USDA Purchases $20 Million of Surplus Catfish to Aid Southern Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service agreed to buy up to $20 million worth of farm‑raised catfish under its Section 32 program. The purchase will funnel the fish to food banks, charities and other nutrition assistance programs while providing direct relief to catfish producers in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas.

The action follows a joint letter from Senators Katie Britt (R‑AL), Tommy Tuberville (R‑AL), Cindy Hyde‑Smith (R‑MS), Roger Wicker (R‑MS) and Tom Cotton (R‑AR) urging Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use Section 32 to support the industry. Lawmakers said the catfish sector, which generates about $2 billion in economic output and supports more than 9,000 jobs, has faced falling prices, high feed costs and competition from imports. The USDA purchase is intended to stabilize prices, reduce surplus inventory and keep farms operating.

The $20 million buy builds on earlier USDA agreements, including a $55 million catfish purchase in January 2025, and is part of a broader effort to support domestic agricultural producers while supplying nutritious protein to families in need.