Mink ISSN: 1949-1549 Released July 6, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Pelt Production Up 9 Percent Mink pelt production in the United States in 2011 totaled 3.09 million pelts, up 9 percent from 2010. Wisconsin, the largest mink producing State, produced 1,050,580 pelts. Utah, the second largest producing State, produced 698,960 pelts. The number of pelts by color class as a percent of the total United States production in 2011 is as follows: Black at 52 percent, Mahogany at 25 percent, and Blue Iris at 9 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 14 percent. Value of pelts produced during the 2011 crop year was $292 million, up 25 percent from $233 million a year ago. The average price per pelt for the 2011 crop year was $94.30, up $12.40 from $81.90 in 2010. Female mink bred to produce kits in 2012 totaled 769,970, up 9 percent from the previous year. Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 2012 by color class is as follows: Black at 51 percent, Mahogany at 25 percent, and Blue Iris at 9 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 15 percent. Mink farms producing pelts in 2011 totaled 268, up 1 percent from a year ago. Mink Pelts Produced and Females Bred by Color Class - United States: 2010-2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Pelts produced : Females bred to produce kits :----------------------------------------------------------------------- Color class : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 : 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : number : Black .........: 1,455,600 1,592,300 370,500 392,900 Demi/Wild .....: 101,200 95,070 23,120 24,960 Pastel ........: 66,820 73,730 17,200 19,740 Sapphire ......: 82,480 80,170 20,380 22,280 Blue Iris .....: 263,620 291,820 59,000 70,670 Mahogany ......: 725,900 786,500 171,860 192,450 Pearl .........: 74,900 81,510 18,600 16,150 Lavender ......: 6,030 8,700 2,410 3,100 Violet ........: 9,440 15,060 3,550 4,110 White .........: 46,800 61,170 17,780 22,170 Other .........: 7,410 5,440 1,600 1,440 : Total .........: 2,840,200 3,091,470 706,000 769,970 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mink Farms, Pelts Produced, Average Price, and Value - United States: 1992-2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Mink : Pelts :Average marketing: Value of Year : farms : produced : price : mink pelts --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : number number dollars dollars : 1992 ..........: 571 2,900,000 23.80 69,020,000 1993 ..........: 523 2,620,300 34.10 89,352,230 1994 ..........: 484 2,623,200 33.00 86,565,600 1995 ..........: 478 2,803,100 53.10 148,844,610 1996 ..........: 449 2,783,200 35.30 98,246,960 1997 ..........: 452 2,993,300 33.10 99,078,230 1998 ..........: 438 2,938,100 24.80 72,864,880 1999 ..........: 398 2,812,500 33.70 94,781,250 2000 ..........: 350 2,666,100 34.00 90,647,400 2001 ..........: 329 2,565,300 33.50 85,937,550 : 2002 ..........: 324 2,607,300 30.60 79,783,380 2003 ..........: 305 2,549,000 40.10 102,214,900 2004 ..........: 296 2,558,100 47.10 120,486,510 2005 ..........: 275 2,637,800 60.90 160,642,020 2006 ..........: 279 2,858,800 48.40 138,365,920 2007 ..........: 283 2,828,200 65.70 185,812,740 2008 ..........: 274 2,820,700 41.60 117,341,120 2009 ..........: 278 2,866,700 65.10 186,622,170 2010 ..........: 265 2,840,200 81.90 232,612,380 2011 ..........: 268 3,091,470 94.30 291,525,621 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pelts Produced by Color Class - Selected States and United States: 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 111,000 (D) 5,500 8,500 (D) 120,000 Illinois .........: 42,000 (D) - (D) (D) (D) Iowa .............: 83,000 - (D) (D) 6,500 (D) Michigan .........: 28,000 - (D) (D) (D) 3,000 Minnesota ........: 47,000 37,000 (D) (D) 22,000 85,000 Montana ..........: 5,500 (D) - - (D) 13,000 Ohio .............: 57,000 (D) - (D) (D) 25,000 Oregon ...........: 159,000 (D) - 12,000 69,000 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 27,000 (D) 6,000 4,900 12,500 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - - (D) Utah .............: 245,000 (D) (D) 12,000 (D) 300,000 Washington .......: 62,000 (D) - (D) (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 570,000 (D) 13,500 35,000 115,000 103,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 19,100 64,200 41,820 10,080 38,620 76,900 : United States ....:1,455,600 101,200 66,820 82,480 263,620 725,900 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: (D) - - - (D) 259,300 Illinois .........: (D) - (D) (D) (D) 55,260 Iowa .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) - 111,140 Michigan .........: - - - 4,500 - 40,500 Minnesota ........: - - - 3,900 - 199,730 Montana ..........: - - - - - 21,900 Ohio .............: - - - - - 92,000 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 261,300 Pennsylvania .....: (D) - (D) (D) (D) 64,520 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - 80,000 Utah .............: (D) - - (D) - 677,900 Washington .......: - - - - - 86,200 Wisconsin ........: - 6,000 (D) 28,000 4,200 883,430 : Other States 1/ ..: 74,900 30 9,440 10,400 3,210 7,020 : United States ....: 74,900 6,030 9,440 46,800 7,410 2,840,200 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States also includes 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: 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 138,000 (D) (D) 9,000 (D) 141,000 Illinois .........: 58,000 (D) - (D) (D) (D) Iowa .............: 68,000 - (D) (D) (D) 13,500 Michigan .........: 27,000 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Minnesota ........: 63,000 34,000 (D) (D) 25,000 85,000 Montana ..........: 4,700 (D) - - (D) 13,500 Ohio .............: 55,000 (D) - (D) (D) 27,000 Oregon ...........: 157,000 (D) - (D) 72,000 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 30,000 (D) 8,000 6,000 17,000 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - - (D) Utah .............: 245,000 (D) (D) 13,500 3,600 325,000 Washington .......: 57,000 - - - 13,500 (D) Wisconsin ........: 670,000 (D) (D) 39,000 139,000 115,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 19,600 61,070 65,730 12,670 21,720 66,500 : United States ....:1,592,300 95,070 73,730 80,170 291,820 786,500 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: - (D) (D) - - 308,260 Illinois .........: (D) - - (D) - 75,810 Iowa .............: - - - (D) - 87,030 Michigan .........: - - - 6,000 - 43,200 Minnesota ........: (D) - - (D) - 214,060 Montana ..........: - - - - - 20,960 Ohio .............: - - - - - 92,200 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 262,900 Pennsylvania .....: (D) - - (D) (D) 70,700 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - 76,000 Utah .............: (D) (D) - (D) (D) 698,960 Washington .......: - - - - - 82,500 Wisconsin ........: - 8,500 (D) 46,000 4,300 1,050,580 : Other States 1/ ..: 81,510 200 15,060 9,170 1,140 8,310 : United States ....: 81,510 8,700 15,060 61,170 5,440 3,091,470 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States also includes 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: 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 30,000 (D) 1,300 1,800 (D) 29,000 Illinois .........: 17,000 - - (D) (D) (D) Iowa .............: 19,000 - (D) (D) 1,900 3,500 Michigan .........: 8,500 - (D) (D) (D) (D) Minnesota ........: 17,000 (D) (D) (D) 5,500 20,000 Montana ..........: 1,600 (D) - - (D) (D) Ohio .............: 13,000 (D) - (D) (D) 7,000 Oregon ...........: 32,000 - - (D) 14,500 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 7,000 (D) 2,000 2,000 3,900 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - - (D) Utah .............: 62,000 7,500 (D) 4,500 (D) 73,000 Washington .......: 14,500 - - - (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 144,000 (D) 4,200 9,000 24,000 21,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 4,900 15,620 9,700 3,080 9,200 18,360 : United States ....: 370,500 23,120 17,200 20,380 59,000 171,860 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: (D) - - - (D) 65,800 Illinois .........: (D) - (D) (D) - 20,530 Iowa .............: (D) - - (D) - 26,210 Michigan .........: - - - (D) - 11,750 Minnesota ........: - - - 1,300 - 53,220 Montana ..........: - - - - - 7,040 Ohio .............: - - - - - 22,600 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 54,180 Pennsylvania .....: (D) - (D) (D) (D) 16,520 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - 15,800 Utah .............: (D) - - (D) - 168,600 Washington .......: - - - - - 20,000 Wisconsin ........: - 2,400 (D) 12,500 1,300 221,260 : Other States 1/ ..: 18,600 10 3,550 3,980 300 2,490 : United States ....: 18,600 2,410 3,550 17,780 1,600 706,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States also includes 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: 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ States : Black :Demi/Wild: Pastel :Sapphire :Blue Iris:Mahogany ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : number : Idaho ............: 33,000 (D) 1,500 2,700 (D) 38,000 Illinois .........: 17,000 (D) - (D) (D) (D) Iowa .............: 22,000 - (D) (D) (D) 7,500 Michigan .........: 9,500 (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Minnesota ........: 18,000 (D) (D) (D) 6,500 23,000 Montana ..........: 1,400 (D) (D) - (D) 4,500 Ohio .............: 13,000 (D) - (D) (D) 5,500 Oregon ...........: 35,000 (D) (D) 2,600 14,500 (D) Pennsylvania .....: 6,000 (D) 1,800 2,200 5,000 (D) South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) - - (D) Utah .............: 68,000 (D) (D) 4,100 (D) 77,000 Washington .......: 15,000 (D) - - (D) (D) Wisconsin ........: 150,000 (D) 3,900 9,500 33,000 23,000 : Other States 1/ ..: 5,000 24,960 12,540 1,180 11,670 13,950 : United States ....: 392,900 24,960 19,740 22,280 70,670 192,450 :----------------------------------------------------------- States : Pearl :Lavender : Violet : White : Other :Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : number : Idaho ............: - (D) (D) - - 78,900 Illinois .........: (D) - - (D) - 23,190 Iowa .............: - - - (D) - 31,420 Michigan .........: - - - 1,100 - 13,400 Minnesota ........: - - - (D) - 59,420 Montana ..........: - - - (D) - 6,910 Ohio .............: - - - - - 21,400 Oregon ...........: - - (D) - - 58,550 Pennsylvania .....: (D) - - (D) - 16,920 South Dakota .....: (D) - - - - 15,700 Utah .............: (D) - (D) (D) (D) 178,750 Washington .......: - - - - - 20,600 Wisconsin ........: - 3,000 (D) 15,500 1,400 242,390 : Other States 1/ ..: 16,150 100 4,110 5,570 40 2,420 : United States ....: 16,150 3,100 4,110 22,170 1,440 769,970 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Represents zero. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Other States also includes 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 3.09 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 9 0 34 7 1 : Females bred .................: 0.9 1.7 4 0 15 7 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 Cody Brokmeyer - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .. (202) 690-3237 David Colwell - Cold Storage ......................................... (202) 720-8784 LaKeya Jones - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Honey, Egg Products, Mink ............ (202) 720-0585 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs ........................................... (202) 690-8632 Miste Salmon - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery .................... 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