EVALUATING THE USE OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS IN PRODUCING CATFISH IN MULTI-ENTERPRISE FARMING IN MISSISSIPPI BLACK BELT AREA

Name: Benedict C. Posadas
Date of Degree: May 12, 1998
Institution: Mississippi State University
Major Field: Agricultural Economics
Director of Dissertation: Dr. James G. Dillard
Major professor: Dr. Marty J. Fuller
Title of Study: EVALUATING THE USE OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS IN PRODUCING CATFISH IN MULTI-ENTERPRISE FARMING IN MISSISSIPPI BLACK BELT AREA
Pages in Study: 135
Candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

The general objective of this study is to determine the economics of catfish production and the potential for constructed wetlands in the Mississippi Black Belt area. The data on the number and size of commercial catfish operations were provided by the National Agriculture Statistics Service and the Noxubee County Extension Office. Operational characteristics, investment and operating costs were based on a survey of 15 Mississippi Black Belt catfish farmers.

The optimum farm organizations were determined by using a mixed integer linear programming model. The costs of using constructed wetlands in catfish production were synthesized from experimental results. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the points of entry and exit of the different enterprises in the optimal farm organization.

Catfish production in a highly diversified, or multi-enterprise family farms in the area is profitable. The number of catfish ponds per farm averaged six ponds with an average size of eight water acres. The total initial investment was $28,219 per eight-acre pond or $3,527 per water acre. The total cost of producing catfish was $24,485 per pond or 58.86 cents per pound of fish harvested. These estimates are lower than those reported recently in the Mississippi Delta. The average annual cost associated with marketing constraints or off-flavor ranged from 0.29 to 2.65 cents per pound.

Diversified family farms in the area appear to be economically viable. The sample farms averaged 504 acres devoted to crops, swine or catfish production. The optimal combination of six catfish ponds, four swine houses, and 438 soybean acres generated whole farm returns above specified costs amounting to $27,297 per year.

The use of constructed wetlands in catfish pond production assuming present technology is not economically viable. The total initial investment associated with six 2-acre constructed wetlands was $33,285 per pond. The added cost of catfish production associated with the use of constructed wetlands was $3,155 per pond or 7.58 cents per pound of fish harvested. Further testing of this technology needs to be undertaken in order to ascertain its effects on the yields of marketable catfish or other fish species under intensive commercial scale operations.

	Economics of Catfish Production in Non-Delta Areas in Mississippi
	ABSTRACT

Name: Benedict C. Posadas Date of Degree: May 12, 1998 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Agricultural Economics Director of Dissertation: Dr. James G. Dillard Major professor: Dr. Marty J. Fuller Title of Study: EVALUATING THE USE OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS IN PRODUCING CATFISH IN MULTI-ENTERPRISE FARMING IN MISSISSIPPI BLACK BELT AREA Pages in Study: 135 Candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The general objective of this study is to determine the economics of catfish production and the potential for constructed wetlands in the Mississippi Black Belt area. The data on the number and size of commercial catfish operations were provided by the National Agriculture Statistics Service and the Noxubee County Extension Office. Operational characteristics, investment and operating costs were based on a survey of 15 Mississippi Black Belt catfish farmers. The optimum farm organizations were determined by using a mixed integer linear programming model. The costs of using constructed wetlands in catfish production were synthesized from experimental results. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the points of entry and exit of the different enterprises in the optimal farm organization. Catfish production in a highly diversified, or multi-enterprise family farms in the area is profitable. The number of catfish ponds per farm averaged six ponds with an average size of eight water acres. The total initial investment was $28,219 per eight-acre pond or $3,527 per water acre. The total cost of producing catfish was $24,485 per pond or 58.86 cents per pound of fish harvested. These estimates are lower than those reported recently in the Mississippi Delta. The average annual cost associated with marketing constraints or off-flavor ranged from 0.29 to 2.65 cents per pound. Diversified family farms in the area appear to be economically viable. The sample farms averaged 504 acres devoted to crops, swine or catfish production. The optimal combination of six catfish ponds, four swine houses, and 438 soybean acres generated whole farm returns above specified costs amounting to $27,297 per year. The use of constructed wetlands in catfish pond production assuming present technology is not economically viable. The total initial investment associated with six 2-acre constructed wetlands was $33,285 per pond. The added cost of catfish production associated with the use of constructed wetlands was $3,155 per pond or 7.58 cents per pound of fish harvested. Further testing of this technology needs to be undertaken in order to ascertain its effects on the yields of marketable catfish or other fish species under intensive commercial scale operations.

Economics of Catfish Production in Non-Delta Areas in Mississippi