Horace McQueen – Troubled Waters For U.S. Catfish

Not many years ago, most of our restaurants had U.S. catfish on the menu. Today it’s a different story. From Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand massive shipments of Tra, Swai and Pangasius fish are being shipped to the U.S. and being sold at “catfish”. Once the U.S. food inspectors get a look at most of the imports, they find harmful antibiotics and other issues with those fish. Problem is the inspectors can only look at about 1% of the shipments due to shortage of qualified labor. About the only thing catfish farmers in our country have going for them is a Federal law that says fish sold in grocery stores and fish markets have to be labeled with country of origin. But even though that law is helpful, it doesn’t apply to restaurants that cut costs by advertising on their menus that they serve catfish—and that is often an outright lie!

One catfish farmer says that American farm-raised catfish is down to about 20% of the market—that the inferior imports have 80%. It is disturbing that when a diner asks where the catfish comes from, they are often told “it’s American”. Not long ago, my wife and I stopped in at one of the many fish restaurants named “Baytown Seafood”. I asked the manager about their catfish and shrimp—in her Asian accent she said “American”. Then I asked the name of their seafood supplier—she gave me a name. So, I called the supplier and asked if that particular restaurant bought U.S. catfish and shrimp. “No, she does not—they buy the cheaper junk from Southeast Asia”. Quite a lesson in truth in advertising! Brookshire grocery stores replaced U.S. catfish with Swai fish from Vietnam at their deli counters. That grocery chain now “proudly” offers “Southern Fried Fish”—as a substitute for what had long been quality U.S. fish.

A new fire protection program is now offered by the Texas Forest Service. It’s a controlled burning grant for use on timber properties that need a controlled burn and are located within 10-miles of a National Forest. Those landowners who are approved for the new program can get up to $30 an acre for up to 800 acres. Funds are limited, so contact your nearest TFS office for applications or more details.

It’s that time of year for winter pasture meetings. Coming up next Tuesday, September 12th, an Extension-sponsored beef cattle and winter pasture program will be held in Palestine at the Ben E. Keith building (next to Little Mexico). Start

time is 6:15 p.m. and will last till 8:30. Cost is $10 a person and includes a barbecue dinner.

Then a visit to the Circle X Camp Cooley Ranch near Franklin takes place Friday September 23rd—a Friday. It’s another in the top notch livestock and pasture programs that have been offered at the ranch. Folks from Texas A & M along with personnel from Camp Cooley will headline the event. Starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs till 3 p.m. Cost is $25 a person and includes a roast beef lunch and all day refreshment breaks. To pre-register, or get more information, call 979-828-4270.

Thought for today: “Society has gotten to the point where everybody has a “Right” but nobody has a “Responsibility”. How true! That’s –30—[email protected]

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