America's Heartland - Episode 604

Episode 604 - Fish Farming
	The word "aquaculture" may not be familiar to you, but if you hear "fish farming" you’d know what we’re talking about. Across the country, fish farming has become an important way for farmers and ranchers to get an additional crop from their land. And in Virginia, it’s also provided some new opportunities beyond a cash crop.

Danny Shoosmith decided to try something new among his 1600 acres of corn and soybean. He diversified by adding ponds to his land and began farming trout and freshwater prawns, which he sells commercially. The ponds also give him a chance to open his land to recreational fishing that "guarantees" a good catch.

Fish Farming - Fun Fact:
Farming fish has been around for a long long time. Early Australians are credited with farming eels some six thousand years ago, and fish farming was underway in China by 2500 B.C. When it comes to harvests, catfish, carp, oysters and shrimp are high on the list of fish farmed around the world.

Links
Virginia Farm Bureau
Virginia Department of Agriculture

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The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, Farm Credit, and the United Soybean Board make presentation of America's Heartland possible.

Additional production and promotion assistance is provided by
The American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, U.S. Grains Council,
National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National FFA Organization.