Aquaculture for all

Help Comes to Alabama Catfish Farmers

Economics +1 more

US - Help came Tuesday to Alabama catfish farmers who have had to pay more to feed their fish, making it even harder for them to compete with foreign fish imports.

State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks said 141 aquaculture farmers including Hale County farmer Bill Kyser got a total of $9 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $50 million national stimulus to offset the cost of fish food, reports TheGadsdenTimes.

“Numerous aquaculture producers suffered from financial hardships during 2008 due to increased feed prices,” Sparks said.

“These funds will provide assistance to producers with the aquaculture industry.”

Kyser got about $100,000 to offset last year’s $2 million feed bill that has been increasing because of events mostly out of his and other farmers’ control.

According to GadsdenTimes, he said the $100,000 will help defray expenses at his family farm that employs 14 people.

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