Mink
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
Released July 23, 1998, 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 Up 7 Percent
 
Mink pelt production in the United States in 1997 totaled 2.84 million
pelts, up 7 percent from 1996. Wisconsin, the major mink producing
State, produced 701,400 pelts.
 
By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S.
production follows: Standard - 42.2 percent; Mahogany - 22.4 percent;
Gunmetal - 16.2 percent; Ranch Wild - 6.6 percent; Sapphire - 4.5
percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 8.1 percent.
 
 
 
                Value of Pelt Production Up Slightly
 
Mink pelts produced during the 1997 crop year were valued at $94.1
million dollars, up slightly from $93.9 million a year ago. The average
price per pelt for the 1997 crop year was $33.10, down 6 percent from
the price of $35.30 in 1996.
 
 
 
                    Females Bred Down 1 Percent
 
Female mink bred to produce kits in 1998 totaled 705,200, down 1 percent
from the previous year.
 
Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1998 by color class
are: Standard - 40.5 percent; Mahogany - 21.5 percent; Gunmetal - 16.4
percent; Ranch Wild - 5.9 percent; Sapphire - 5.7 percent. The remaining
color classes accounted for 10.0 percent.
 
 
 
                Number Of Mink Farms Down 3 Percent
 
There were 401 mink farms producing pelts in 1997, down 3 percent from a
year ago. Leading States were Utah with 125 farms, Wisconsin with 69
farms and Minnesota with 39.
 
 
 
                                Fox
 
There were 29 mink farms which also raised fox in 1997, compared to 40
for the previous year.
 
 
 
Lv Gn 3 (7-98)
 
            Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,
                          United States, 1996-1998 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------
         Class        :   1996 2/:   1997   :   1996   :   1997 2/:   1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                        1,000
                      :
Standard              :  1,236      1,199      336.3      328.5      285.9
Ranch Wild            :    195        186       43.7       48.5       41.6
Demi-buff             :    109        122       29.0       29.9       36.1
Pastel                :     32         35        9.3       14.4       10.1
Pale Brown            :      1          1        0.4        0.3        0.2
Sapphire              :     88        128       25.8       34.8       40.2
Gunmetal              :    338        461       90.8       92.9      115.9
Mahogany              :    570        637      119.0      140.2      151.7
Pearl                 :     25         13        6.7        6.0        4.0
Lavender-hope         :      9          6        2.6        2.1        1.8
Pink                  :      3          3        0.8        1.4        0.8
Violet-type           :     18         10        4.3        6.1        3.1
White                 :     31         39        7.4        9.1       10.5
Misc.& Unclassified   :      3          4        2.1        0.7        3.3
                      :
US Total              :  2,659      2,844      678.2      714.9      705.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
               Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price, and Value,
                            United States, 1977-97
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price            :     Mink Pelts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Number      1,000          Dollars              Million Dollars
         :
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     :      445       2,689             53.10                    142.8
1996 2/  :      415       2,659             35.30                     93.9
1997 4/  :      401       2,844             33.10                     94.1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 for 1981.
4/  Data are Preliminary.
          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   :  391,000   25,000    5,200    7,200          18,900   88,400  148,400
      :
Oth   :  114,100   24,500   21,400    6,100   1,200  19,800   10,000   62,900
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,236,400  195,100  109,000   32,300   1,200  87,700  337,900  570,100
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : 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   :  1,000       *        *        *    18,300     800    713,400     74
      :
Oth   : 17,500    9,300    2,800   15,100    8,400     400    107,900     29
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 25,400    9,300    3,000   17,700   30,500   3,400  2,659,000    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.
 
           Mink: Pelts Produced by color Class and Number of Farms,
                  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 of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   45,100   34,700       *        *           25,200    9,100   57,500
 IL   :   55,500                                                           *
 IA   :   59,500      700       *        *               *    19,100    6,800
 MI   :   30,000             1,100    1,600           2,000      600   14,000
 MN   :  106,000   73,600       *     1,600              *    52,500   65,000
 NY   :   10,000       *       800      500           2,700       *     7,300
 OH   :   28,600       *                                 *        *    24,000
 OR   :   86,000                *        *           13,000  123,000       *
 PA   :       *                 *        *           10,800   24,200    4,200
 SD   :       *    32,000       *        *                        *    14,000
 UT   :  311,000       *    60,000       *       *   30,000   28,000  226,000
 WA   :   62,800       *        *                             41,000       *
 WI   :  334,000   19,500    5,100   10,700          26,000  104,600  174,300
      :
Oth   :   70,200   25,800   55,300   20,300   1,000  17,800   58,700   43,800
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,198,700  186,300  122,300   34,700   1,000 127,500 460,800   636,900
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :     *        *                                        189,000     22
 IL   :     *                                   *              62,000      9
 IA   :     *                          *        *             122,000     17
 MI   :  1,500                      1,500    3,000     700     56,000      8
 MN   :     *                                   *             310,200     39
 NY   :                      300      200              900     23,000      8
 OH   :                                                        70,300     12
 OR   :                                *                      244,000     24
 PA   :     *                 *       900       *              70,300     12
 SD   :                                                        95,300      4
 UT   :     *                          *                      670,000    125
 WA   :                                                       121,400     19
 WI   :              *        *        *    19,500   2,800    701,400     69
      :
Oth   : 11,800    5,600    3,100    6,900   16,900            108,900     33
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 13,300    5,600    3,400    9,500   39,400   4,400  2,843,800    401
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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    9,100       *        *             7,000    2,500   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   : 91,600    2,400   15,000      700      100   7,800    9,300   56,300
 WA   : 17,000       *        *                              10,400       *
 WI   : 92,300    6,900    1,100    2,500            6,900   20,300   24,400
      :
Oth   : 31,700   12,200   10,600    3,500      200   1,800    4,200   15,100
 Sts  :
      :
US    :328,500   48,500   29,900   14,400      300  34,800   92,900  140,200
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :      *         *                   *                          51,400
 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   :     500                           400       900              185,000
 WA   :                                                               30,900
 WI   :                *         *         *      4,800       500    162,000
      :
Oth   :   5,000     2,100     1,000     2,300     2,600               31,200
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   6,000     2,100     1,400     6,100     9,100       700    714,900
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :  9,900    9,200       *        *        *    8,100    3,100   18,500
 IL   : 10,700       *                                                    *
 IA   : 17,600      200       *        *                *     5,600    3,600
 MI   :  7,100               200      400              400      300    3,300
 MN   : 21,000   16,100       *       400               *    14,100   14,500
 NY   :  3,200                        700            2,100               100
 OH   :  9,800       *                 *                *        *     7,000
 OR   : 18,400                *        *             3,700   32,000       *
 PA   :     *                 *        *             3,100    5,700       *
 SD   :     *     5,700       *        *                         *     3,500
 UT   : 80,200       *    19,100       *        *   11,700    5,600   54,700
 WA   : 14,900       *        *                              12,600       *
 WI   : 75,900    3,900    1,700    3,300            6,500   23,100   36,000
      :
Oth   : 17,200    6,500   15,100    5,300      200   4,600   13,800   10,500
 Sts  :
      :
US    :285,900   41,600   36,100   10,100      200 40,200   115,900  151,700
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :                *                                       *      56,400
 IL   :      *                                       *                12,200
 IA   :   1,800                            *         *                35,000
 MI   :     400                           500       600       200     13,400
 MN   :      *                                       *                67,600
 NY   :     100                                                        6,200
 OH   :                                    *                          21,100
 OR   :      *                                                        57,200
 PA   :      *                   *        300        *                18,300
 SD   :                                                               23,200
 UT   :      *                             *                         175,000
 WA   :                                                               31,300
 WI   :                *         *         *      5,700       400    157,700
      :
Oth   :   1,700     1,800       800     2,300     4,200     2,700     30,600
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   4,000     1,800       800     3,100    10,500     3,300    705,200
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
 
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 1999.
 
 
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Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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