for 82 percent of the U.S. total. Fed cattle marketings from these feedlots totaled 22.3 million head.

Commercial beef production for 2004 totaled 24.5 billion pounds, down 6 percent from the previous year.

Milk Production Increased Fractionally

U.S. milk production increased fractionally to 171 billion pounds in 2004. Milk cow numbers were down 1 percent, while production per cow increased 1 percent from a year ago. The number of operations with milk cows during 2004 fell to 81,440, down 6 percent from a year earlier. The number of operations with fewer than 500 head declined, while those with 500 or more head increased. Operations with 500 or more head continued to increase their share of production.

Hog Inventory Down Slightly

The inventory of all hogs and pigs on December 1, 2004 was 60.6 million head, up slightly from the previous year. The inventory of breeding animals was down 1 percent from 2003. Sows farrowed was down slightly and the pig crop during 2004 was up slightly from a year earlier. The average pigs saved per litter increased slightly during 2004 to 8.96 compared with 8.93 a year earlier. The number of operations with hogs has fallen steadily since 1980, and was down to 69,420 operations in 2004. The share of inventory held by larger operations continues to increase; in 2004 the 7,423 operations with 2,000 or more hogs held 79 percent of the inventory, compared to 7,136 operations with 77 percent of the inventory a year earlier. Commercial pork production totaled 20.5 billion pounds in 2004, up 3 percent from the previous year. The number of head slaughtered was up 3 percent from 2003 while the average dressed weight per animal was up one pound.

Sheep Inventory Up Slightly

The inventory of all sheep and lambs on hand January 1, 2005, was 6.14 million head, up slightly from the previous year. Breeding inventory was up 1 percent overall with replacement lambs showing the biggest increase, up 10 percent largely in part to the ewe lamb retention program in place as well as an end to the severe drought in the Western part of the United States. Rams one year and old and older were up 1 percent and ewes one year old and older were down 1 percent. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.60 million head on January 1, 2005, down slightly from the previous year.

The 2004 lamb crop at 4.10 million head, a new record low, was down 1 percent from 2003. The 2004 lambing rate was 113 lambs per 100 ewes, up 3 percent from 2003. Shorn wool production in the US totaled 37.6 million pounds in 2004, down 2 percent from 2003. The number of sheep and lambs shorn in 2004 was 5.07 million head, slightly below the previous year.

December 1 Chicken Inventory Up 1 Percent

The number of chickens on December 1, 2004, (excluding commercial broilers) was 454 million, up 1 percent from last year. Layers, at 342 million, were up 1 percent from the previous year. The 101.6 million pullets were up 1 percent from the 100.3 million on hand December 1, 2003. All chickens were valued at $1.12 billion on December 1, 2004, up slightly from a year earlier. Average value decreased from $2.48 per bird on December 1, 2003, to $2.47 per bird on December 1, 2004.

Egg production during the year ending November 30, 2004 totaled a record high 89.1 billion eggs, up 2 percent from the 87.5 billion eggs in 2003. Layer numbers during 2004 averaged 342 million, up 1 percent from the year earlier. The annual average production per layer on hand in 2004 was 260 eggs, up slightly from the 2003 average of 259.

Poultry Production

The combined value of production from broilers, eggs, and turkeys plus the value of sales from chickens in 2003 was $23.3 billion, up 14 percent from the $20.5 billion in 2002. Of the combined total, 65 percent was from broilers, 23 percent from eggs, 12 percent from turkeys, and less than 1 percent from other chickens.

The value of broilers produced during 2003 was $15.2 billion, up 13 percent from 2002. The number of broilers produced was 8.49 billion in 2003, down 1 percent from 2002. The total live weight of broilers produced in 2003 was 44.0 billion pounds, down slightly from 2002. The 2003 average price per pound on a live weight equivalent basis was 34.6 cents per pound, compared with 30.5 cents in 2002.

The value of turkeys produced during 2003 was $2.72 billion, down slightly from $2.73 billion the previous year. Turkey production totaled 7.55 billion pounds live weight, compared with 7.49 billion pounds in 2002. The average price received by producers during 2003 was 36.0 cents per pound, compared with 36.5 cents in 2002.

Trout and Catfish Sales Increase

The total value of all sales, both fish and eggs, received by trout growers in the 20 selected States totaled 68.7 million dollars during 2004, an increase of 7 percent from the 64.0 million dollars received in 2003. Growers in the 20 selected states sold a total of 55.0 million pounds of trout measuring 12 inches or longer in 2004, up 8 percent from the previous year.

Catfish growers in the 11 selected states had sales of 480 million dollars during 2004, up 13 percent from the 2003 total of 425 million dollars. Sales of foodsize fish totaled 451 million dollars, up 14 percent from the previous year. Sales of stockers totaled 6.26 million dollars, down 1 percent from 2003. Catfish water acres decreased 2 percent from January 1, 2004 to 174 thousand acres on January 1, 2005.