Mink Publication

Mink
ISSN: 1949-1549

Released July 20, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Pelt Production Down 4 Percent
Mink pelt production in the United States in 2017 totaled 3.31 million pelts, down 4 percent from 2016. Wisconsin, the
largest mink producing State, produced 1.09 million pelts. Utah, the second largest producing State, produced 734
thousand pelts.
The number of pelts by color class as a percent of the total United States production in 2017 is as follows: Black at 50
percent, Mahogany at 19 percent, White at 7 percent, and Blue Iris and Sapphire at 6 percent. The remaining color classes
accounted for 12 percent.
Value of pelts produced during the 2017 crop year was $120 million, slightly above a year ago. The average price per
pelt for the 2017 crop year was $36.30, up $1.60 from $34.70 in 2016.
Female mink bred to produce kits in 2018 totaled 731 thousand, down 5 percent from the previous year.
Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 2018 by color class as is follows: Black at 50 percent, Mahogany at 18
percent, White at 7 percent, and Blue Iris and Sapphire at 6 percent. The remaining classes accounted for 13 percent.

Mink Pelts Produced – United States
Million
3.8
3.6
3.4
3.2
3.0
2.8
2.6
2.4
1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2012

2014

2016

Mink Average Price Per Pelt – United States
Dollars
$100
$90
$80
$70
$60
$50
$40
$30
$20
1998

2

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Mink Pelts Produced and Females Bred by Color Class – United States: 2016-2018
Pelts produced

Color class

2016

Females bred to produce kits
2017

(number)

2017

(number)

2018

(number)

(number)

Black ............................
Demi/Wild .....................
Pastel ...........................
Sapphire .......................
Blue Iris ........................
Mahogany .....................
Pearl .............................
Lavender ......................
Violet ............................
White ............................
Other ............................

1,681,450
108,110
99,600
209,080
225,730
698,320
116,640
32,640
43,950
223,570
15,320

1,639,150
110,010
97,810
198,900
184,120
629,400
115,510
34,130
42,730
242,230
11,450

370,580
22,050
26,710
48,900
46,910
152,080
25,200
9,420
10,090
55,060
3,400

368,530
24,430
22,220
44,310
40,730
127,980
25,600
8,000
14,690
52,590
2,350

Total .............................

3,454,410

3,305,440

770,400

731,430

Mink Pelts Produced, Average Price, and Value – United States: 1998-2017
Year

Pelts
produced

Average marketing
price

(number)
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007

Value of
mink pelts

(dollars)

(dollars)

................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................
................................................

2,938,100
2,812,500
2,666,100
2,565,300
2,607,300
2,549,000
2,558,100
2,637,800
2,858,800
2,828,200

24.80
33.70
34.00
33.50
30.60
40.10
47.10
60.90
48.40
65.70

72,864,880
94,781,250
90,647,400
85,937,550
79,783,380
102,214,900
120,486,510
160,642,020
138,365,920
185,812,740

2008 ................................................
2009 ................................................
2010 ................................................
2011 ................................................
2012 1 ..............................................
2013 ................................................
2014 ................................................
2015 ................................................
2016 ................................................
2017 ................................................

2,820,700
2,866,700
2,840,200
3,091,470
(NA)
3,544,610
3,741,150
3,682,960
3,454,410
3,305,440

41.60
65.10
81.90
94.30
(NA)
56.30
57.70
32.00
34.70
36.30

117,341,120
186,622,170
232,612,380
291,525,621
(NA)
199,561,543
215,864,355
117,854,720
119,868,027
119,987,472

(NA) Not available.
1
Due to sequestration the Mink report was suspended.

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Pelts Produced by Color Class – Selected States and United States: 2016
States

Black

Demi/Wild

Pastel

Sapphire

Blue Iris

Mahogany

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

Idaho ...........................................
Illinois ..........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana ......................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon ........................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington .................................
Wisconsin ...................................

112,000
48,000
45,000
49,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
215,000
28,000
275,000
39,000
710,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

14,000
(D)
1,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
32,000
34,000

12,500
(D)
2,300
(D)
(D)
6,500
8,500
50,000
(D)
44,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
56,000
11,500
(D)
(D)
101,000

181,000
(D)
35,000
1,000
61,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
290,000
(D)
77,000

Other States 1 .............................

160,450

108,110

18,600

85,280

57,230

53,320

United States ..............................
States

1,681,450
Pearl
(number)

108,110

99,600

Lavender

Violet

(number)

(number)

209,080

225,730

698,320

White

Other

Total 2

(number)

(number)

(number)

Idaho ...........................................
Illinois ..........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana ......................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon ........................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington .................................
Wisconsin ...................................

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
1,500
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
21,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
6,500
27,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
133,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
5,000

349,500
81,100
88,070
64,500
210,580
11,900
(D)
306,170
67,540
731,660
55,080
1,147,310

Other States 1 .............................

116,640

10,140

43,950

57,070

10,320

341,000

United States ..............................

116,640

32,640

43,950

223,570

15,320

3,454,410

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Other States include New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and some pelts from the above listed States
that were not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
2
Published color classes may not add to the State total to avoid disclosing individual operations.

4

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Pelts Produced by Color Class – Selected States and United States: 2017
States

Black

Demi/Wild

Pastel

Sapphire

Blue Iris

Mahogany

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

Idaho ..........................................
Illinois .........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana .....................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon .......................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington ................................
Wisconsin ...................................

94,000
51,000
44,000
59,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
210,000
33,000
280,000
27,000
690,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
24,000
(D)

14,000
(D)
500
(D)
5,500
33,000
33,000

11,500
(D)
2,900
200
(D)
(D)
(D)
11,500
45,000
39,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
44,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
86,000

165,000
(D)
36,000
1,200
37,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
285,000
(D)
49,000

Other States 1 .............................

151,150

86,010

11,810

88,800

54,120

56,200

United States ..............................
States

1,639,150
Pearl
(number)

110,010

97,810

Lavender

Violet

(number)

(number)

198,900

184,120

White

Other

(number)

(number)

629,400
Total 2
(number)

Idaho ..........................................
Illinois .........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana .....................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon .......................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington ................................
Wisconsin ...................................

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
3,500
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
20,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
7,500
31,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
151,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

313,500
81,100
88,210
77,700
180,580
(D)
(D)
283,670
68,130
734,260
44,000
1,091,180

Other States 1 .............................

115,510

10,630

42,730

52,730

11,450

343,110

United States ..............................

115,510

34,130

42,730

242,230

11,450

3,305,440

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Other States include New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, and some pelts from the above listed States that were
not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
2
Published color classes may not add to the State total to avoid disclosing individual operations.

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits by Color Class – Selected States and United States: 2017
States

Black

Demi/Wild

Pastel

Sapphire

Blue Iris

Mahogany

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

Idaho ...........................................
Illinois ..........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana ......................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon ........................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington .................................
Wisconsin ...................................

24,000
15,000
12,500
14,500
(D)
(D)
(D)
42,000
5,500
69,000
6,000
151,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

2,900
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
8,000
9,500

3,100
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
1,700
3,600
10,500
10,500

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
13,500
1,600
(D)
(D)
19,500

39,000
(D)
11,500
300
15,500
(D)
(D)
(D)
64,000
(D)
10,000

Other States 1 .............................

31,080

22,050

6,310

19,500

12,310

11,780

United States ..............................
States

370,580
Pearl
(number)

22,050

26,710

Lavender

Violet

(number)

(number)

48,900

46,910

White

Other

(number)

(number)

152,080
Total 2
(number)

Idaho ...........................................
Illinois ..........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana ......................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon ........................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington .................................
Wisconsin ...................................

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
900
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
5,500

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
2,100
7,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
35,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
640

75,350
23,900
26,730
19,900
50,520
2,870
(D)
63,210
15,340
172,980
10,100
246,620

Other States 1 .............................

25,200

3,020

10,090

10,960

2,760

62,880

United States ..............................

25,200

9,420

10,090

55,060

3,400

770,400

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Other States include New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and some pelts from the above listed States
that were not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
2
Published color classes may not add to the State total to avoid disclosing individual operations.

6

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits by Color Class – Selected States and United States: 2018
States

Black

Demi/Wild

Pastel

Sapphire

Blue Iris

Mahogany

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

Idaho ..........................................
Illinois .........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana .....................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon .......................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington ................................
Wisconsin ...................................

21,000
16,000
15,000
12,500
(D)
(D)
(D)
36,000
9,000
63,000
(D)
157,000

(D)
3,300
(D)
(D)
(D)
6,500
(D)

3,500
(D)
100
1,500
(D)
(D)
(D)

3,000
(D)
1,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
480
11,500
11,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
11,500
1,600
710
22,000

34,000
(D)
12,000
10,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
56,000
(D)
8,500

Other States 1 .............................

39,030

14,630

17,120

17,330

4,920

7,480

United States ..............................
States

368,530
Pearl
(number)

24,430

22,220

44,310

40,730

Lavender

Violet

White

Other

(number)

(number)

(number)

(number)

127,980
Total 2
(number)

Idaho ..........................................
Illinois .........................................
Iowa ............................................
Michigan .....................................
Minnesota ...................................
Montana .....................................
Ohio ............................................
Oregon .......................................
Pennsylvania ..............................
Utah ............................................
Washington ................................
Wisconsin ...................................

(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
500
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
5,500

2,800
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
730
7,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
35,000

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
520

67,580
24,300
30,770
15,530
43,820
(D)
(D)
50,060
14,250
161,900
10,100
252,120

Other States 1 .............................

25,600

2,000

11,890

9,860

1,830

61,000

United States ..............................

25,600

8,000

14,690

52,590

2,350

731,430

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Other States include New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota, and some pelts from the above listed States that were
not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
2
Published color classes may not add to the State total to avoid disclosing individual operations.

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Mink production data are collected from early May through late May from all known producers.
Individual NASS Regional 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 who do not respond by mail are telephoned or enumerated in person. Care is exercised to account for all operations.
Pelt market price data is obtained in June. Prices are collected at the point of first sale, before marketing costs are
deducted.
Estimation Procedures: 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. NASS headquarters prepare these estimates by using a combination of survey indications and
historic trends. Individual State and US estimates are reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board for reasonableness.
Revision Policy: Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve year-to-year and item-to-item relationships.
Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when current estimates are made.
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 1.5 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or
below the current estimate of 3.31 million pelts by more than 1.5 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will
not exceed 2.7 percent.

Reliability of Mink Estimates
[Based on data for the past ten years]
Item

Root mean
square error
(percent)

Difference between first and latest estimate

90 percent
confidence
level

Average

Smallest

Largest

(percent)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Years
Below latest

Above latest

(number)

(number)

Pelts produced ...............................

1.5

2.7

29

0

137

6

2

Females bred .................................

1.5

2.8

7

0

30

5

2

8

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Tony Dorn, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ..................................................................... (202) 690-3223
Holly Brenize – Poultry Slaughter............................................................................................................. (202) 720-0585
Aaron Cosgrove – Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .............................................................................. (202) 690-3237
Alissa Cowell-Mytar – Cold Storage, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses .......................................... (202) 720-4751
Liana Cuffman – Catfish Production, Trout Production, Egg Products, Mink ........................................ (202) 720-8784
Fatema Haque – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ............................................................................. (202) 720-3244
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3676
Miste Salmon – Census of Agriculture, Census of Aquaculture .............................................................. (202) 690-8632
Erica Sadler – Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies ............................................................. (202) 720-6147

Mink (July 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Access to NASS Reports
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 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” or “State” in upper right corner above “search”
box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].

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