Foodfish Ponds

Teague Farm
Pond 3

United Farms Inc
    Pond 6
    Pond 7
Pond 8

Fingerling Ponds

Baxter Land Co.
    Pond 15
    Pond 16

Detailed Data

1997-2000

Foodfish Ponds

Halley Farm

The Halley Farm is located near Halley, southeastern Arkansas (Chicot County) and is owned by Rusty Moss and managed by Johnny Cochran. Currently, there are two foodfish verification ponds (Pond H16 and H17) in production on the Halley Farm. Each pond is 14.0 surface acres with gravel levees. Electric paddlewheels provide aeration. Grass carp are stocked when necessary to control nuisance aquatic vegetation.

Bird predation is not a problem with these ponds and mortalities attributed to predation are negligible.

Water quality is monitored weekly for ammonia, pH and nitrite. A minimum of 60 ppm chlorides is preferred. Well water on this farm has a pH of 8.0, 154 ppm CaCO₃ alkalinity, 308 ppm CaCO₃ hardness and 135 ppm chlorides. Paddlewheel aerators provide a minimum of 1 hp/surface acre. Paddlewheels are turned on when dissolved oxygen drops to 4 ppm.

Steve Killian, Extension Fisheries Specialist at the Lake Village Fish Diagnostic Laboratory in southeast Arkansas performs diagnostic procedures for disease episodes in the area.

Bill Teague's Farm

Bill Teague owns and operates this 92 acre fish farm. The farm is located in northeast Arkansas approximately 2 miles west of Waldenburg. Currently, one foodfish verification pond (Pond 3) is in production. This pond is 8.75 surface acres with gravel levees and was reworked during the summer of 1997 and filled in the fall. Dennis electric paddlewheels provide aeration at 1.1 hp/ac. Grass carp were stocked to control Pithophora.

Bayou DeView WMA is located approximately 0.5 miles northeast of Bill Teague's farm. The WMA provides nesting grounds for a large population of cormorants. Thus, cormorants are a serious problem on this farm.

Water quality is monitored weekly for ammonia, pH and nitrite. A minimum of 60 ppm chlorides is preferred. Well water on this farm has a pH of 8.0, 171 ppm CaCO₃ alkalinity, 188 ppm CaCO₃ hardness and 53 ppm chlorides. Paddlewheels are turned on when dissolved oxygen drop to 4 ppm

Scott Weber, VMD., Extension Fish Health Specialist at the Lonoke Diagnostic Laboratory performs diagnostic procedures for disease episodes in the central and northeastern part of the state.

United Farms, Inc.

United Farms, Inc. (west farm) is a 756 acre fish farm located in northeastern Arkansas approximately 3 miles east of Hughes (St. Francis County) and owned by Peyton Upton. Joe McLemore manages day to day activities. Currently, three foodfish verification ponds (Pond 6 - 9.55, Pond 7 - 10.57 and Pond 8 - 7.18 surface acres) are in production. All pond levees are composed of gravel. House electric paddlewheels provide aeration at 1.05 hp/ac (pond 6), 0.95 hp/ac (pond 7) and 1.4 hp/ac (pond 8). Grass carp and bighead carp are stocked to control nuisance aquatic vegetation and algae.

Bird predation is not a problem with these ponds and mortalities attributed to predation are negligible.

Water quality is monitored weekly for ammonia, pH and nitrite. A minimum of 60 ppm chlorides is preferred. The well water on this farm has a pH of 8.2, 256 ppm as CaCO₃, alkalinity, hardness of 135 ppm as CaCO₃ and 22.5 ppm
chlorides. Paddlewheels are turned on when dissolved oxygen drop to 4 ppm.

Scott Weber, VMD., Extension Fish Health Specialist at the Lonoke Diagnostic Laboratory performs diagnostic procedures for disease episodes in the central and northeastern part of the state.

Fingerling Ponds

Baxter Land Co.

Baxter Land Company is located approximately 4 miles north of Arkansas City, Desha County, Arkansas. Baxter Land Co. is owned by Jeff Baxter and fish production is managed by Bill McCullum. Two catfish fingerling verification ponds (pond 15 and pond 16) were stocked in June, 1998.

Water quality is monitored weekly for ammonia, pH and nitrite. A minimum of 60 ppm chlorides is preferred. Well water on this farm has a pH of 8.0, 171 ppm CaCO₃ alkalinity, 188 ppm CaCO₃ hardness and 53 ppm chlorides. Paddlewheel aerators provide a minimum of 1 hp/surface acre. Paddlewheels are turned on when dissolved oxygen drops to 4 ppm

Steve Killian, Extension Fisheries Specialist at the Lake Village Fish Diagnostic Laboratory in southeast Arkansas performs diagnostic procedures for disease episodes in the area.