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Shrimp Ranching Heads North
This summer the Midwest got its first look at a new "livestock" enterprise that previously existed only in the southernmost states.
Penbur Farms of Buda, Texas, last summer announced plans to put up a big shrimp ranch near Hayden, Ind., and has since contracted to build similar facilities in Pennsylvania and Queb
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Shrimp Ranching Heads North AG WORLD Ag World 20-6-12 This summer the Midwest got its first look at a new "livestock" enterprise that previously existed only in the southernmost states.
Penbur Farms of Buda, Texas, last summer announced plans to put up a big shrimp ranch near Hayden, Ind., and has since contracted to build similar facilities in Pennsylvania and Quebec.
Each of the $7 million ranches will pro-duce 800,000 lbs. of shrimp a year when they're up and running at full steam. Shrimp will be raised inside big tanks in 100,000 sq. ft. buildings so outside climate is not a concern for production, which can be a rather tricky business.
Viruses have proven deadly in densely-packed, pond-farming operations in the south where disease spreads quickly.
Using closed tanks that recirculate artificial seawater should eliminate the problem and avoid the pollution associated with shrimp farming in open ponds, according to the company.
For anyone who's got the capital to in-vest, shrimp farming might offer big returns.
That's because of a currently tight supply.
Last spring, the U.S. embargoed shrimp exports from 30 countries, including China, Thailand, and India, whose producers don't use devices to keep sea turtles from drowning in their nets. Supplies were further tightened by a late season along the Gulf of Mexico, which normally produces about 200 million lbs. a year, and a virus that last year decimated Texas' shrimp harvest to 1.4 million lbs., down from 3.7 million normally.
The combination has Penbur Farms projecting a selling price of up to $13 per lb., meaning payback on the new $7 million facility will come in as little as 14 months.
Even if you haven't got $7 million lying around, don't give up on shrimp.
Penbur Farms CEO and President Jim Penfield says the company is looking into setting up smaller sized operations that might fit better into an average-sized farm.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Shawn Shoemaker or Sonny Hollub, Penbur Farms Inc., 1235 South Loop 4, Buda, Texas 78610 (ph 512 312-1245).
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