Mink (release)

Mink
Washington, D.C.

Released July 11, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S.
Department of Agriculture. For information on Mink call Toby Paterson at (202) 720-0585, office hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. ET.

Pelt Production Down 1 Percent
Mink pelt production in the United States in 2007 totaled 2.83 million pelts, down 1 percent from
2006. Wisconsin, the largest mink producing State, produced 914,100 pelts. Utah, the second
largest producing State, produced 599,430 pelts.
The number of pelts by color class as a percent of the total U.S. production in 2007 is as follows:
Black at 52 percent, Mahogany at 20 percent, Blue Iris at 10 percent, Demi/Wild at 5 percent,
White at 4 percent, and Sapphire at 4 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 5 percent.
Value of Pelt Production Up 34 Percent
Mink pelts produced during the 2007 crop year, sold in 2008, were valued at $186 million, up
34 percent from $139 million a year ago. The average price per pelt for the 2007 crop year was
$65.70, up $17.30 from $48.40 in 2006.
Females Bred Down 1 Percent
Female mink bred to produce kits in 2008 totaled 691,170, down 1 percent from the previous year.
Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 2008 by color class: Black at 54 percent, Mahogany
at 20 percent, Blue Iris at 9 percent, Sapphire at 4 percent, Demi/Wild at 4 percent, and White at
3 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 6 percent.
Number of Mink Farms Up 1 Percent
There were 283 mink farms producing pelts in 2007, up 1 percent from a year ago. The three
leading States were Wisconsin with 71 farms, Utah with 65 farms, and Idaho with 24 farms.
Special Note
The number of mink farms also raising fox will no longer be published.

Lv Gn 3 (7-08)

Mink Pelts Produced
United States, 1988 - 2007

Million
5.0

Mink Pelts

4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
88

90

92

94

96

98

00

02

04

06

04

06

Mink Pelt Average Price
United States, 1988 - 2007

Dollars
$70

Dollars Per Pelt
$60
$50
$40
$30
$20
88

Mink
July 2008

90

92

94

96

98

2

00

02

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, by Color Class,
United States, 2006-2008
Pelts Produced
Females Bred to Produce Kits
2007
2007 1
2008
2006 1

Color
Class

Number

Number

Number

Number

Black
Demi/Wild
Pastel
Sapphire
Blue Iris
Mahogany
Pearl
Lavender
Violet
White
Misc. & Unclassified

1,395,700
175,600
61,550
110,400
300,710
591,400
66,030
7,760
20,560
125,500
11,440

1,461,200
145,030
65,250
103,080
276,920
565,380
59,540
10,450
21,580
104,480
14,990

357,700
31,930
16,680
29,110
69,130
137,350
15,280
2,650
5,730
27,520
3,008

370,600
29,610
14,950
29,040
65,030
135,430
13,240
1,690
6,230
23,550
1,800

US
1
Revised.

2,866,650

2,827,900

696,088

691,170

Year

Mink
Farms

Mink: Farms, Pelts Produced, Price, and Value,
United States, 1988-2007
Pelts
Average Marketing
Produced
Price

Number

1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006 1
2007
1
Revised.

Mink
July 2008

Number

1,027
940
771
683
571
523
484
478
449
452
438
398
350
329
324
305
296
275
279
283

Dollars

Dollars

32.30
20.40
25.50
21.90
23.80
34.10
33.00
53.10
35.30
33.10
24.80
33.70
34.00
33.50
30.60
40.10
47.10
60.90
48.40
65.70

4,453,100
4,603,600
3,365,700
3,268,200
2,900,000
2,620,300
2,623,200
2,803,100
2,783,200
2,993,300
2,938,100
2,812,500
2,666,100
2,565,300
2,607,300
2,549,000
2,558,100
2,637,800
2,866,650
2,827,900

3

Value of
Mink Pelts
143,835,130
93,913,440
85,825,350
71,573,580
69,020,000
89,352,230
86,565,600
148,844,610
98,246,960
99,078,230
72,864,880
94,781,250
90,647,400
85,937,550
79,783,380
102,214,900
120,486,510
160,642,020
138,745,860
185,793,030

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

States

Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,
Major States and United States, 2006 1
Black
Demi/Wild
Pastel
Sapphire
Blue Iris
Mahogany
Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 2
US

79,000
52,000
87,000

14,500

56,000
45,000
147,000
25,000

40,000

275,000
36,000
550,000

54,000

43,700
1,395,700

Number

Number

Number

11,500

Number

74,000

8,500
40,000
2,800
11,000
12,000

76,000
23,000

84,000
14,000
220,000

11,000

40,000

7,000
27,000
97,000

67,100

50,550

37,600

11,710

96,400

175,600

61,550

110,400

300,710

591,400

7,000

102,000

Pearl

Lavender

Violet

White

Misc. &
Unclassified

Total
Pelts

Number
of Farms

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 2

Number

57,000

5,500

204,500
65,520
141,250
54,550
242,950
78,300
283,900
66,000
82,500
622,890
92,000
890,200

57,500

3,940

42,090

9,500
800
2,000
1,500
800
66,030

6,960

19,760

11,440 2,866,650
125,500
20,560
7,760
66,030
US
1
Revised.
2
"Other States" include some pelts from the above listed States which were not published to avoid disclosing
individual operations. Published color classes may not add to the State total.

Mink
July 2008

4

25
7
17
9
23
7
18
10
3
66
9
69
16
279

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

States

Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,
Major States and United States, 2007 1
Black
Demi/Wild
Pastel
Sapphire
Blue Iris
Mahogany
Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
MT 2
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 3
US

Number

Number

53,000
9,000
43,000
158,000
27,000

Number

12,500

95,000
47,000
80,000

Number

78,000

8,500
31,000

42,000

70,000
21,000

260,000
62,000
590,000

11,500
9,500

88,000
12,000

7,000

220,000

10,500

38,000

10,500
15,000
91,000

98,000

37,200

103,030

54,750

37,080

8,420

78,380

1,461,200

145,030

65,250

103,080

276,920

565,380

Pearl

Lavender

Violet

White

Misc. &
Unclassified

Total
Pelts

Number
of Farms

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
MT 2
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 3

Number

50,000

4,400

221,000
59,060
135,850
52,580
218,500
25,930
73,500
278,500
70,240
73,000
599,430
95,000
914,100

25,580

1,590

11,210

10,000
17,000

9,000
1,900
1,600
59,540

8,850

21,580

14,990 2,827,900
104,480
21,580
10,450
59,540
US
1
Revised.
2
Montana previously published in "Other States" category.
3
"Other States" include some pelts from the above listed States which were not published to avoid disclosing
individual operations. Published color classes may not add to the State total.

Mink
July 2008

5

24
7
17
9
23
8
9
18
11
3
65
9
71
9
283

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

States

Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class,
Major States and United States, 2007 1
Black
Demi/Wild
Pastel
Sapphire
Blue Iris
Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 2
US

Number

Number

Number

3,000

990

23,000
14,500
26,000

Mahogany
Number

17,500

2,000

14,000
10,500
33,000
7,000

9,500

70,000
15,000
132,000

8,500

12,700
357,700

8,000

19,500
6,000

2,200
3,800

18,000
4,000

2,200

57,000

3,400

11,000

2,000
6,000
24,000

13,930

12,290

9,910

2,130

17,350

31,930

16,680

29,110

69,130

137,350

20,000

Pearl

Lavender

Violet

White

Misc. &
Unclassified

Total

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 2

Number

350

15,000

1,800

51,690
17,920
38,500
12,330
58,140
18,900
57,810
18,930
17,300
155,418
24,750
214,900

5,350

1,208

9,500

2,300
4,400

470
500
15,280

2,150

5,380

696,088
3,008
27,520
5,730
2,650
15,280
US
1
Revised.
2
"Other States" include some pelts from the above listed States which were not published to avoid disclosing
individual operations. Published color classes may not add to the State total.

Mink
July 2008

6

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

States

Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class,
Major States and United States, 2008
Black
Demi/Wild
Pastel
Sapphire
Blue Iris
Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
MT 1
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 2
US

26,000
14,500
25,000
6,000
15,500
4,000
11,500
32,000
6,500
67,000
15,000
142,000

Number

1,100

Number

Mahogany

Number

2,200

8,000

Number

2,700

18,000

8,500

16,500
6,000

2,500
3,500

19,500
3,300
57,000

2,600

11,500

1,600
4,500
21,000

3,700
10,000

22,000

5,600

7,910

11,250

9,340

3,930

15,930

370,600

29,610

14,950

29,040

65,030

135,430

Pearl

Lavender

Violet

White

Misc. &
Unclassified

Total

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

ID
IL
IA
MI
MN
MT 1
OH
OR
PA
SD
UT
WA
WI
Oth Sts 2

Number

500

3,200

14,000

790

51,770
17,960
38,400
10,300
54,100
6,690
20,100
57,210
16,450
17,700
155,910
22,700
217,830

1,190

3,030

4,160

1,010

4,050

1,200
3,900

290

13,240

691,170
1,800
23,550
6,230
1,690
13,240
US
1
Montana previously published in "Other States" category.
2
"Other States" include some pelts from the above listed States which were not published to avoid disclosing
individual operations. Published color classes may not add to the State total.

Mink
July 2008

7

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Reliability Statement
Survey Procedures: Mink production data are collected from all known producers. Individual
NASS Field Offices maintain a list of all known mink producers and use known sources of
producers to update their lists. 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. Care is exercised to account for all operations. Major auction houses, which
handle producer sales, provide mink pelt price data in July. Point of first sales prices, before
marketing costs are deducted, are collected by producers.
Estimation Procedures: 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 missing operations
are estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Field offices prepare these estimates by
using a combination of survey indications and historic trends. Individual State estimates are
reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness.
Revision Policy: Previous year estimates are subject to revision when current year estimates are
made. Revisions are the result of late reports or corrected data.
Reliability: Mink production estimates are based on a census of all known active producers and
therefore, have no sampling variability. However, estimates are subject to errors such as omissions,
duplication, mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing data. While these errors cannot be
measured directly, they are minimized through strict quality control in the data collection process
and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.
To assist in evaluating the reliability of the estimates in this report, the “Root Mean Square Error”
is shown for selected items in the following table. The “Root Mean Square Error” is a statistical
measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and final
estimates. The “Root Mean Square Error” for mink pelts produced over the past 10 years is
1.6 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or
below the current estimate of 2.83 million pelts by more than 1.6 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10
that the difference will not exceed 2.9 percent.

Item

Root
Mean
Square
Error
Percent

Pelts
Produced

Percent

1,000

1,000

1,000

1,000

Number of Years
First
First
Above
Below
Latest
Latest
Number

Number

2.9

82

18

0

149

1

4

Females Bred
1.5
2.7
1
Based on data for the past 10 years.

19

7

0

28

1

7

Mink
July 2008

1.6

Reliability of Mink Estimates 1
Difference Between
90 Percent
First and Latest
Confidence
Estimates
Level
Average
Smallest
Largest

8

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural
Statistics Service to contact for additional information.
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ........................... (202) 720-4447
David Colwell - Cold Storage............................................................................. (202) 720-8784
Fleming Gibson - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ........... (202) 690-3237
Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey ....................... (202) 720-3244
Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs ................................................................................ (202) 690-8632
Toby Paterson - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink........................... (202) 720-0585

Mink
July 2008

9

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

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