A new channel catfish farmer in Hickman Co. has been mentored for the past 14 months.  His fingerling catfish were stocked into 25 acres of ponds during May of 2021. Thousands of fish are stocked per acre in a multiple batch harvesting scenario where 1.0 -1.5 lb. fish are removed by cull seining and sold to live fish haulers for fee fishing operations or small-scale fish processers.  It takes 12 to 18 months for channel catfish to grow from 6-inch-long fingerlings to harvest size.  Approximately 25,000 lbs. of fish have been harvested to date at prices reaching $1.40 per lb.  During the next year, 3,000 to 4,000 lbs. of fish per acre should be available for harvest and sold during the months of March - September. This grower has learned fish feeding, harvesting, water quality and other fish farming methods, in addition to managing four broiler chicken barns during his first year of catfish production.