Determine the feasibility of freshwater shrimp culture in Northern Ohio.
Evaluate the impact of latitude and water temperature on the growth of freshwater shrimp in Ohio.
Provide cooperators with the assistance and training they need to evaluate the profitability, social acceptability and environmental soundness of a non-traditional livestock crop.

Freshwater shrimp are believed to have great potential for diversification of Ohio farms. They have a short growing season (June 1st-September 15th) that fits in well with other farm activities, require little labor (20 minutes/day feeding and one long harvest day), and occupy underutilized existing water resources. Research conducted at the OSU South Centers in Piketon Ohio during the 2002 growing season evaluated the feasibility of freshwater shrimp culture in southern Ohio. Nine ponds in southern Ohio were involved in an on-farm demonstration of freshwater shrimp cultivation techniques. Seven of the nine ponds met production goals of approximately 1000 pounds per acre of shrimp in a 110-day culture period. The research has attracted a lot of attention with the Centers receiving hundreds of phone calls from farmers interested in exploring freshwater shrimp as a diversification effort for their farms. While results are available for farmers in Southern Ohio, many farmers in the Northern districts of Ohio were curious as to whether freshwater shrimp could be successfully cultured in their area too. The answer, so far, has been that we don't know.

Freshwater shrimp are now being cultured in many temperate areas in the United States. Reports from Kentucky, Tennessee, Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana all point toward a rapid increase in shrimp production. However, there is currently no documented evidence of shrimp culture in latitudes above 40°.

The Aquaculture Specialists at the Ohio State University South Centers are teaming up with County Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents, the ABE Center in Bowling Green Ohio and six Ohio Farmers (Appendix A) to implement an on-farm research trial investigating the impact of latitude on the culture of freshwater shrimp. This group will be referred to as the Shrimp Team. The six farmers, interested in evaluating the profitability, social acceptability and environmental soundness of raising freshwater shrimp as a non-traditional livestock crop, have been identified. Three of the farmers are in Southern Ohio and three in Northern Ohio. Agents from Brown, Scioto, Athens, Wood and Huron counties, where the on-farm demonstrations will be located, will be involved in the project. Individual responsibilities will be as follows.

Each cooperating farmer will receive an aerator to use for the 2003 growing season (a $700.00 value). These are aerators obtained with grant funds from the 2002 project and they will continue to be utilized to expand this research. The aerators must be returned to OSU at the end of the growing season. The farmer will also receive technical (and emotional support if necessary!) from their county agent and aquaculture specialists at the OSU South Centers. Each farmer will allow the county agent to hold a field day at the production site. Each farmer will allow for water and soil samples to be collected periodically from pond.

Each farmer needs a 1/4th to one-acre drainable pond (no other fish in it) with 220V electricity available. The pond must be filled with water by June 1st, 2003. The aerator must be run 24 hours/day for about 100 days (approximate cost $1.00/day according to last years cooperators). The farmer must agree to purchase recommended feed and feed recommended amounts daily. Each farmer will cooperatively purchase their shrimp with the research group to ensure consistency (competitive pricing guaranteed). The farmer must supply all harvest labor (around the first two weeks in September) and allow OSU personnel to be present to collect data. Each farmer will purchase their own feed, seed stock, fertilizer, lime and other inputs and will retain all profits from the harvested animals. Each farmer will keep track of all expenditures during the course of the trial.

The Agents:
Each agent will be responsible for providing primary support to the cooperator. They will assist in the procurement of funds to support the project. They will arrange a field day on site to share information. They will help the cooperator develop a marketing plan. They will help harvest the shrimp and collect data. They will help in the writing of fact sheets and journal articles.

The Specialists:
Aquaculture Specialists will be responsible for coordinating the research including procurement of funding, procurement of seed stock and feed, liming and fertilization schedules, research protocol, providing expertise, coordinating harvesting and data collection, assisting with marketing plans and dissemination of results.

Protocol:
Each of the six ponds will be stocked with freshwater shrimp (16,000/acre) around June 1st, 2003. Cooperator will feed shrimp and collect water temperature data daily for 100-110 days. Shrimp will be harvested in September 2003. Production data collected will include, total harvest weight, average individual weight, feed conversion ration, and survival. The relationship between latitude, water temperature and shrimp production will be statistically analyzed.

Timetable:
In March, the entire shrimp team will undergo training to enhance the success of the operations. The group will receive training in shrimp pond construction and shrimp culture. The Aquaculture specialist will provide each member of the shrimp team with a notebook containing pertinent fact sheets and information on the culture and marketing of freshwater shrimp. Pond preparation will begin in March 2003. All ponds will be drained or pumped dry, limed if necessary. Ponds will be refilled in preparation for stocking June 2003. Cooperators will fertilize ponds according to recommendations from the Specialists. Shrimp will be stocked as soon as water temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees F. Cooperators will feed shrimp once or twice a day for 100-110 days. Demonstration sites will be open for viewing by other interested individuals and field days as arranged by the county agent. Shrimp will be harvested in September 2003, before water temperatures reach 60 degrees F. Each Cooperator farmer will work with the agent and shrimp team to develop a marketing plan for their shrimp prior to harvest. Some Cooperators may be able to market to local restaurants, fall festivals, farmers markets or Asian markets. Cooperators will keep all proceeds from the sale of shrimp raised on their farm.

The shrimp team will submit a project findings report by December 2003.

All 6 shrimp production ponds were harvested in September 2003. Yields (lbs.) per acre ranged from 139-442 lbs. Average size (g) ranged from 16-28 g. Survival ranged from 15% to 46%. By pond location ( N= north, S=south), the N ponds had the lowest mean average weight (23g), lowest mean survival (20.6%) and lowest mean harvest yield (168 lbs./acre). The S ponds by comparison had the highest mean average weight (24g), highest mean survival (41.6%) and highest mean harvest yield (351 lbs./acre). Pond soil and water samples were collected at stocking and harvest, and are currently being tested. Samples will be compared for correlations between soil and water quality parameters, production yields and survivals, and new compared to old ponds. Cooperative farmers were able to market all shrimp grown in their ponds to local customers in the round, live. Prices ranged from $11 to $12 per pound or sold at a festival for $5 a plate. Cooperators were able to gain a better understanding of shrimp production on this pilot scale, evaluate if this would be an economically feasible option for their existing farm operations and that shrimp can be grown in latitudes above 40 degrees.