HDR1012000170070720951500Mink                                                   
HDR2012000170070720951500Mink Narrative                                         
                                                                                
Released July 20, 1995, by the Agricultural Statistics Board.                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                         Pelt Production Down 1 Percent                         
                                                                                
Mink pelt production in the United States in 1994 totaled 2.5 million pelts,    
down 1 percent from 1993.  Wisconsin, the major mink producing State, produced  
611,000 pelts.                                                                  
                                                                                
By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S. production   
follows: Standard - 46.1 percent; Mahogany - 18.9 percent; Ranch Wild -         
11.0 percent; Gunmetal - 9.7 percent; Demi-buff - 6.9 percent.  The remaining   
color classes accounted for 7.4 percent.                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                     Value of Pelt Production Down 4 Percent                    
                                                                                
Mink pelts produced during the 1994 crop year were valued at $82.6 million      
dollars, down 4 percent from $86.2 million a year ago. The average price per    
pelt for the 1994 crop year was $33.00, compared with $34.10 in 1993.           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                           Females Bred Down 1 Percent                          
                                                                                
Female mink bred to produce kits in 1995 totaled 708,300, down 1 percent from   
the previous year.                                                              
                                                                                
Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1995 by color class are:       
Standard - 49.6 percent; Mahogany - 17.5 percent; Gunmetal -10.6 percent; Ranch 
Wild - 8.2 percent; Demi-buff - 5.9 percent.  The remaining color classes       
accounted for 8.2 percent.                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                       Number Of Mink Farms Down 8 Percent                      
                                                                                
There were 457 mink farms producing pelts in 1994, down 8 percent from a year   
ago. Leading States were Utah with 130 farms, Wisconsin with 78 farms, and      
Minnesota with 53.                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                       Fox                                      
                                                                                
There were 47 mink farms which also raised fox in 1994, compared to 58 for the  
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
For information call Tom Kruchten at (202) 690-4870.  Office hours are          
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.                                                      
                                                                                
Lv Gn 3 (7-95)                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000170070720951500Pelts Produced and Females Bred                        
                                                                                
             Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,             
                          United States, 1993-1995 1/                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits    
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------  
         Class        :   1993 2/:   1994   :   1993   :   1994 2/:   1995      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :                       1,000                             
                      :                                                         
Standard              :  1,144      1,153      359.3      365.3      351.5      
Ranch Wild            :    348        276       89.8       84.4       57.8      
Demi-buff             :    215        174       45.1       43.4       41.8      
Pastel                :     35         32       11.4        9.7       10.0      
Pale Brown            :      1          3        0.2        0.1        0.1      
Sapphire              :     71         61       19.4       20.7       21.9      
Gunmetal              :    230        243       64.7       60.9       75.0      
Mahogany              :    380        473       90.8      102.8      123.6      
Pearl                 :     15         17        4.7        5.5        5.5      
Lavender-hope         :      7          6        1.7        1.9        2.7      
Pink                  :     12         17        4.6        4.3        4.9      
Violet-type           :     26         14        6.0        6.3        3.9      
White                 :     42         31        8.9        7.9        8.7      
Misc.& Unclassified   :      1          2        0.1         --        0.9      
                      :                                                         
US                    :  2,527      2,502      706.7      713.2      708.3      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
              Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price, and Value,                   
                            United States, 1974-94                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of       
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price 3/         :     Mink Pelts 3/   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :    Number      1,000            Dollars            Million Dollars   
         :                                                                      
1974     :    1,221       3,128                                                 
1975     :    1,084       3,067             24.10                     73.9      
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     :       4/           4/            32.20                       4/      
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 2/  :      498       2,527             34.10                     86.2      
1994 5/  :      457       2,502             33.00                     82.6      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Sum of color class may not add to U.S. total due to rounding.               
2/  Revised based on additional information.                                    
3/  Data not available prior to 1975.                                           
4/  Data not availabe for 1981.                                                 
5/  Data are Preliminary.                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000170070720951500Pelts Produced by Color Class                          
                                                                                
          Mink:  Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,             
                    Major States and United States, 1993                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :          
State :  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-   
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                              Number of Pelts                            
      :                                                                         
 ID   :   63,400   32,500   36,500    1,400           4,000       *    20,500   
 IL   :   36,100                                                  *        *    
 IA   :   33,700    4,300    5,900    8,700           3,000    3,700    7,900   
 MI   :   33,500       *     1,800    1,600              *       500    8,400   
 MN   :  104,100  125,300   11,500    3,100              *    21,600   27,200   
 NY   :   17,800       *     1,800    2,400              *     2,800    8,400   
 OH   :   36,700       *        *        *            1,400       *     4,600   
 OR   :   65,000       *        *        *            9,200   91,000   11,000   
 PA   :       *                 *        *            8,000   18,800    5,000   
 SD   :       *    32,700       *        *                                 *    
 UT   :  310,000   30,000   99,000    1,000          24,000   11,000  121,000   
 WA   :   62,700       *        *        *                    22,200            
 WI   :  314,300   25,300   15,600   10,200          15,000   36,400  108,100   
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   66,300   98,100   43,200    6,600     500   6,200   22,100   58,300   
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :1,143,600  348,200  215,300   35,000     500  70,800  230,100  380,400   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number   
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of     
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                            Number of Pelts                              
      :                                                                         
 ID   :     *        *                                        169,000     24    
 IL   :                                         *       *      41,800     11    
 IA   :  4,500                      8,500       *       *      81,000     21    
 MI   :  2,900                      3,300    3,400             55,800     16    
 MN   :     *                 *        *     2,200            302,200     59    
 NY   :    600             2,500      900       *              38,300     12    
 OH   :                       *        *        *              57,800     12    
 OR   :                       *     2,000                     189,000     27    
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *              61,400     17    
 SD   :     *                                                  68,400      6    
 UT   :  2,000                      1,000            1,000    600,000    140    
 WA   :                                                       102,700     24    
 WI   :  1,100    6,000    2,800    6,800   29,400            571,000     87    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :  3,500    1,100    6,300    3,900    7,000     400    188,600     42    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    : 14,600    7,100   11,600   26,400   42,000   1,400  2,527,000    498    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl   
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual      
    operations.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Mink:  Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,             
                    Major States and United States, 1994                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :          
State :  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-   
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                              Number of Pelts                            
      :                                                                         
 ID   :   74,000   28,600       *        *               *             44,400   
 IL   :   44,200                *                                          *    
 IA   :   36,700    2,800    4,500       *            2,800   10,100   11,500   
 MI   :   31,000             3,200    1,900              *       700    6,500   
 MN   :   82,500  107,500       *        *               *    21,500   41,000   
 NY   :   20,300       *       700    1,900              *       500   13,800   
 OH   :       *     6,500                             3,000       *        *    
 OR   :   69,000    8,700       *     1,000           9,000   90,000    8,000   
 PA   :   24,900                *        *       *    8,800   20,200    4,200   
 SD   :    8,200   26,500       *        *                             24,200   
 UT   :  275,000   20,000   66,000    1,000          14,000   17,000  133,000   
 WA   :   66,000       *        *                             22,500            
 WI   :  343,100   20,200    8,600   11,200          14,300   52,400  127,000   
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   78,300   54,800   90,600   15,400   2,600   9,000    8,500   59,000   
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :1,153,200  275,600  173,600   32,400   2,600  60,900  243,400  472,600   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number   
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of     
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                            Number of Pelts                              
      :                                                                         
 ID   :  1,300       *                                        186,500     23    
 IL   :     *                                   *              50,300     10    
 IA   :     *                       2,900       *              83,100     19    
 MI   :     *                       2,200       *              52,500     12    
 MN   :     *                 *        *     2,500            283,500     53    
 NY   :  1,800             2,200    1,100                      45,600     12    
 OH   :                      200                               60,500     12    
 OR   :                       *        *                      189,000     27    
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *       *      68,800     17    
 SD   :     *                                                  71,300      4    
 UT   :  1,000                      1,000            2,000    530,000    130    
 WA   :                                                       108,700     23    
 WI   :  1,500    3,400    8,100    2,800   18,300     100    611,000     78    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 11,800    2,500    6,200    4,400   10,400     200    161,400     37    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    : 17,400    5,900   16,700   14,400   31,200   2,300  2,502,200    457    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl   
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual      
    operations.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000170070720951500Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits                       
                                                                                
          Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class,              
                         Major States and United States, 1994                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :           
State :  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-    
      :  dard  :  Wild  : buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   : 19,700    6,000    6,100      100              900            10,700    
 IL   : 13,300                *                                           *     
 IA   : 12,400    1,100    1,000    2,600            1,100    1,800    2,900    
 MI   : 10,300               800      300               *       400    1,400    
 MN   : 31,800   23,900       *        *                *     5,400    7,100    
 NY   :  8,500       *       500      900               *       700    1,700    
 OH   : 12,100       *        *        *               700       *     1,700    
 OR   : 18,000    1,800       *       400               *    23,000       *     
 PA   :  6,900                *        *             2,500    5,800    1,700    
 SD   :  3,800    9,300       *        *                                  *     
 UT   : 95,000   11,700   18,500      200            6,900    3,000   28,700    
 WA   : 19,300       *        *                               6,100             
 WI   : 99,900    5,200    4,500    3,100            3,900   12,000   21,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 14,300   25,400   12,000    2,100      100   4,700    2,700   25,900    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :365,300   84,400   43,400    9,700      100  20,700   60,900  102,800    
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :            
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total     
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :            
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   :      *         *                                              44,700    
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,700    
 IA   :   1,000                  *      2,400        *                26,500    
 MI   :      *                            700        *                15,500    
 MN   :      *                   *         *      1,000               74,000    
 NY   :     700               1,100       500                         15,000    
 OH   :                          *                   *                19,000    
 OR   :                          *         *                          48,700    
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,800    
 SD   :      *                                                        19,800    
 UT   :     700                           300                        165,000    
 WA   :                                                               29,900    
 WI   :     300     1,300       800       900     4,100              157,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   2,800       600     2,400     1,500     2,800               63,600    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :   5,500     1,900     4,300     6,300     7,900        --    713,200    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl   
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual      
    operations.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class,              
                         Major States and United States, 1995                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                                                         
State :  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-    
      :  dard  :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any       
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   : 22,000    5,400       *        *             1,400            11,900    
 IL   : 12,300                                                            *     
 IA   : 12,900      600    1,000       *             1,000    3,900    3,600    
 MI   :  7,700               700      400               *       400    2,000    
 MN   : 32,500   17,500       *        *                *     5,500   12,000    
 NY   :  4,300       *       200      300               *     1,000    1,000    
 OH   :     *     1,500               100               *       200       *     
 OR   : 18,000       *                 *                *    24,000    1,600    
 PA   :  6,300       *        *        *             2,500    5,700    1,500    
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               5,200    
 UT   : 89,800    5,200   14,200    1,400            6,800    7,600   35,600    
 WA   : 16,700       *                                        6,500       *     
 WI   :102,100    5,200    2,200    2,800            4,300   17,100   24,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 26,900   22,400   23,500    5,000      100   5,900    3,100   25,200    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :351,500   57,800   41,800   10,000      100  21,900   75,000  123,600    
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :            
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total     
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :            
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   :     800        *                   *                          52,200    
 IL   :      *                                       *                13,400    
 IA   :      *                          1,000        *                28,100    
 MI   :      *         *                  900        *                13,500    
 MN   :      *                   *                1,500               75,500    
 NY   :     100                 500                                    7,600    
 OH   :                         100       100                         20,000    
 OR   :                                                               49,000    
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,000    
 SD   :      *                                                        18,500    
 UT   :     400                           200                 800    162,000    
 WA   :                                                               25,600    
 WI   :     300     1,300     2,300       800     4,500       100    167,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   3,900     1,400     2,000       900     2,700               56,900    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :   5,500     2,700     4,900     3,900     8,700       900    708,300    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl   
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual      
    operations.                                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
HDR2012000170070720951500Reliability                                            
                                                                                
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.  Data      
collection from the approximately 460 producers begins in February. 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 1996.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
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 Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808       
(TDD).                                                                          
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is   
an equal employment opportunity employer.                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                           Subscription Information                             
                                                                                
To subscribe to NASS reports or to order single copies, call toll free,         
1-800-999-6779 (weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET).  You may write:               
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