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. 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.