HDR1012000170070722971500Mink                                                   
                                                                                
Mink                                                                            
                                                                                
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released July 22, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service         
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Mink" call Tom Kruchten at (202) 690-4870, office hours 7:30    
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                   Pelt Production Down 1 Percent                               
                                                                                
Mink pelt production in the United States in 1996 totaled 2.65 million pelts,   
down 1 percent from 1995.  Wisconsin, the major mink producing State, produced  
718,000 pelts.                                                                  
                                                                                
By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S.              
production follows:  Standard - 46.7 percent; Mahogany - 21.1 percent;          
Gunmetal - 12.8 percent; Ranch Wild - 7.4 percent; Demi-buff - 4.1 percent.     
The remaining color classes accounted for 7.9 percent.                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Value of Pelt Production Down 35 Percent                          
                                                                                
Mink pelts produced during the 1996 crop year were valued at $93.5 million      
dollars, down 35 percent from $142.8 million a year ago. The average price per  
pelt for the 1996 crop year was $35.30, down from the record high price of      
$53.10 in 1995.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                     Females Bred Up 5 Percent                                  
                                                                                
Female mink bred to produce kits in 1997 totaled 710,800, up 5 percent from     
the previous year.                                                              
                                                                                
Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1997 by color class are:       
Standard - 46.5 percent; Mahogany - 19.5 percent;  Gunmetal - 12.8 percent;     
Ranch Wild - 6.7 percent; Sapphire - 4.5 percent.  The remaining color classes  
accounted for 10.0 percent.                                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Number Of Mink Farms Down 7 Percent                             
                                                                                
There were 415 mink farms producing pelts in 1996, down 7 percent from a year   
ago. Leading States were Utah with 130 farms, Wisconsin with 74 farms and       
Minnesota with 40.                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                Fox                                             
                                                                                
There were 40 mink farms which also raised fox in 1996, compared to 49 for the  
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Lv Gn 3 (7-97)                                                                  
                                                                                
             Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,             
                          United States, 1995-1997 1/                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits    
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------  
         Class        :   1995 2/:   1996   :   1995   :   1996 2/:   1997      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :     Thousands                    Thousands              
                      :                                                         
Standard              :  1,216      1,238      351.8      336.3      330.8      
Ranch Wild            :    264        195       57.8       43.7       47.5      
Demi-buff             :    159        109       41.8       29.0       29.8      
Pastel                :     35         32       10.1        9.3       13.4      
Pale Brown            :      1          1        0.1        0.4        0.2      
Sapphire              :     66         86       21.9       25.8       32.0      
Gunmetal              :    284        339       75.0       90.8       90.7      
Mahogany              :    569        560      123.6      119.0      138.8      
Pearl                 :     33         25        8.0        6.7        5.7      
Lavender-hope         :      6          9        2.7        2.6        2.1      
Pink                  :     10          3        3.0        0.8        1.4      
Violet-type           :     13         19        4.1        4.3        8.5      
White                 :     33         30        8.7        7.4        9.2      
Misc.& Unclassified   :      1          3        0.9        2.1        0.7      
                      :                                                         
US Total              :  2,689      2,649      709.5      678.2      710.8      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price,  and Value,                  
                            United States, 1976-96                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of       
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price            :     Mink Pelts      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :    Number      1,000          Dollars              Million Dollars   
         :                                                                      
1976     :    1,015       3,026             29.00                     87.8      
1977     :    1,040       3,076             28.30                     87.1      
1978     :    1,095       3,358             39.30                    132.0      
1979     :    1,105       3,394             41.10                    139.5      
1980     :    1,122       3,501             35.30                    123.6      
1981     :       3/          3/             32.20                       3/      
1982     :    1,116       4,085             28.90                    118.1      
1983     :    1,098       4,137             29.90                    123.7      
1984     :    1,084       4,220             30.80                    130.0      
1985     :    1,042       4,171             28.00                    116.8      
1986     :      989       4,096             41.30                    170.0      
1987     :    1,027       4,122             43.00                    177.2      
1988     :    1,027       4,453             32.30                    143.8      
1989     :      940       4,604             20.40                     93.9      
1990     :      771       3,366             25.50                     85.8      
1991     :      683       3,268             21.90                     71.6      
1992     :      571       2,900             23.80                     69.0      
1993     :      498       2,527             34.10                     86.2      
1994     :      458       2,525             33.00                     83.3      
1995 2/  :      445       2,689             53.10                    142.8      
1996 4/  :      415       2,649             35.30                     93.5      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Sum of color class may not add to U.S. total due to rounding.               
2/  Revised based on additional information.                                    
3/  Data not availabe for 1981.                                                 
4/  Data are Preliminary.                                                       
           Mink: Pelts Produced by color Class and Number of Farms,             
                  Major States and United States, 1995                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :          
States:  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-   
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                              Number of Pelts                            
      :                                                                         
 ID   :   68,400   36,100       *        *               *             40,000   
 IL   :   43,500                *                                          *    
 IA   :   42,900    2,100       *        *               *    10,900       *    
 MI   :   32,100       *     3,400    1,600           1,500    1,300    6,000   
 MN   :  115,000   74,000    3,800       *               *    28,000   71,500   
 NY   :   12,700       *                300              *       600    3,100   
 OH   :       *     6,000    2,100      100           2,900      800       *    
 OR   :   73,000       *              1,100              *   101,000    5,500   
 PA   :       *        *        *        *            8,900   21,600    2,500   
 SD   :       *        *        *        *                             29,000   
 UT   :  267,000   13,000   68,000    4,000          16,000   22,000  168,000   
 WA   :   67,100       *                                      25,500       *    
 WI   :  376,100   26,900    9,700   10,600          15,300   64,800  140,300   
      :                                                                         
Oth   :  118,400  106,100   72,000   16,800     500  21,400    7,900  103,100   
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :1,216,200  264,200  159,000   34,500     500  66,000  284,400  569,000   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number   
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of     
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                            Number of Pelts                              
      :                                                                         
 ID   :     *        *                                        170,500     22    
 IL   :     *                                   *              48,400     10    
 IA   :     *                       3,900       *              91,300     21    
 MI   :  2,100                *     1,400    2,500             52,100     12    
 MN   :     *                 *              3,300            306,000     52    
 NY   :    200             1,000    1,000               *      20,800     11    
 OH   :                               100                      68,000     12    
 OR   :                                *                      198,000     27    
 PA   :     *        *        *        *        *              63,200     13    
 SD   :     *                                                  80,700      4    
 UT   : 11,000                      1,000                     570,000    130    
 WA   :                                                       105,000     20    
 WI   :  1,500    3,800    2,500    2,100   19,600     400    673,600     76    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 18,400    2,100    6,400    3,600    7,300     300    241,700     35    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    : 33,200    5,900    9,900   13,100   32,700     700  2,689,300    445    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl    
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to       
avoid disclosing individual operations.                                         
                                                                                
          Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,              
                      Major States and United States, 1996                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :          
States:  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-   
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                              Number of Pelts                            
      :                                                                         
 ID   :   52,900   32,800   19,100       *       *       *             45,700   
 IL   :   50,900                                                           *    
 IA   :   45,100       *        *    11,500           5,200   14,700    3,900   
 MI   :   30,000               400    1,600           3,400    1,600   12,700   
 MN   :  111,300   65,300   11,200    1,800              *    27,300   71,900   
 NY   :    9,100       *       500    1,100      *       *       800    4,100   
 OH   :       *     5,500                             4,700    2,000       *    
 OR   :   78,000       *                 *            8,400  110,000       *    
 PA   :       *              1,600       *            9,300   22,100       *    
 SD   :       *    31,000       *        *                             37,500   
 UT   :  286,000   11,000   50,000    3,000          18,000   28,000  183,000   
 WA   :   68,000       *        *                        *    33,000       *    
 WI   :  394,800   25,000    5,200    7,200          18,900   88,400  148,400   
      :                                                                         
Oth   :  111,500   24,500   21,400    6,100   1,200  17,600   10,800   52,900   
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :1,237,600  195,100  109,400   32,300   1,200  85,500  338,700  560,100   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number   
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of     
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                            Number of Pelts                              
      :                                                                         
 ID   :     *        *                 *                      170,000     22    
 IL   :     *                                   *       *      56,700      9    
 IA   :     *                          *        *              97,000     20    
 MI   :  1,700                      1,200    3,800     600     57,000      9    
 MN   :     *                          *        *             293,300     40    
 NY   :    200               200      400            1,600     20,100     11    
 OH   :                                                        73,800     12    
 OR   :                                *                      208,000     23    
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *              65,700     13    
 SD   :     *                                                  94,100      4    
 UT   :  5,000                      1,000                     585,000    130    
 WA   :                                                       117,000     19    
 WI   :     *     4,100       *     4,200   18,300     800    718,100     74    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 18,500    5,300    2,800   11,700    7,400     400     93,300     29    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    : 25,400    9,400    3,000   18,500   29,500   3,400  2,649,100    415    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl    
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to       
avoid disclosing individual operations.                                         
                                                                                
           Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number By Color Class,             
                         Major States and United States, 1996                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :           
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-    
      :  dard  :  Wild  : buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   : 13,000    7,300    2,800       *        *       *              9,000    
 IL   : 13,200                                                            *     
 IA   : 13,000       *        *        *             1,400    4,700    3,600    
 MI   :  7,700                        300              700      600    2,100    
 MN   : 31,000   13,000       *        *                *     6,500   15,500    
 NY   :  4,100       *                300               *       100      500    
 OH   :     *     1,100      800      100            1,300      400       *     
 OR   : 18,000       *                400            3,000   27,000    1,100    
 PA   :     *        *        *        *             2,700    6,000    1,100    
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               6,700    
 UT   : 86,400    3,300   14,000      700      100   6,200    8,200   45,900    
 WA   : 16,400       *                                  *     8,200       *     
 WI   :100,400    4,900    1,900    2,300       *    5,400   25,200   23,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 33,100   14,100    9,500    5,200      300   5,100    3,900   10,500    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :336,300   43,700   29,000    9,300      400  25,800   90,800  119,000    
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :            
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total     
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :            
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   :      *         *                   *                          37,400    
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,300    
 IA   :      *                          1,300        *                29,600    
 MI   :     800                           500       700               13,400    
 MN   :                                    *         *                68,500    
 NY   :                                                        *       7,200    
 OH   :                                   100                         20,500    
 OR   :                                    *                          51,000    
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,200    
 SD   :      *                                                        22,800    
 UT   :   2,000                           200                        167,000    
 WA   :                                                               27,500    
 WI   :     200     1,100       400       800     4,500        *     170,400    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   3,700     1,500       400     1,400     2,200     2,100     29,400    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :   6,700     2,600       800     4,300     7,400     2,100    678,200    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl    
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to       
avoid disclosing individual operations.                                         
                                                                                
           Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number By Color Class,             
                         Major States and United States, 1997                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                                                         
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-    
      :  dard  :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   : 12,900    8,100       *        *             6,200            12,800    
 IL   : 13,300                *                                           *     
 IA   : 13,700       *     2,200    6,000            2,400    5,300    3,600    
 MI   :  7,300               100      300              600      600    3,300    
 MN   : 26,100   16,600       *       600               *     6,300   16,800    
 NY   :  3,600       *                800       *       *       600      300    
 OH   :     *     1,300                              2,000      500       *     
 OR   : 19,000       *                 *             3,400   27,000       *     
 PA   :     *                900       *             2,900    5,900       *     
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               7,600    
 UT   : 91,900    2,400   15,000      900            6,100    9,300   56,300    
 WA   : 17,000       *        *                              10,400       *     
 WI   : 95,000    6,900    1,100    2,500            6,900   20,400   24,400    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 31,000   12,200   10,500    2,300      200   1,500    4,400   13,700    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :330,800   47,500   29,800   13,400      200  32,000   90,700  138,800    
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :            
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total     
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :            
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   :                *                   *                          46,500    
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,700    
 IA   :      *                          2,700        *                36,600    
 MI   :     500                           300       800       200     14,000    
 MN   :      *                             *         *                68,500    
 NY   :                         400       400                          6,800    
 OH   :                                                               19,700    
 OR   :                                    *                          52,000    
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,100    
 SD   :      *                                                        23,000    
 UT   :     200                         2,000       900              185,000    
 WA   :                                                               30,900    
 WI   :      *         *         *      1,200     4,800       500    165,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   5,000     2,100     1,000     1,900     2,700               29,000    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :   5,700     2,100     1,400     8,500     9,200       700    710,800    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl    
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to       
avoid disclosing individual operations.                                         
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  Data for mink production are collected from all known       
                    producers.  State Statistical Offices use all known         
sources of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as possible.    
All known mink producers are mailed a questionnaire and given adequate time to  
respond by mail.  Those that do not respond by mail are telephoned or possibly  
enumerated in person.  Great care is exercised to ensure that all operations    
are accounted for.  Major auction houses which handle virtually all producer    
sales provide mink pelt price data in June.  Prices are collected at the point  
of first sale by producers, before marketing costs are deducted.                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Reliability: Sound statistical methodology is employed to derive the estimates  
             from reported data.  All data are analyzed for unusual values.     
Data from each operation are compared to their own past operating profile and   
to trends from similar operations.  Data for inaccessible operations are        
accounted for through the expansion of the reported data or by imputation       
based on individual historical data.  Survey data are subject to non-sampling   
errors such as omissions and mistakes in reporting and in processing the data.  
While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized by           
carefully reviewing all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Revision policy:  Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when  
                  current estimates are made.  Revisions are the result of      
late or corrected data and are generally within one-half percent.               
                                                                                
The next "Mink" report will be released in July 1998.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
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its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's   
TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).                                  
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an  
equal employment opportunity employer.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
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