Mink ISSN: 1949-1549 Released July 24, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Pelt Production Up 6 Percent Mink pelt production in the United States in 2014 totaled 3.76 million pelts, up 6 percent from 2013. Wisconsin, the largest mink producing State, produced 1,268,760 pelts. Utah, the second largest producing State, produced 958,760 pelts. The number of pelts by color class as a percent of the total United States production in 2014 is as follows: Black at 50 percent, Mahogany at 24 percent, and Blue Iris at 8 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 18 percent. Value of pelts produced during the 2014 crop year was $217 million, up 9 percent from $200 million a year ago. The average price per pelt for the 2014 crop year was $57.70, up $1.40 from $56.30 in 2013. Female mink bred to produce kits in 2015 totaled 853,140, up slightly from the previous year. Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 2015 by color class is as follows: Black at 52 percent, Mahogany at 21 percent, and Blue Iris at 8 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 19 percent. Mink Pelts Produced and Females Bred by Color Class - United States: 2013-2015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Pelts produced : Females bred to produce kits :----------------------------------------------------------------------- Color class : 2013 : 2014 : 2014 : 2015 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : number : Black .........: 1,794,900 1,897,600 431,350 439,600 Demi/Wild .....: 93,230 80,460 19,430 20,920 Pastel ........: 111,700 113,750 26,310 24,990 Sapphire ......: 105,100 121,330 29,480 32,380 Blue Iris .....: 265,300 305,240 63,210 69,680 Mahogany ......: 866,620 909,650 205,240 179,940 Pearl .........: 101,480 103,970 18,250 16,980 Lavender ......: 13,600 13,590 4,610 6,640 Violet ........: 38,260 43,100 9,910 10,780 White .........: 132,750 155,180 39,040 46,770 Other .........: 21,670 19,380 4,700 4,460 : Total .........: 3,544,610 3,763,250 851,530 853,140 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mink Pelts Produced, Average Price, and Value - United States: 1995-2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Pelts :Average marketing: Value of Year : produced : price : mink pelts ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number dollars dollars : 1995 .............: 2,803,100 53.10 148,844,610 1996 .............: 2,783,200 35.30 98,246,960 1997 .............: 2,993,300 33.10 99,078,230 1998 .............: 2,938,100 24.80 72,864,880 1999 .............: 2,812,500 33.70 94,781,250 2000 .............: 2,666,100 34.00 90,647,400 2001 .............: 2,565,300 33.50 85,937,550 2002 .............: 2,607,300 30.60 79,783,380 2003 .............: 2,549,000 40.10 102,214,900 2004 .............: 2,558,100 47.10 120,486,510 : 2005 .............: 2,637,800 60.90 160,642,020 2006 .............: 2,858,800 48.40 138,365,920 2007 .............: 2,828,200 65.70 185,812,740 2008 .............: 2,820,700 41.60 117,341,120 2009 .............: 2,866,700 65.10 186,622,170 2010 .............: 2,840,200 81.90 232,612,380 2011 .............: 3,091,470 94.30 291,525,621 2012 1/ ..........: (NA) (NA) (NA) 2013 .............: 3,544,610 56.30 199,561,543 2014 .............: 3,763,250 57.70 217,139,525 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (NA) Not available. 1/ Due to sequestration the "Mink "report was suspended. Pelts Produced by Color Class - Selected States and United States: 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 143,000 7,000 3,200 12,500 3,300 164,000 Illinois .........: 63,000 - - (D) - (D) Iowa .............: 67,000 (D) (D) (D) (D) 36,000 Michigan .........: 39,000 - (D) (D) (D) 2,700 Minnesota ........: 71,000 29,000 (D) (D) 34,000 86,000 Montana ..........: 4,200 (D) (D) - (D) (D) Ohio .............: 66,000 (D) - (D) (D) 30,000 Oregon ...........: 197,000 (D) - (D) 76,000 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 33,000 (D) 11,000 6,500 18,500 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - - (D) Utah .............: 295,000 31,000 (D) 35,000 2,300 365,000 Washington .......: 67,000 - (D) - (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 730,000 (D) 27,000 37,000 108,000 101,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 19,700 26,230 70,500 14,100 23,200 81,920 : United States ....:1,794,900 93,230 111,700 105,100 265,300 866,620 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: - (D) 760 - (D) 345,590 Illinois .........: (D) - - (D) - 97,180 Iowa .............: - - - (D) - 109,640 Michigan .........: - - (D) 6,000 - 56,500 Minnesota ........: - - - (D) - 244,520 Montana ..........: - - - (D) - 18,330 Ohio .............: - - - (D) - 104,900 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 309,350 Pennsylvania .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) 79,530 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - (D) Utah .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) 855,380 Washington .......: - - - - - 95,000 Wisconsin ........: (D) 11,500 (D) 93,000 7,500 1,129,960 : Other States 1/ ..: 101,480 2,100 37,500 33,750 14,170 98,730 : United States ....: 101,480 13,600 38,260 132,750 21,670 3,544,610 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States include Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, 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. Pelts Produced by Color Class - Selected States and United States: 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 139,000 7,500 4,300 17,500 (D) 164,000 Illinois .........: 68,000 - - (D) - (D) Iowa .............: 45,000 - (D) (D) (D) 34,000 Michigan .........: 36,000 - (D) (D) (D) 2,300 Minnesota ........: 84,000 27,000 (D) (D) 40,000 82,000 Montana ..........: 9,000 (D) (D) - (D) 9,500 Ohio .............: 68,000 (D) - (D) (D) 18,500 Oregon ...........: 215,000 - (D) (D) 80,000 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 36,000 (D) 8,000 9,000 19,000 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - (D) (D) Utah .............: 320,000 37,000 (D) 40,000 1,500 425,000 Washington .......: 73,000 - (D) - (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 800,000 1,100 31,000 39,000 138,000 117,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 4,600 7,860 70,450 15,830 26,740 57,350 : United States ....:1,897,600 80,460 113,750 121,330 305,240 909,650 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: - (D) (D) - (D) 357,970 Illinois .........: (D) - (D) (D) - 97,740 Iowa .............: - - - (D) - 85,700 Michigan .........: - - - 8,000 - 53,200 Minnesota ........: (D) - (D) (D) - 255,930 Montana ..........: - - - (D) (D) 25,730 Ohio .............: - - - (D) - 95,800 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 333,050 Pennsylvania .....: (D) - (D) (D) (D) 87,430 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - (D) Utah .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) 958,760 Washington .......: - - - - - 104,100 Wisconsin ........: (D) 7,500 (D) 115,000 3,900 1,268,760 : Other States 1/ ..: 103,970 6,090 43,100 32,180 15,480 39,080 : United States ....: 103,970 13,590 43,100 155,180 19,380 3,763,250 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States include New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, 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. Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits by Color Class - Selected States and United States: 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 35,000 1,700 1,100 4,100 (D) 40,000 Illinois .........: 19,500 - - (D) - (D) Iowa .............: 18,500 (D) (D) (D) (D) 11,000 Michigan .........: 12,000 - (D) (D) (D) 1,100 Minnesota ........: 17,000 6,000 (D) (D) 8,500 24,000 Montana ..........: 1,600 (D) (D) - (D) 2,700 Ohio .............: 15,000 (D) - (D) (D) 7,000 Oregon ...........: 42,000 (D) - 2,700 16,000 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 7,000 (D) 1,900 2,400 4,700 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - - (D) Utah .............: 77,000 (D) (D) 9,000 750 80,000 Washington .......: 17,500 - (D) - (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 168,000 (D) 7,000 10,000 27,000 27,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 1,250 11,730 16,310 1,280 6,260 12,440 : United States ....: 431,350 19,430 26,310 29,480 63,210 205,240 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: - (D) (D) - (D) 85,660 Illinois .........: (D) - - (D) - 27,590 Iowa .............: - - - (D) - 31,290 Michigan .........: - - (D) 1,700 - 17,500 Minnesota ........: - - - 3,500 - 62,910 Montana ..........: - - - (D) - 6,410 Ohio .............: - - - (D) - 24,260 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 67,900 Pennsylvania .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) 18,700 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - (D) Utah .............: (D) (D) (D) 230 (D) 200,680 Washington .......: - - - - - 23,900 Wisconsin ........: - 3,700 (D) 28,000 2,000 276,990 : Other States 1/ ..: 18,250 910 9,910 5,610 2,700 7,740 : United States ....: 18,250 4,610 9,910 39,040 4,700 851,530 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States include Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and some females bred 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. Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits by Color Class - Selected States and United States: 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 58,000 1,700 2,100 5,000 (D) 40,000 Illinois .........: 18,000 - - (D) - (D) Iowa .............: 13,000 - (D) (D) (D) 11,500 Michigan .........: 12,000 - (D) (D) (D) 850 Minnesota ........: 17,000 5,000 (D) (D) (D) 14,500 Montana ..........: 970 (D) (D) - - 1,500 Ohio .............: 13,500 (D) - (D) (D) 4,600 Oregon ...........: 43,000 - (D) 2,700 14,000 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 7,000 (D) (D) 2,800 4,400 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) - (D) (D) - Utah .............: 80,000 11,500 (D) 10,000 (D) 76,000 Washington .......: 16,500 - (D) - (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 158,000 (D) 6,500 10,000 29,000 21,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 2,630 2,720 16,390 1,880 22,280 9,990 : United States ....: 439,600 20,920 24,990 32,380 69,680 179,940 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: - (D) (D) (D) (D) 113,500 Illinois .........: (D) - (D) (D) - 25,670 Iowa .............: - - - (D) - 26,180 Michigan .........: - (D) (D) 1,800 - 17,550 Minnesota ........: - - - 4,200 - 51,210 Montana ..........: - - - (D) (D) 3,990 Ohio .............: - (D) - (D) - 20,250 Oregon ...........: - - 1,600 - - 66,910 Pennsylvania .....: (D) - (D) (D) (D) 19,320 South Dakota .....: (D) - - (D) - (D) Utah .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) 211,810 Washington .......: - - - - - 21,040 Wisconsin ........: - 4,400 (D) 34,000 1,600 268,690 : Other States 1/ ..: 16,980 2,240 9,180 6,770 2,860 7,020 : United States ....: 16,980 6,640 10,780 46,770 4,460 853,140 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States include New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and some females bred 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. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Mink production data are collected from early May through late May 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 who do not respond by mail are telephoned or enumerated in person. Care is exercised to account for all operations. Major auction houses, which handle producer sales, provide mink pelt price data 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. 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: 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. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the five-year Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date. 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 0.5 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 3.76 million pelts by more than 0.5 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.9 percent. Reliability of Mink Estimates [Based on data for the past ten years] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Years : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent ------- 1,000 ------- ----- number ---- : : Pelts produced ...............: 0.5 0.9 8 0 34 6 1 : Females bred .................: 0.9 1.7 3 0 15 5 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 nass@nass.usda.gov Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ..................................... (202) 720-3570 Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .............. (202) 720-4447 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Cold Storage ..................................... (202) 720-4751 Heidi Gleich - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ...................... (202) 720-0585 Michael Klamm - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ..... (202) 690-3237 Tom Kruchten - Census of Aquaculture ................................... (202) 690-4870 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs ............................................. (202) 690-8632 Sammy Neal - Catfish Production, Egg Products, Mink, Trout Production .. (202) 720-3244 Joshua O'Rear - Honey .................................................. 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