HDR1012000170070722961500MINK                                                   
Mink                                                                            
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
United States                                                                   
Department of                                                                   
Agriculture                                                                     
                                                                                
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released July 22, 1996, 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 8:00 a.m. to        
4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information 
about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information Hotline at   
1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                   Pelt Production Up 7 Percent                                 
                                                                                
Mink pelt production in the United States in 1995 totaled 2.69 million pelts, up
7 percent from 1994.  Wisconsin, the major mink producing State, produced       
676,000 pelts.                                                                  
                                                                                
By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S. production   
follows: Standard - 45.3 percent; Mahogany - 21.1 percent; Gunmetal -           
10.6 percent; Ranch Wild - 9.8 percent; Demi-buff - 5.9 percent.  The remaining 
color classes accounted for 7.3 percent.                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
              Value of Pelt Production Up 72 Percent                            
                                                                                
Mink pelts produced during the 1995 crop year were valued at $143 million       
dollars, up 72 percent from $83.3 million a year ago. The average price per pelt
for the 1995 crop year was $53.10, up $20.10 from the 1994 price of $33.00.  The
1995 average price is the highest since the current price data series began in  
1975.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                    Females Bred Down 4 Percent                                 
Female mink bred to produce kits in 1996 totaled 678,300, down 4 percent from   
the previous year.                                                              
                                                                                
Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1996 by color class are:       
Standard - 49.4 percent; Mahogany - 17.7 percent;  Gunmetal - 13.5 percent;     
Ranch Wild - 6.5 percent; Demi-buff - 4.1 percent.  The remaining color classes 
accounted for 8.8 percent.                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                Number of Mink Farms Down 3 Percent                             
There were 446 mink farms producing pelts in 1995, down 3 percent from a year   
ago. Leading States were Utah with 130 farms, Wisconsin with 77 farms and       
Minnesota with 52.                                                              
                                                                                
                               Fox                                              
                                                                                
There were 49 mink farms which also raised fox in 1995, compared to 47 for the  
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
Lv Gn 3 (7-96)                                                                  
                                                                                
     Mink:  Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,                    
                   United States, 1994-1996 1/                                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits    
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------  
         Class        :   1994 2/:   1995   :   1994   :   1995 2/:   1996      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                      :     Thousands                    Thousands              
                      :                                                         
Standard              :  1,183      1,218      365.2      351.8      335.0      
Ranch Wild            :    275        265       84.4       57.8       43.7      
Demi-buff             :    174        159       43.4       41.8       27.9      
Pastel                :     32         35        9.7       10.1        9.4      
Pale Brown            :      3          1        0.1        0.1        0.3      
Sapphire              :     61         66       20.7       21.9       25.9      
Gunmetal              :    243        284       60.9       75.0       91.6      
Mahogany              :    472        569      102.8      123.6      120.2      
Pearl                 :     17         33        5.5        8.0        7.1      
Lavender-hope         :      6          6        1.9        2.7        2.6      
Pink                  :     11         10        4.3        3.0        0.8      
Violet-type           :     14         13        6.3        4.1        4.2      
White                 :     31         33        7.9        8.7        7.4      
Misc.& Unclassified   :      2          1        --         0.9        2.2      
                      :                                                         
US Total              :  2,525      2,692      712.8      709.5      678.3      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
                                                                                
                                                                                
        Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price,  and Value,                        
                     United States, 1975-95                                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of       
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price            :     Mink Pelts      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
         :    Number      1,000          Dollars              Million Dollars   
         :                                                                      
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     :       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 2/  :      458       2,525             33.00                     83.3      
1995 4/  :      446       2,692             53.10                    142.9      
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
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, 1994                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :          
States:  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   :  104,000  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   :  349,000   20,200    8,600   11,200          14,300   52,400  127,000   
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   80,300   54,600   90,600   15,400   2,600   9,000    8,500   58,600   
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :1,182,600  275,400  173,600   32,400   2,600  60,900  243,400  472,200   
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :       : 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            305,000     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    2,200    2,800   18,300     100    611,000     78    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 11,800    2,500    6,200    4,400   10,400     200    162,800     31    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    : 17,400    5,900   10,800   14,400   31,200   2,300  2,525,100    458    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
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, 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   :  377,900   27,700    9,700   10,600          15,200   64,800  140,300   
      :                                                                         
Oth   :  118,400  106,100   72,000   16,800     500  21,400    7,900  103,100   
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :1,218,000  265,000  159,000   34,500     500  65,900  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   :  1,400    3,800    2,500    2,100   19,600     400    676,000     77    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 18,400    2,100    6,400    3,600    7,300     300    241,700     29    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    : 33,100    5,900    9,900   13,100   32,700     700  2,691,700    446    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
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, 1995                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :           
States:  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   : 87,300    5,200   14,200    1,400            6,800    7,600   35,600    
 WA   : 16,700       *                                        6,500       *     
 WI   :104,000    5,200    2,200    2,800            4,300   17,100   24,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 27,800   22,400   23,500    5,100      100   5,900    3,100   25,200    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :351,800   57,800   41,800   10,100      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   :                                    *                          49,300    
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,000    
 SD   :      *                                                        18,500    
 UT   :   2,900                           200                 800    162,000    
 WA   :                                                               25,600    
 WI   :     300     1,300       400       800     4,500       100    167,000    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   3,900     1,400     2,000     1,100     2,700               57,800    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :   8,000     2,700     3,000     4,100     8,700       900    709,500    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
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    1,700       *                *        *     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   : 99,100    4,900    1,900    2,300      100   5,500   25,300   24,200    
      :                                                                         
Oth   : 33,100   14,100    9,500    5,300      100   5,100    4,600   10,500    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :335,000   43,700   27,900    9,400      300  25,900   91,600  120,200    
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :            
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total     
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :            
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------  
      :                                Number                                   
      :                                                                         
 ID   :      *         *                                      100     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       200    170,500    
      :                                                                         
Oth   :   4,100     1,500       400     1,300     2,200     1,900     29,400    
 Sts  :                                                                         
      :                                                                         
US    :   7,100     2,600       800     4,200     7,400     2,200    678,300    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
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.  Data      
collection from the approximately 450 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 1997.                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
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To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
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employment opportunity employer.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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