Methodology and Quality Measures Publication

Mink Methodology and Quality
Measures
ISSN: 2167-1346
Released August 11, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Scope and Purpose: The Mink Survey is conducted annually, which includes all States with known mink operations.
Data are collected on the number of pelts produced, females bred, the components of the totals by color class, and sales.
Marketing data for the price per pelt and the value of mink production are collected from auction houses and incorporated
as part of the publication.
Data collected on the number of pelts produced and females bred by color class are published for 10 States. The
publication contains estimates for six other States, which are combined into an “Other States” category. After each Census
of Agriculture, which is an exhaustive data collection effort for all known agricultural operations across the United States,
the list of published States is evaluated and modified to include the largest mink producing States.
Survey Timeline: Data are collected for the previous year’s production beginning from late April to early May with a
survey mailing. Approximately two weeks after the mailing, telephone follow-up is conducted for nonresponse records for
a period of about one week. Headquarters (HQ) completes analysis, summarization, and sets estimates over approximately
a six-week period ending in mid-July. Estimates are released to the public in mid-July on the date designated by the
Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) on its annual publications calendar.
Sampling: The target population for the Mink Survey is all mink operations which are defined as all agricultural
establishments with one or more mink females bred on the land operated. This survey is a complete census of the records
on the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) List Frame with positively reported mink data from a past survey.
The List Frame is a current and unduplicated list of agricultural operations, and all current mink operations are assumed to
be on the list. If a new mink operation is found at any time, the operation is added to the List Frame. Since this is a census
of mink operations, all sampling weights are equal to one. Each respondent operation accounts only for itself.
Data Collection: All federal data collections require approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). NASS
must document the public need for the data, apply sound statistical practice, prove the data does not already exist
elsewhere, and ensure the public is not excessively burdened. The questionnaire must display an active OMB number that
gives NASS the authority to conduct the survey, a response burden statement that gives an estimate of the time required to
complete the form, a confidentiality statement that the respondent’s information will only be used for statistical purposes
in combination with other producers, and a statement saying that response to the survey is voluntary and not required by
law.
All Regional Field Offices (RFO) use the same standardized questionnaire for data collection. For consistency across
modes, the paper version is considered the master questionnaire and the Computer Assisted Self Interview (CASI), mobile
Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (mCATI), and Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) instruments are
built to model the paper questionnaire. The questionnaire content and format are evaluated annually through a
specification process where requests for changes are evaluated and approved or disapproved. Input may vary from
question wording or formatting to a program change involving the deletion or modification of current questions or
addition of new ones. If there are significant changes to either the content or format proposed, a NASS survey
methodologist will pre-test the changes for usability. Prior to the start of data collection, all modes of instruments are
reviewed, and CASI, mCATI, and CATI instruments are thoroughly tested.
Sampled operations receive a pre-survey letter explaining the purpose and importance of the survey and that they are
being contacted for survey purposes only. Attached to the letter is a complete copy of the paper questionnaire and a pass
code to complete the survey securely online. RFOs are responsible for their data collection strategy which must include

provisions for respondents to report securely online. If a response is not received by mail or online, respondents are
contacted by CATI.
Survey Edit: As survey data are collected and captured, data are edited for consistency and reasonableness using
automated systems. Relationships between data items (i.e., responses to individual questions) on the current survey are
verified. Some data items in the current survey are compared to data items from earlier surveys to ensure certain
relationships are logical. The edit will determine the status of each record to be either “dirty” or “clean”. Dirty records
must be updated and reedited or certified by an analyst to be clean. Only clean records are eligible for analysis and
summary.
Analysis Tools: Edited data are processed through an interactive analysis tool which displays data for all reports by item.
The tool provides scatter plots, tables, charts, and special tabulations that allow the analyst to compare an individual
record to similar records. Outliers and unusual data relationships become evident and HQ staff review them to determine
if they are correct. The tool allows comparison to an agricultural operation’s previously reported data to detect large
changes in the operation. Data found to be in error are corrected, while accepted data are retained.
Nonsampling Errors: Nonsampling errors are present in any survey process. These errors include reporting, recording,
and editing errors. Steps are taken to minimize these errors, such as comprehensive interviewer training, validation, and
verification of processing systems, application of detailed computer edits, and evaluation of the data via the analysis tools.
Estimators: The Mink Survey is a complete enumeration of all known mink operations. Mink operations are selected
from the list of all agricultural operations and new operations are added into the sample when discovered. No coverage
adjustment is made.
Response to the Mink Survey is voluntary. Producers may refuse to participate in the survey, may not be located during
the data collection period, or may submit incomplete reports. The nonresponse data items, and sampling units are
manually imputed by HQ statisticians. Since manual imputation is conducted for all nonresponse units and items, point
estimates are an accounting of all responses and manual imputations. The measurement of error due to sampling in the
current survey period is irrelevant for a fully enumerated census. Moreover, standard errors and coefficients of variation
(CVs) are zero for all current data items collected.
Estimation: When all samples are accounted for, all responses are fully edited, and the analysis material is reviewed, HQ
executes a summary to evaluate and analyze State and National data. Since the survey instrument is identical all States,
the samples can be pooled, and National survey results computed. The summary results provide multiple point estimates
and information used to evaluate the quality of the survey estimates, such as response rates.
HQ is responsible for performing a detailed review of their survey results. Any irregularities revealed by the summary
must be investigated and, if necessary, resolved. Using the historical survey estimates, HQ must validate the survey results
and set State and National estimates. The data are viewed in tabular and graphical form. For the National estimates, NASS
assembles a panel of statisticians to serve on the ASB. The ASB reviews the National results and establishes the National
estimates. State totals sum to the National level. Previous year’s estimates are subject to revision when current year’s
estimates are set. Revisions are the result of late reports or corrected data.

2

Mink Methodology and Quality Measures (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Quality Metrics for Mink
Purpose and Definitions: Under the guidance of the Statistical Policy Office of the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) provides data
users with quality metrics for its published data series. The metrics tables below describe the performance data for all
surveys contributing to the publication. The accuracy of data products may be evaluated through sampling and
nonsampling error. There is no sampling error present for this survey since it is a census of the target population.
Nonsampling error is evaluated by response rates and the weighted item response rates.
Sample size is the number of observations selected from the population to represent a characteristic of the
population. Operations that did not have the item of interest or were out of business at the time of data collection
have been excluded.
Response rate is the proportion of the above sample that completed the survey.
Weighted item response rate is a ratio of reported survey data expanded by the original sampling weight
compared to final nonresponse adjusted summary totals.
Mink Survey Sample Size and Response Rates: To assist in evaluating the performance of the estimates in the mink
report, the sample size and response rates are displayed. Response rates overall for 2022 and 2023 are displayed.

Mink Survey Sample Size and Response Rates – United States: 2022-2023
Sample size
2022

Response rate
2023

(number)

2022

(number)

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

125

2023

(percent)
105

(percent)
73.6

63.8

Mink Survey Weighted Item Response Rates: To assist in evaluating the performance of the estimates in the mink
report, the weighted item response rate is displayed nationally by color class and for 10 States and all Other States and
Nationally for pelts produced (2021 and 2022) and females bred (2022 and 2023).
Quality Metrics for Mink Pelts Produced and Females Bred by Color Class – United States: 2021-2023
Weighted item response rate
Color class

Pelts produced

Females bred to produce kits

2021

2022

2022

2023

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

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

71.6
78.9
51.7
87.6
79.6
68.6
45.5
67.1
95.0
72.0
10.1

39.3
78.3
50.8
80.0
78.9
34.4
45.6
42.9
78.6
57.0
49.1

68.1
79.7
54.4
88.3
78.2
61.9
44.0
91.3
93.7
73.6
22.6

34.0
58.5
40.5
71.2
46.9
20.0
7.8
60.7
56.7
56.4
58.5

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

71.1

46.4

68.8

37.5

Mink Methodology and Quality Measures (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Quality Metrics for Mink Pelts Produced and Females Bred – Selected States and
United States: 2021-2023
Weighted item response rate
State

Pelts produced
2021

Females bred to produce kits
2022

(percent)

2022

(percent)

2023

(percent)

(percent)

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

54.3
100.0
73.3
100.0
73.6
44.9
100.0
69.2
75.5
72.8

5.8
0.0
76.9
100.0
78.4
70.7
100.0
65.3
78.2
20.6

46.4
100.0
70.5
100.0
73.7
40.8
100.0
65.9
74.7
70.5

6.5
0.0
73.9
100.0
50.9
44.2
100.0
56.9
75.8
20.1

Other States ....................................

89.2

89.2

88.7

70.5

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

71.1

46.4

68.8

37.5

Information Contacts
Process
Estimation ....................................
Data Collection ............................
Questionnaires .............................
Sampling and Editing ...................
Summary and Estimators .............
Dissemination ..............................
Media Contact and Webmaster ....

4

Unit

Telephone

Livestock Branch
Survey Administration Branch
Data Collection Branch
Sampling Editing and Imputation Methodology Branch
Summary Estimation and Disclosure Methodology Branch
Data Dissemination Office
Public Affairs Office

(202) 720-3570
(202) 720-3895
(202) 720-6201
(202) 690-8141
(202) 690-8141
(202) 720-3869
(202) 720-2639

Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Mink Methodology and Quality Measures (August 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
 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.
 Cornell’s Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS’s and other agency’s archived reports. The
new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from the new
website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To continue receiving the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the
new website, create a new account and re-subscribe to the reports. If you need instructions to set up an account or
subscribe, they are located at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist [email protected] in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders.
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].
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for
employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where
applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program
or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or
employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form (PDF), found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, or
at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the
information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax
(202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].