Wicker, GOP colleagues urge USDA to make major purchase of U.S. farm-raised catfish

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) joined a bicameral Republican contingent of lawmakers in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make a significant purchase of U.S. farm-raised catfish to help stabilize markets and provide much-needed income to the nation’s catfish farmers.

“U.S. catfish inventories have climbed sharply in recent years, and when combined with the rapid increase in feed costs, the profitability of America’s catfish producers is at risk,” wrote Sen. Wicker and his colleagues in a Nov. 7 letter sent to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The 10 lawmakers from catfish-producing states expressed support of an industry request that the USDA purchase catfish products under Section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935, a permanently authorized program supporting producers of agricultural commodities that are not supported by other farm support programs.

A major Section 32 purchase of catfish products by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service would facilitate the domestic consumption of U.S. farm-raised catfish, assist in stabilizing markets, and support income for catfish farmers, the lawmakers wrote. 

Sen. Wicker and his colleagues pointed out that ongoing processing constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions have resulted in catfish being kept longer on farms, where they’ve grown larger and heavier, according to their letter.

“Keeping the catfish on farm for extended periods results in additional feed costs and contributes to these heavier weights,” they wrote. “The larger fish are sold at a substantial discount, making it impossible to offset the additional input costs.”

Purchasing catfish will help to strengthen the nation’s rural areas and provide a nutritious, U.S.-grown product to Americans, the lawmakers wrote in their letter, which was led by U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR).