National Agricultural Statistics Service Report on Mink Production, 2000

Lv Gn 3  (7-00)

Mink

National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C.

Released July 20, 2000, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Mink" call Tom Kruchten at (202) 690-4870, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Pelt Production Down 4 Percent Mink pelt production in the United States in 1999 totaled 2.81 million pelts, down 4 percent from 1998. Wisconsin, the major mink producing State, produced 731,700 pelts.

By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S. production follows: Standard - 37.9 percent; Mahogany - 25.6 percent; Gunmetal - 16.3 percent; Ranch Wild - 6.1 percent; Demi-buff - 3.8 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 10.3 percent.

Value of Pelt Production Up 30 Percent Mink pelts produced during the 1999 crop year were valued at $94.8 million dollars, up 30 percent from $72.9 million a year ago. The average price per pelt for the 1999 crop year was $33.70, up from $24.80 in 1998.

Females Bred Down 2 Percent Female mink bred to produce kits in 2000 totaled 660,400, down 2 percent from the previous year.

Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 2000 by color class are: Standard - 38.5 percent; Mahogany - 23.7 percent; Gunmetal - 17.4 percent; Sapphire - 5.0 percent; Ranch Wild - 4.8 percent;. The remaining color classes accounted for 10.6 percent.

Number Of Mink Farms Down 8 Percent There were 404 mink farms producing pelts in 1999, down 8 percent from a year ago. Leading States were Utah with 110 farms, Wisconsin with 82 farms and Minnesota with 40.

Fox There were 27 mink farms which also raised fox in 1999, down from 31 the previous year.

Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, by Color Class, United States, 1998-00 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Pelts Produced : Females Bred to Produce Kits Color :--------------------------------------------------------- Class : 1998 2/ : 1999 : 1998 2/ : 1999 2/ : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 : Standard : 1,191 1,067 304 266 254 Ranch Wild : 175 172 43 39 32 Demi-buff : 116 106 36 26 23 Pastel : 34 41 9 10 13 Pale Brown : 1 1 0 0 1 Sapphire : 137 141 40 37 33 Gunmetal : 453 459 127 113 115 Mahogany : 728 719 152 155 157 Pearl : 23 32 4 9 11 Lavender-hope : 6 9 2 2 2 Pink : 2 3 1 1 1 Violet-type : 26 9 5 5 2 White : 44 52 11 11 17 Misc. & Unclassified : 5 2 1 2 0 : US : 2,938 2,813 733 673 660 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mink: Farms, Pelts Produced, Price, and Value, United States, 1979-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Mink : Pelts : Average Marketing : Value of Year : Farms : Produced : Price : Mink Pelts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number 1,000 Dollars Million Dollars : 1979 : 1,105 3,394 41.10 139.5 1980 : 1,122 3,501 35.30 123.6 1981 : 3/ 3/ 32.20 1982 : 1,116 4,085 28.90 118.1 1983 : 1,098 4,137 29.90 123.7 1984 : 1,084 4,220 30.80 130.0 1985 : 1,042 4,171 28.00 116.8 1986 : 989 4,096 41.30 170.0 1987 : 1,027 4,122 43.00 177.2 1988 : 1,027 4,453 32.30 143.8 1989 : 940 4,604 20.40 93.9 1990 : 771 3,366 25.50 85.8 1991 : 683 3,268 21.90 71.6 1992 : 571 2,900 23.80 69.0 1993 : 523 2,620 34.10 89.3 1994 : 484 2,623 33.00 86.6 1995 : 478 2,803 53.10 148.8 1996 : 449 2,783 35.30 98.2 1997 : 452 2,993 33.10 99.1 1998 2/ : 438 2,938 24.80 72.9 1999 4/ : 404 2,813 33.70 94.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Sum of color class may not add to U.S. total due to rounding. 2/ Revised based on additional information. 3/ Data not available for 1981. 4/ Data are preliminary.

Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms, Major States and United States, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Stan- : Ranch : Demi- : Pas- : Pale : Sap- : Gun : Mahog- States: dard : Wild :Buff 1/ : tel : Brown : phire : Metal : any -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Pelts : ID : 40,600 42,300 * * 19,100 28,200 49,600 IL : 43,200 * IA : 61,500 * * * 17,000 8,100 MI : 13,900 * * 1,200 2,700 * 20,000 MN : 72,200 58,000 * 2,100 1,700 31,100 97,700 NY : 13,000 200 4,200 100 8,700 OH : 31,000 * * * * 27,700 OR : 87,600 * * 15,800 133,000 * PA : * * * * 12,400 22,900 * SD : * * * * 37,200 UT : 312,000 * 62,000 * * 40,000 27,000 219,000 WA : 57,700 * * 59,300 * WI : 397,100 14,100 2,500 9,500 27,500 118,000 194,300 : Oth : 61,500 60,100 51,100 20,600 600 13,400 13,800 65,700 Sts : : US :1,191,300 174,500 115,600 33,600 600 136,800 453,400 728,000 : :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : :Misc. & : : Number : Pearl :Lavender: Pink : Violet : White :Unclass-: Total : of : : Hope : : Type : : ified : Pelts : Farms :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Pelts : ID : * * * 192,600 22 IL : * * * 49,600 10 IA : * * * 123,900 19 MI : 800 * 4,400 46,000 13 MN : * * 268,200 44 NY : 4,200 30,500 10 OH : 70,400 12 OR : * 263,000 30 PA : * * * * 67,500 11 SD : * 93,800 6 UT : * * 675,000 115 WA : 142,600 20 WI : * * 11,900 20,700 * 800,500 94 : Oth : 22,300 5,500 1,900 9,400 18,400 4,700 114,500 32 Sts : : US : 23,100 5,500 1,900 25,600 43,500 4,700 2,938,100 438 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl or others. * Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual operations.

Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms, Major States and United States, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Stan- : Ranch : Demi- : Pas- : Pale : Sap- : Gun : Mahog- States: dard : Wild :Buff 1/ : tel : Brown : phire : Metal : any -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Pelts : ID : 39,000 38,800 * * 27,800 31,700 76,700 IL : 42,700 * * IA : 76,300 * * 9,000 15,900 9,000 MI : 16,500 * 2,000 2,300 0 23,500 MN : 43,300 60,400 5,900 2,500 1,800 37,300 107,600 NY : * * * * * OH : 31,000 * * 2,200 * 20,300 OR : 89,000 * * 14,000 147,000 * PA : * * * * 13,200 26,100 * SD : * * 12,700 2,000 46,500 UT : 284,000 11,000 58,000 * 32,000 23,000 211,000 WA : 45,000 * * 67,900 WI : 341,300 * * 10,200 * 35,400 99,900 187,700 : Oth : Sts : 59,300 61,400 29,700 23,800 1,200 3,000 10,100 36,800 : US :1,067,400 171,600 106,300 40,500 1,200 140,700 458,900 719,100 : :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : :Misc. & : : Number : Pearl :Lavender: Pink : Violet : White :Unclass-: Total : of : : Hope : : Type : : ified : Pelts : Farms :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Pelts : ID : * * 228,500 26 IL : * * * * 49,300 8 IA : * * 128,100 16 MI : * * * 51,000 13 MN : * * * 262,700 40 NY : 5,900 8 OH : * 59,100 12 OR : * 270,000 30 PA : * * * 74,000 11 SD : 12,000 99,700 5 UT : * * 650,000 110 WA : 129,200 18 WI : * * * * 30,800 731,700 82 : Oth : Sts : 20,300 9,000 3,300 8,600 21,400 1,700 73,600 25 : US : 32,300 9,000 3,300 8,600 52,200 1,700 2,812,800 404 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl or others. * Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual operations.

Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class, Major States and United States, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Stan- : Ranch : Demi- : Pas- : Pale : Sap- : Gun : Mahog- States: dard : Wild :Buff 1/ : tel : Brown : phire : Metal : any -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : ID : 7,700 9,100 * * 5,600 6,600 13,900 IL : 11,300 * * IA : 20,300 * 1,600 * 4,900 3,600 MI : 3,900 * * 600 1,000 * 4,700 MN : 10,900 13,900 * 700 700 7,100 22,500 NY : 1,500 300 100 100 OH : 8,800 * * * * 5,900 OR : 18,400 * * 2,900 33,000 * PA : * * * * 3,700 6,000 * SD : * * * * 7,800 UT : 70,400 * 15,400 * 9,800 8,500 45,700 WA : 11,800 * * 15,100 WI : 79,500 3,400 800 2,800 7,300 28,400 35,000 : Oth : 21,000 12,900 8,400 5,800 200 5,800 12,900 15,900 Sts : : US :265,500 39,300 26,200 10,200 200 36,900 112,600 155,000 : :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : :Misc. & : : Pearl :Lavender : Pink : Violet : White :Unclass-: Total : : Hope : : Type : : ified : :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : ID : * * 53,600 IL : * * 12,800 IA : * * * 37,900 MI : * * 1,300 15,500 MN : * 57,100 NY : 2,000 OH : * 20,100 OR : 58,000 PA : * * * * 18,900 SD : * 22,800 UT : * * * 156,000 WA : 29,600 WI : * * 2,000 5,300 1,000 166,200 : Oth : Sts : 9,400 2,000 700 3,200 4,300 600 22,200 : US : 9,400 2,000 700 5,200 10,900 1,600 672,700 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl or others. * Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual operations.

Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class, Major States and United States, 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Stan- : Ranch : Demi- : Pas- : Pale : Sap- : Gun : Mahog- States: dard : Wild :Buff 1/ : tel : Brown : phire : Metal : any -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : ID : 9,300 4,700 * * 6,900 7,500 19,700 IL : 10,600 * * * IA : 23,400 * * * 5,200 3,500 MI : 2,300 * 400 800 3,900 MN : 11,000 11,800 * 600 500 9,100 27,700 NY : * * * OH : 8,500 1,300 * 1,400 * 6,200 OR : 17,700 * * 3,900 31,500 * PA : * * * * 4,000 5,300 * SD : * * 3,100 * 8,600 UT : 67,900 * 12,900 * 5,700 12,600 51,100 WA : 9,000 * * 14,900 WI : 78,600 * 200 3,700 * 7,800 25,700 30,100 : Oth : Sts : 15,900 13,900 6,900 7,800 700 2,000 3,200 6,000 : US :254,200 31,700 23,100 12,500 700 33,000 115,000 156,800 : :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : :Misc. & : : Pearl :Lavender : Pink : Violet : White :Unclass-: Total : : Hope : : Type : : ified : :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : ID : * * 51,700 IL : * * 12,800 IA : * * 37,800 MI : * * 8,800 MN : * 62,900 NY : 2,000 OH : 18,000 OR : * 57,000 PA : * * * * 18,300 SD : * 21,800 UT : * * * 163,000 WA : 26,600 WI : * * * * 10,200 162,500 : Oth : Sts : 11,200 2,100 500 2,300 6,700 400 17,200 : US : 11,200 2,100 500 2,300 16,900 400 660,400 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl or others. * Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual operations.

Survey Procedures: Data for mink production are collected from all known producers. State Statistical Offices 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 ensure that all operations are accounted for. Major auction houses which handle virtually all producer sales provide mink pelt price data in July. Prices are collected at the point of first sale by producers, before marketing costs are deducted.

Reliability: 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 inaccessible operations are accounted for through the expansion of the reported data or by imputation based on individual historical data. Survey data are subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions and mistakes in reporting and in processing the data. While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized by carefully reviewing all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. The next "Mink" report will be released in July 2001.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Prosecutor in KFC Supplier Case Receives Threats from Animal Rights Extremists

WAVE 3 TV reported recently that a special prosecutor assigned to look at allegations of animal cruelty at Pilgrim’s Pride — which supplies chickens to KFC — has received so many threats that an FBI agent has been assigned the task of investigating each of them.

In 2004, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals made public a videotape showing employees of Pilgrim’s Pride in West Virginia kicking, stomping and slamming chickens against walls. In January 2005, however, special prosecutor Ginny Conley announced she wasn’t bringing charges because the videotape was so dark and grainy it was impossible to identify specific individuals for prosecution. She also cited concern that since the alleged abuse took place at a slaughterhouse, that it wasn’t covered by the state’s animal cruelty statutes.

Conley subsequently received enough additional information against those in the video to take her case to a grand jury in June. The grand jury, however, refused to indict the identified individuals.

Pilgrim’s Pride fired 11 people connected to the incidents on the videotape.

Conley told the Associated Press and WAVE 3 TV that she regularly receives harassing e-mails and letters from animal rights extremists, some of which include threats. She told WAVE 3,

There was even an FBI person provided to me to monitor it because the harassment got to such a level.

PETA, for its part, stuck with its “we don’t condone it, but we really do” line. PETA’s Dan Shannon told WAVE TV that PETA doesn’t condone the threats, but added that,

At the same time, you can understand how somebody would be so upset by these animals being tortured and abused, thrown against walls and torn apart. They might be moved with that level of passion.

Reminds me of the time that Shannon said PETA didn’t condone throwing fake blood at KFC’s CEO, while Bruce Friedrich was off doing just that.

The kicker is that Conley told the Associated Press that the harassment from animal rights activists made it harder to focus on making a case against the Pilgrim’s Pride workers,

Special prosecutor Ginny Conley had previously said she had no evidence to warrant criminal charges, but said Wednesday that more evidence had been found that persuaded her to present the case to a grand jury. Pressure from the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals did little to sway her, she said.

“In fact, if anything, the harassment I received from PETA was very intrusive on me performing my duties as prosecutor,” said Conley. “However, after I gained the additional information I received, I felt it at least warranted presentation to the citizens of Hardy County.”

Sources:

PETA supporters upset workers on video abusing chickens won’t be charged. Erick Flack, WAVE TV 3, July 19, 2005.

Jury Won’t Indict Chicken Plant Workers. Associated Press, June 8, 2005.

National Agricultural Statistics Service Report on Mink Production, 1998

Mink
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

USDA
Washington, D.C.

Released July 23, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For information on "Mink" call Tom Kruchten at (202) 690-4870, office
hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.




                    Pelt Production Up 7 Percent

Mink pelt production in the United States in 1997 totaled 2.84 million
pelts, up 7 percent from 1996. Wisconsin, the major mink producing
State, produced 701,400 pelts.

By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S.
production follows: Standard - 42.2 percent; Mahogany - 22.4 percent;
Gunmetal - 16.2 percent; Ranch Wild - 6.6 percent; Sapphire - 4.5
percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 8.1 percent.



                Value of Pelt Production Up Slightly

Mink pelts produced during the 1997 crop year were valued at $94.1
million dollars, up slightly from $93.9 million a year ago. The average
price per pelt for the 1997 crop year was $33.10, down 6 percent from
the price of $35.30 in 1996.



                    Females Bred Down 1 Percent

Female mink bred to produce kits in 1998 totaled 705,200, down 1 percent
from the previous year.

Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1998 by color class
are: Standard - 40.5 percent; Mahogany - 21.5 percent; Gunmetal - 16.4
percent; Ranch Wild - 5.9 percent; Sapphire - 5.7 percent. The remaining
color classes accounted for 10.0 percent.



                Number Of Mink Farms Down 3 Percent

There were 401 mink farms producing pelts in 1997, down 3 percent from a
year ago. Leading States were Utah with 125 farms, Wisconsin with 69
farms and Minnesota with 39.



                                Fox

There were 29 mink farms which also raised fox in 1997, compared to 40
for the previous year.



Lv Gn 3 (7-98)

            Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,
                          United States, 1996-1998 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------
         Class        :   1996 2/:   1997   :   1996   :   1997 2/:   1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                        1,000
                      :
Standard              :  1,236      1,199      336.3      328.5      285.9
Ranch Wild            :    195        186       43.7       48.5       41.6
Demi-buff             :    109        122       29.0       29.9       36.1
Pastel                :     32         35        9.3       14.4       10.1
Pale Brown            :      1          1        0.4        0.3        0.2
Sapphire              :     88        128       25.8       34.8       40.2
Gunmetal              :    338        461       90.8       92.9      115.9
Mahogany              :    570        637      119.0      140.2      151.7
Pearl                 :     25         13        6.7        6.0        4.0
Lavender-hope         :      9          6        2.6        2.1        1.8
Pink                  :      3          3        0.8        1.4        0.8
Violet-type           :     18         10        4.3        6.1        3.1
White                 :     31         39        7.4        9.1       10.5
Misc.& Unclassified   :      3          4        2.1        0.7        3.3
                      :
US Total              :  2,659      2,844      678.2      714.9      705.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


               Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price, and Value,
                            United States, 1977-97
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price            :     Mink Pelts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Number      1,000          Dollars              Million Dollars
         :
1977     :    1,040       3,076             28.30                     87.1
1978     :    1,095       3,358             39.30                    132.0
1979     :    1,105       3,394             41.10                    139.5
1980     :    1,122       3,501             35.30                    123.6
1981     :       3/          3/             32.20                       3/
1982     :    1,116       4,085             28.90                    118.1
1983     :    1,098       4,137             29.90                    123.7
1984     :    1,084       4,220             30.80                    130.0
1985     :    1,042       4,171             28.00                    116.8
1986     :      989       4,096             41.30                    170.0
1987     :    1,027       4,122             43.00                    177.2
1988     :    1,027       4,453             32.30                    143.8
1989     :      940       4,604             20.40                     93.9
1990     :      771       3,366             25.50                     85.8
1991     :      683       3,268             21.90                     71.6
1992     :      571       2,900             23.80                     69.0
1993     :      498       2,527             34.10                     86.2
1994     :      458       2,525             33.00                     83.3
1995     :      445       2,689             53.10                    142.8
1996 2/  :      415       2,659             35.30                     93.9
1997 4/  :      401       2,844             33.10                     94.1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Sum of color class may not add to U.S. total due to rounding.
2/  Revised based on additional information.
3/  Data not available for 1981.
4/  Data are Preliminary.
          Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,
                      Major States and United States, 1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :
States:  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                              Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   52,900   32,800   19,100       *       *       *             45,700
 IL   :   50,900                                                           *
 IA   :   45,100       *        *    11,500           5,200   14,700    3,900
 MI   :   30,000               400    1,600           3,400    1,600   12,700
 MN   :  111,300   65,300   11,200    1,800              *    27,300   71,900
 NY   :    9,100       *       500    1,100      *       *       800    4,100
 OH   :       *     5,500                             4,700    2,000       *
 OR   :   78,000       *                 *            8,400  110,000       *
 PA   :       *              1,600       *            9,300   22,100       *
 SD   :       *    31,000       *        *                             37,500
 UT   :  286,000   11,000   50,000    3,000          18,000   28,000  183,000
 WA   :   68,000       *        *                        *    33,000       *
 WI   :  391,000   25,000    5,200    7,200          18,900   88,400  148,400
      :
Oth   :  114,100   24,500   21,400    6,100   1,200  19,800   10,000   62,900
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,236,400  195,100  109,000   32,300   1,200  87,700  337,900  570,100
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :     *        *                 *                      170,000     22
 IL   :     *                                   *       *      56,700      9
 IA   :     *                          *        *              97,000     20
 MI   :  1,700                      1,200    3,800     600     57,000      9
 MN   :     *                          *        *             293,300     40
 NY   :    200               200      400            1,600     20,100     11
 OH   :                                                        73,800     12
 OR   :                                *                      208,000     23
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *              65,700     13
 SD   :     *                                                  94,100      4
 UT   :  5,000                      1,000                     585,000    130
 WA   :                                                       117,000     19
 WI   :  1,000       *        *        *    18,300     800    713,400     74
      :
Oth   : 17,500    9,300    2,800   15,100    8,400     400    107,900     29
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 25,400    9,300    3,000   17,700   30,500   3,400  2,659,000    415
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

           Mink: Pelts Produced by color Class and Number of Farms,
                  Major States and United States, 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :
States:  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                              Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   45,100   34,700       *        *           25,200    9,100   57,500
 IL   :   55,500                                                           *
 IA   :   59,500      700       *        *               *    19,100    6,800
 MI   :   30,000             1,100    1,600           2,000      600   14,000
 MN   :  106,000   73,600       *     1,600              *    52,500   65,000
 NY   :   10,000       *       800      500           2,700       *     7,300
 OH   :   28,600       *                                 *        *    24,000
 OR   :   86,000                *        *           13,000  123,000       *
 PA   :       *                 *        *           10,800   24,200    4,200
 SD   :       *    32,000       *        *                        *    14,000
 UT   :  311,000       *    60,000       *       *   30,000   28,000  226,000
 WA   :   62,800       *        *                             41,000       *
 WI   :  334,000   19,500    5,100   10,700          26,000  104,600  174,300
      :
Oth   :   70,200   25,800   55,300   20,300   1,000  17,800   58,700   43,800
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,198,700  186,300  122,300   34,700   1,000 127,500 460,800   636,900
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :     *        *                                        189,000     22
 IL   :     *                                   *              62,000      9
 IA   :     *                          *        *             122,000     17
 MI   :  1,500                      1,500    3,000     700     56,000      8
 MN   :     *                                   *             310,200     39
 NY   :                      300      200              900     23,000      8
 OH   :                                                        70,300     12
 OR   :                                *                      244,000     24
 PA   :     *                 *       900       *              70,300     12
 SD   :                                                        95,300      4
 UT   :     *                          *                      670,000    125
 WA   :                                                       121,400     19
 WI   :              *        *        *    19,500   2,800    701,400     69
      :
Oth   : 11,800    5,600    3,100    6,900   16,900            108,900     33
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 13,300    5,600    3,400    9,500   39,400   4,400  2,843,800    401
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.


           Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number By Color Class,
                         Major States and United States, 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   : 12,900    9,100       *        *             7,000    2,500   12,800
 IL   : 13,300                *                                           *
 IA   : 13,700       *     2,200    6,000            2,400    5,300    3,600
 MI   :  7,300               100      300              600      600    3,300
 MN   : 26,100   16,600       *       600               *     6,300   16,800
 NY   :  3,600       *                800       *       *       600      300
 OH   :     *     1,300                              2,000      500       *
 OR   : 19,000       *                 *             3,400   27,000       *
 PA   :     *                900       *             2,900    5,900       *
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               7,600
 UT   : 91,600    2,400   15,000      700      100   7,800    9,300   56,300
 WA   : 17,000       *        *                              10,400       *
 WI   : 92,300    6,900    1,100    2,500            6,900   20,300   24,400
      :
Oth   : 31,700   12,200   10,600    3,500      200   1,800    4,200   15,100
 Sts  :
      :
US    :328,500   48,500   29,900   14,400      300  34,800   92,900  140,200
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :      *         *                   *                          51,400
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,700
 IA   :      *                          2,700        *                36,600
 MI   :     500                           300       800       200     14,000
 MN   :      *                             *         *                68,500
 NY   :                         400       400                          6,800
 OH   :                                                               19,700
 OR   :                                    *                          52,000
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,100
 SD   :      *                                                        23,000
 UT   :     500                           400       900              185,000
 WA   :                                                               30,900
 WI   :                *         *         *      4,800       500    162,000
      :
Oth   :   5,000     2,100     1,000     2,300     2,600               31,200
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   6,000     2,100     1,400     6,100     9,100       700    714,900
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

           Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number By Color Class,
                         Major States and United States, 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :  9,900    9,200       *        *        *    8,100    3,100   18,500
 IL   : 10,700       *                                                    *
 IA   : 17,600      200       *        *                *     5,600    3,600
 MI   :  7,100               200      400              400      300    3,300
 MN   : 21,000   16,100       *       400               *    14,100   14,500
 NY   :  3,200                        700            2,100               100
 OH   :  9,800       *                 *                *        *     7,000
 OR   : 18,400                *        *             3,700   32,000       *
 PA   :     *                 *        *             3,100    5,700       *
 SD   :     *     5,700       *        *                         *     3,500
 UT   : 80,200       *    19,100       *        *   11,700    5,600   54,700
 WA   : 14,900       *        *                              12,600       *
 WI   : 75,900    3,900    1,700    3,300            6,500   23,100   36,000
      :
Oth   : 17,200    6,500   15,100    5,300      200   4,600   13,800   10,500
 Sts  :
      :
US    :285,900   41,600   36,100   10,100      200 40,200   115,900  151,700
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :                *                                       *      56,400
 IL   :      *                                       *                12,200
 IA   :   1,800                            *         *                35,000
 MI   :     400                           500       600       200     13,400
 MN   :      *                                       *                67,600
 NY   :     100                                                        6,200
 OH   :                                    *                          21,100
 OR   :      *                                                        57,200
 PA   :      *                   *        300        *                18,300
 SD   :                                                               23,200
 UT   :      *                             *                         175,000
 WA   :                                                               31,300
 WI   :                *         *         *      5,700       400    157,700
      :
Oth   :   1,700     1,800       800     2,300     4,200     2,700     30,600
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   4,000     1,800       800     3,100    10,500     3,300    705,200
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

Survey Procedures:  Data for mink production are collected from all known
                    producers.  State Statistical Offices use all known sources
of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as possible. 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. Great care is exercised to ensure that
all operations are accounted for. Major auction houses which handle
virtually all producer sales provide mink pelt price data in June.
Prices are collected at the point of first sale by producers, before
marketing costs are deducted.


Reliability:  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 inaccessible
operations are accounted for through the expansion of the reported data
or by imputation based on individual historical data. Survey data are
subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions and mistakes in
reporting and in processing the data. While these errors cannot be
measured directly, they are minimized by carefully reviewing all
reported data for consistency and reasonableness.


Revision policy:  Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when
                  current estimates are made.  Revisions are the result of
late or corrected data and are generally within one-half percent.

The next "Mink" report will be released in July 1999.


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discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication of program information
(braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET
Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.




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National Agricultural Statistics Service Report on Mink Production, 1997

HDR1012000170070722971500Mink

Mink

National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

USDA
Washington, D.C.


Released July 22, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For
information on "Mink" call Tom Kruchten at (202) 690-4870, office hours 7:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.



                   Pelt Production Down 1 Percent

Mink pelt production in the United States in 1996 totaled 2.65 million pelts,
down 1 percent from 1995.  Wisconsin, the major mink producing State, produced
718,000 pelts.

By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S.
production follows:  Standard - 46.7 percent; Mahogany - 21.1 percent;
Gunmetal - 12.8 percent; Ranch Wild - 7.4 percent; Demi-buff - 4.1 percent.
The remaining color classes accounted for 7.9 percent.



              Value of Pelt Production Down 35 Percent

Mink pelts produced during the 1996 crop year were valued at $93.5 million
dollars, down 35 percent from $142.8 million a year ago. The average price per
pelt for the 1996 crop year was $35.30, down from the record high price of
$53.10 in 1995.



                     Females Bred Up 5 Percent

Female mink bred to produce kits in 1997 totaled 710,800, up 5 percent from
the previous year.

Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1997 by color class are:
Standard - 46.5 percent; Mahogany - 19.5 percent;  Gunmetal - 12.8 percent;
Ranch Wild - 6.7 percent; Sapphire - 4.5 percent.  The remaining color classes
accounted for 10.0 percent.


                Number Of Mink Farms Down 7 Percent

There were 415 mink farms producing pelts in 1996, down 7 percent from a year
ago. Leading States were Utah with 130 farms, Wisconsin with 74 farms and
Minnesota with 40.


                                Fox

There were 40 mink farms which also raised fox in 1996, compared to 49 for the
previous year.



Lv Gn 3 (7-97)

             Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,
                          United States, 1995-1997 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------
         Class        :   1995 2/:   1996   :   1995   :   1996 2/:   1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :     Thousands                    Thousands
                      :
Standard              :  1,216      1,238      351.8      336.3      330.8
Ranch Wild            :    264        195       57.8       43.7       47.5
Demi-buff             :    159        109       41.8       29.0       29.8
Pastel                :     35         32       10.1        9.3       13.4
Pale Brown            :      1          1        0.1        0.4        0.2
Sapphire              :     66         86       21.9       25.8       32.0
Gunmetal              :    284        339       75.0       90.8       90.7
Mahogany              :    569        560      123.6      119.0      138.8
Pearl                 :     33         25        8.0        6.7        5.7
Lavender-hope         :      6          9        2.7        2.6        2.1
Pink                  :     10          3        3.0        0.8        1.4
Violet-type           :     13         19        4.1        4.3        8.5
White                 :     33         30        8.7        7.4        9.2
Misc.& Unclassified   :      1          3        0.9        2.1        0.7
                      :
US Total              :  2,689      2,649      709.5      678.2      710.8
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


              Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price,  and Value,
                            United States, 1976-96
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price            :     Mink Pelts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Number      1,000          Dollars              Million Dollars
         :
1976     :    1,015       3,026             29.00                     87.8
1977     :    1,040       3,076             28.30                     87.1
1978     :    1,095       3,358             39.30                    132.0
1979     :    1,105       3,394             41.10                    139.5
1980     :    1,122       3,501             35.30                    123.6
1981     :       3/          3/             32.20                       3/
1982     :    1,116       4,085             28.90                    118.1
1983     :    1,098       4,137             29.90                    123.7
1984     :    1,084       4,220             30.80                    130.0
1985     :    1,042       4,171             28.00                    116.8
1986     :      989       4,096             41.30                    170.0
1987     :    1,027       4,122             43.00                    177.2
1988     :    1,027       4,453             32.30                    143.8
1989     :      940       4,604             20.40                     93.9
1990     :      771       3,366             25.50                     85.8
1991     :      683       3,268             21.90                     71.6
1992     :      571       2,900             23.80                     69.0
1993     :      498       2,527             34.10                     86.2
1994     :      458       2,525             33.00                     83.3
1995 2/  :      445       2,689             53.10                    142.8
1996 4/  :      415       2,649             35.30                     93.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Sum of color class may not add to U.S. total due to rounding.
2/  Revised based on additional information.
3/  Data not availabe for 1981.
4/  Data are Preliminary.
           Mink: Pelts Produced by color Class and Number of Farms,
                  Major States and United States, 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :
States:  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                              Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   68,400   36,100       *        *               *             40,000
 IL   :   43,500                *                                          *
 IA   :   42,900    2,100       *        *               *    10,900       *
 MI   :   32,100       *     3,400    1,600           1,500    1,300    6,000
 MN   :  115,000   74,000    3,800       *               *    28,000   71,500
 NY   :   12,700       *                300              *       600    3,100
 OH   :       *     6,000    2,100      100           2,900      800       *
 OR   :   73,000       *              1,100              *   101,000    5,500
 PA   :       *        *        *        *            8,900   21,600    2,500
 SD   :       *        *        *        *                             29,000
 UT   :  267,000   13,000   68,000    4,000          16,000   22,000  168,000
 WA   :   67,100       *                                      25,500       *
 WI   :  376,100   26,900    9,700   10,600          15,300   64,800  140,300
      :
Oth   :  118,400  106,100   72,000   16,800     500  21,400    7,900  103,100
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,216,200  264,200  159,000   34,500     500  66,000  284,400  569,000
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :     *        *                                        170,500     22
 IL   :     *                                   *              48,400     10
 IA   :     *                       3,900       *              91,300     21
 MI   :  2,100                *     1,400    2,500             52,100     12
 MN   :     *                 *              3,300            306,000     52
 NY   :    200             1,000    1,000               *      20,800     11
 OH   :                               100                      68,000     12
 OR   :                                *                      198,000     27
 PA   :     *        *        *        *        *              63,200     13
 SD   :     *                                                  80,700      4
 UT   : 11,000                      1,000                     570,000    130
 WA   :                                                       105,000     20
 WI   :  1,500    3,800    2,500    2,100   19,600     400    673,600     76
      :
Oth   : 18,400    2,100    6,400    3,600    7,300     300    241,700     35
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 33,200    5,900    9,900   13,100   32,700     700  2,689,300    445
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

          Mink: Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,
                      Major States and United States, 1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :
States:  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                              Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   52,900   32,800   19,100       *       *       *             45,700
 IL   :   50,900                                                           *
 IA   :   45,100       *        *    11,500           5,200   14,700    3,900
 MI   :   30,000               400    1,600           3,400    1,600   12,700
 MN   :  111,300   65,300   11,200    1,800              *    27,300   71,900
 NY   :    9,100       *       500    1,100      *       *       800    4,100
 OH   :       *     5,500                             4,700    2,000       *
 OR   :   78,000       *                 *            8,400  110,000       *
 PA   :       *              1,600       *            9,300   22,100       *
 SD   :       *    31,000       *        *                             37,500
 UT   :  286,000   11,000   50,000    3,000          18,000   28,000  183,000
 WA   :   68,000       *        *                        *    33,000       *
 WI   :  394,800   25,000    5,200    7,200          18,900   88,400  148,400
      :
Oth   :  111,500   24,500   21,400    6,100   1,200  17,600   10,800   52,900
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,237,600  195,100  109,400   32,300   1,200  85,500  338,700  560,100
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :     *        *                 *                      170,000     22
 IL   :     *                                   *       *      56,700      9
 IA   :     *                          *        *              97,000     20
 MI   :  1,700                      1,200    3,800     600     57,000      9
 MN   :     *                          *        *             293,300     40
 NY   :    200               200      400            1,600     20,100     11
 OH   :                                                        73,800     12
 OR   :                                *                      208,000     23
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *              65,700     13
 SD   :     *                                                  94,100      4
 UT   :  5,000                      1,000                     585,000    130
 WA   :                                                       117,000     19
 WI   :     *     4,100       *     4,200   18,300     800    718,100     74
      :
Oth   : 18,500    5,300    2,800   11,700    7,400     400     93,300     29
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 25,400    9,400    3,000   18,500   29,500   3,400  2,649,100    415
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

           Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number By Color Class,
                         Major States and United States, 1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   : 13,000    7,300    2,800       *        *       *              9,000
 IL   : 13,200                                                            *
 IA   : 13,000       *        *        *             1,400    4,700    3,600
 MI   :  7,700                        300              700      600    2,100
 MN   : 31,000   13,000       *        *                *     6,500   15,500
 NY   :  4,100       *                300               *       100      500
 OH   :     *     1,100      800      100            1,300      400       *
 OR   : 18,000       *                400            3,000   27,000    1,100
 PA   :     *        *        *        *             2,700    6,000    1,100
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               6,700
 UT   : 86,400    3,300   14,000      700      100   6,200    8,200   45,900
 WA   : 16,400       *                                  *     8,200       *
 WI   :100,400    4,900    1,900    2,300       *    5,400   25,200   23,000
      :
Oth   : 33,100   14,100    9,500    5,200      300   5,100    3,900   10,500
 Sts  :
      :
US    :336,300   43,700   29,000    9,300      400  25,800   90,800  119,000
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :      *         *                   *                          37,400
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,300
 IA   :      *                          1,300        *                29,600
 MI   :     800                           500       700               13,400
 MN   :                                    *         *                68,500
 NY   :                                                        *       7,200
 OH   :                                   100                         20,500
 OR   :                                    *                          51,000
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,200
 SD   :      *                                                        22,800
 UT   :   2,000                           200                        167,000
 WA   :                                                               27,500
 WI   :     200     1,100       400       800     4,500        *     170,400
      :
Oth   :   3,700     1,500       400     1,400     2,200     2,100     29,400
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   6,700     2,600       800     4,300     7,400     2,100    678,200
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

           Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number By Color Class,
                         Major States and United States, 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :
States:  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   : 12,900    8,100       *        *             6,200            12,800
 IL   : 13,300                *                                           *
 IA   : 13,700       *     2,200    6,000            2,400    5,300    3,600
 MI   :  7,300               100      300              600      600    3,300
 MN   : 26,100   16,600       *       600               *     6,300   16,800
 NY   :  3,600       *                800       *       *       600      300
 OH   :     *     1,300                              2,000      500       *
 OR   : 19,000       *                 *             3,400   27,000       *
 PA   :     *                900       *             2,900    5,900       *
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               7,600
 UT   : 91,900    2,400   15,000      900            6,100    9,300   56,300
 WA   : 17,000       *        *                              10,400       *
 WI   : 95,000    6,900    1,100    2,500            6,900   20,400   24,400
      :
Oth   : 31,000   12,200   10,500    2,300      200   1,500    4,400   13,700
 Sts  :
      :
US    :330,800   47,500   29,800   13,400      200  32,000   90,700  138,800
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :                *                   *                          46,500
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,700
 IA   :      *                          2,700        *                36,600
 MI   :     500                           300       800       200     14,000
 MN   :      *                             *         *                68,500
 NY   :                         400       400                          6,800
 OH   :                                                               19,700
 OR   :                                    *                          52,000
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,100
 SD   :      *                                                        23,000
 UT   :     200                         2,000       900              185,000
 WA   :                                                               30,900
 WI   :      *         *         *      1,200     4,800       500    165,000
      :
Oth   :   5,000     2,100     1,000     1,900     2,700               29,000
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   5,700     2,100     1,400     8,500     9,200       700    710,800
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
or others.  *  Included in other States in each respective color class to
avoid disclosing individual operations.

Survey Procedures:  Data for mink production are collected from all known
                    producers.  State Statistical Offices use all known
sources of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as possible.
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.  Great care is exercised to ensure that all operations
are accounted for.  Major auction houses which handle virtually all producer
sales provide mink pelt price data in June.  Prices are collected at the point
of first sale by producers, before marketing costs are deducted.


Reliability: 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 inaccessible operations are
accounted for through the expansion of the reported data or by imputation
based on individual historical data.  Survey data are subject to non-sampling
errors such as omissions and mistakes in reporting and in processing the data.
While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized by
carefully reviewing all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.


Revision policy:  Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when
                  current estimates are made.  Revisions are the result of
late or corrected data and are generally within one-half percent.

The next "Mink" report will be released in July 1998.


The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's
TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,
D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an
equal employment opportunity employer.


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USDA Rejects Call to Regulate Pet Cloning

In July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture rejected a petition by the American Anti-Vivisection Society asking the agency to regulate pet cloning companies as research facilities under the Animal Welfare Act.

In a letter to the AAVS, the USDA’s Chester Gipson wrote that,

GSC [Genetic Savings & Clone] is providing a production service, using in vitro technology combined with standard veterinary medical practice. Furthermore, we have determined that GSC is not a dog or cat dealer under the AWA, because the retail sales of dogs and cats are specifically exempted from the AWA.

Genetic Savings & Clone CEO Lou Hawthorne said that his company had also requested that pet cloning firms be regulated by the USDA — preferring one federal regulating body instead of having to deal with a patchwork of state regulations — but received the same response as the AAVS. Hawthorne told The Scientist,

However, the USDA/APHIS responded to our request in the same way that they responded to the AAVS petition: GSC does not require AWA oversight, because we outsource our animal care and only work with embryos at our facility. If/when we change our production model and maintain animals at our main facility — something we’re seriously considering — then we’ll again petition the USDA/APHIS to oversee our work under the terms of the AWA.

The USDA did say that in order to show its animals at animal shows, Genetic Savings & Clone would have to obtain an animal exhibitor’s license. Hawthorne told The Scientist that the company is in the process of finishing the license application and expects to receive approval from the USDA.

Source:

USDA: no pet cloning regulation. Ivan Oranksy, The Scientist, July 19, 2005.

National Agricultural Statistics Service Report on Mink Production, 1995

HDR1012000170070720951500Mink
HDR2012000170070720951500Mink Narrative

Released July 20, 1995, by the Agricultural Statistics Board.


                         Pelt Production Down 1 Percent

Mink pelt production in the United States in 1994 totaled 2.5 million pelts,
down 1 percent from 1993.  Wisconsin, the major mink producing State, produced
611,000 pelts.

By color class, the number of pelts as a percent of the total U.S. production
follows: Standard - 46.1 percent; Mahogany - 18.9 percent; Ranch Wild -
11.0 percent; Gunmetal - 9.7 percent; Demi-buff - 6.9 percent.  The remaining
color classes accounted for 7.4 percent.


                     Value of Pelt Production Down 4 Percent

Mink pelts produced during the 1994 crop year were valued at $82.6 million
dollars, down 4 percent from $86.2 million a year ago. The average price per
pelt for the 1994 crop year was $33.00, compared with $34.10 in 1993.


                           Females Bred Down 1 Percent

Female mink bred to produce kits in 1995 totaled 708,300, down 1 percent from
the previous year.

Percent of total females bred to produce kits in 1995 by color class are:
Standard - 49.6 percent; Mahogany - 17.5 percent; Gunmetal -10.6 percent; Ranch
Wild - 8.2 percent; Demi-buff - 5.9 percent.  The remaining color classes
accounted for 8.2 percent.


                       Number Of Mink Farms Down 8 Percent

There were 457 mink farms producing pelts in 1994, down 8 percent from a year
ago. Leading States were Utah with 130 farms, Wisconsin with 78 farms, and
Minnesota with 53.


                                       Fox

There were 47 mink farms which also raised fox in 1994, compared to 58 for the
previous year.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For information call Tom Kruchten at (202) 690-4870.  Office hours are
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

Lv Gn 3 (7-95)


HDR2012000170070720951500Pelts Produced and Females Bred

             Mink: Pelts Produced and Females Bred, By Color Class,
                          United States, 1993-1995 1/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :    Pelts Produced   :   Females Bred To Produce Kits
         Color        :-------------------------------------------------------
         Class        :   1993 2/:   1994   :   1993   :   1994 2/:   1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      :                       1,000
                      :
Standard              :  1,144      1,153      359.3      365.3      351.5
Ranch Wild            :    348        276       89.8       84.4       57.8
Demi-buff             :    215        174       45.1       43.4       41.8
Pastel                :     35         32       11.4        9.7       10.0
Pale Brown            :      1          3        0.2        0.1        0.1
Sapphire              :     71         61       19.4       20.7       21.9
Gunmetal              :    230        243       64.7       60.9       75.0
Mahogany              :    380        473       90.8      102.8      123.6
Pearl                 :     15         17        4.7        5.5        5.5
Lavender-hope         :      7          6        1.7        1.9        2.7
Pink                  :     12         17        4.6        4.3        4.9
Violet-type           :     26         14        6.0        6.3        3.9
White                 :     42         31        8.9        7.9        8.7
Misc.& Unclassified   :      1          2        0.1         --        0.9
                      :
US                    :  2,527      2,502      706.7      713.2      708.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Mink:  Farms, Pelts Produced, Price, and Value,
                            United States, 1974-94
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Mink    :   Pelts  :  Average Marketing     :      Value of
Year     :    Farms   : Produced :       Price 3/         :     Mink Pelts 3/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         :    Number      1,000            Dollars            Million Dollars
         :
1974     :    1,221       3,128
1975     :    1,084       3,067             24.10                     73.9
1976     :    1,015       3,026             29.00                     87.8
1977     :    1,040       3,076             28.30                     87.1
1978     :    1,095       3,358             39.30                    132.0
1979     :    1,105       3,394             41.10                    139.5
1980     :    1,122       3,501             35.30                    123.6
1981     :       4/           4/            32.20                       4/
1982     :    1,116       4,085             28.90                    118.1
1983     :    1,098       4,137             29.90                    123.7
1984     :    1,084       4,220             30.80                    130.0
1985     :    1,042       4,171             28.00                    116.8
1986     :      989       4,096             41.30                    170.0
1987     :    1,027       4,122             43.00                    177.2
1988     :    1,027       4,453             32.30                    143.8
1989     :      940       4,604             20.40                     93.9
1990     :      771       3,366             25.50                     85.8
1991     :      683       3,268             21.90                     71.6
1992     :      571       2,900             23.80                     69.0
1993 2/  :      498       2,527             34.10                     86.2
1994 5/  :      457       2,502             33.00                     82.6
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Sum of color class may not add to U.S. total due to rounding.
2/  Revised based on additional information.
3/  Data not available prior to 1975.
4/  Data not availabe for 1981.
5/  Data are Preliminary.


HDR2012000170070720951500Pelts Produced by Color Class

          Mink:  Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,
                    Major States and United States, 1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :
State :  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                              Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   63,400   32,500   36,500    1,400           4,000       *    20,500
 IL   :   36,100                                                  *        *
 IA   :   33,700    4,300    5,900    8,700           3,000    3,700    7,900
 MI   :   33,500       *     1,800    1,600              *       500    8,400
 MN   :  104,100  125,300   11,500    3,100              *    21,600   27,200
 NY   :   17,800       *     1,800    2,400              *     2,800    8,400
 OH   :   36,700       *        *        *            1,400       *     4,600
 OR   :   65,000       *        *        *            9,200   91,000   11,000
 PA   :       *                 *        *            8,000   18,800    5,000
 SD   :       *    32,700       *        *                                 *
 UT   :  310,000   30,000   99,000    1,000          24,000   11,000  121,000
 WA   :   62,700       *        *        *                    22,200
 WI   :  314,300   25,300   15,600   10,200          15,000   36,400  108,100
      :
Oth   :   66,300   98,100   43,200    6,600     500   6,200   22,100   58,300
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,143,600  348,200  215,300   35,000     500  70,800  230,100  380,400
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :     *        *                                        169,000     24
 IL   :                                         *       *      41,800     11
 IA   :  4,500                      8,500       *       *      81,000     21
 MI   :  2,900                      3,300    3,400             55,800     16
 MN   :     *                 *        *     2,200            302,200     59
 NY   :    600             2,500      900       *              38,300     12
 OH   :                       *        *        *              57,800     12
 OR   :                       *     2,000                     189,000     27
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *              61,400     17
 SD   :     *                                                  68,400      6
 UT   :  2,000                      1,000            1,000    600,000    140
 WA   :                                                       102,700     24
 WI   :  1,100    6,000    2,800    6,800   29,400            571,000     87
      :
Oth   :  3,500    1,100    6,300    3,900    7,000     400    188,600     42
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 14,600    7,100   11,600   26,400   42,000   1,400  2,527,000    498
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual
    operations.


          Mink:  Pelts Produced by Color Class and Number of Farms,
                    Major States and United States, 1994
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :          :        :        :        :       :       :        :
State :  Stan-   :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale  :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard    :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                              Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :   74,000   28,600       *        *               *             44,400
 IL   :   44,200                *                                          *
 IA   :   36,700    2,800    4,500       *            2,800   10,100   11,500
 MI   :   31,000             3,200    1,900              *       700    6,500
 MN   :   82,500  107,500       *        *               *    21,500   41,000
 NY   :   20,300       *       700    1,900              *       500   13,800
 OH   :       *     6,500                             3,000       *        *
 OR   :   69,000    8,700       *     1,000           9,000   90,000    8,000
 PA   :   24,900                *        *       *    8,800   20,200    4,200
 SD   :    8,200   26,500       *        *                             24,200
 UT   :  275,000   20,000   66,000    1,000          14,000   17,000  133,000
 WA   :   66,000       *        *                             22,500
 WI   :  343,100   20,200    8,600   11,200          14,300   52,400  127,000
      :
Oth   :   78,300   54,800   90,600   15,400   2,600   9,000    8,500   59,000
 Sts  :
      :
US    :1,153,200  275,600  173,600   32,400   2,600  60,900  243,400  472,600
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :       : Misc. & :        : Number
      :  Pearl :Lavender:  Pink  : Violet : White : Unclass-:  Total :   of
      :        :  Hope  :        :  Type  :       : ified   :  Pelts :  Farms
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                            Number of Pelts
      :
 ID   :  1,300       *                                        186,500     23
 IL   :     *                                   *              50,300     10
 IA   :     *                       2,900       *              83,100     19
 MI   :     *                       2,200       *              52,500     12
 MN   :     *                 *        *     2,500            283,500     53
 NY   :  1,800             2,200    1,100                      45,600     12
 OH   :                      200                               60,500     12
 OR   :                       *        *                      189,000     27
 PA   :     *                 *        *        *       *      68,800     17
 SD   :     *                                                  71,300      4
 UT   :  1,000                      1,000            2,000    530,000    130
 WA   :                                                       108,700     23
 WI   :  1,500    3,400    8,100    2,800   18,300     100    611,000     78
      :
Oth   : 11,800    2,500    6,200    4,400   10,400     200    161,400     37
 Sts  :
      :
US    : 17,400    5,900   16,700   14,400   31,200   2,300  2,502,200    457
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual
    operations.


HDR2012000170070720951500Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits

          Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class,
                         Major States and United States, 1994
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :        :        :        :        :        :       :        :
State :  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   : 19,700    6,000    6,100      100              900            10,700
 IL   : 13,300                *                                           *
 IA   : 12,400    1,100    1,000    2,600            1,100    1,800    2,900
 MI   : 10,300               800      300               *       400    1,400
 MN   : 31,800   23,900       *        *                *     5,400    7,100
 NY   :  8,500       *       500      900               *       700    1,700
 OH   : 12,100       *        *        *               700       *     1,700
 OR   : 18,000    1,800       *       400               *    23,000       *
 PA   :  6,900                *        *             2,500    5,800    1,700
 SD   :  3,800    9,300       *        *                                  *
 UT   : 95,000   11,700   18,500      200            6,900    3,000   28,700
 WA   : 19,300       *        *                               6,100
 WI   : 99,900    5,200    4,500    3,100            3,900   12,000   21,000
      :
Oth   : 14,300   25,400   12,000    2,100      100   4,700    2,700   25,900
 Sts  :
      :
US    :365,300   84,400   43,400    9,700      100  20,700   60,900  102,800
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :      *         *                                              44,700
 IL   :      *                                       *                14,700
 IA   :   1,000                  *      2,400        *                26,500
 MI   :      *                            700        *                15,500
 MN   :      *                   *         *      1,000               74,000
 NY   :     700               1,100       500                         15,000
 OH   :                          *                   *                19,000
 OR   :                          *         *                          48,700
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,800
 SD   :      *                                                        19,800
 UT   :     700                           300                        165,000
 WA   :                                                               29,900
 WI   :     300     1,300       800       900     4,100              157,000
      :
Oth   :   2,800       600     2,400     1,500     2,800               63,600
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   5,500     1,900     4,300     6,300     7,900        --    713,200
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual
    operations.


          Female Mink Bred to Produce Kits: Number by Color Class,
                         Major States and United States, 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :
State :  Stan- :  Ranch : Demi-  :  Pas-  : Pale   :  Sap- :  Gun   : Mahog-
      :  dard  :  Wild  : Buff 1/:  tel   : Brown  : phire : Metal  : any
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   : 22,000    5,400       *        *             1,400            11,900
 IL   : 12,300                                                            *
 IA   : 12,900      600    1,000       *             1,000    3,900    3,600
 MI   :  7,700               700      400               *       400    2,000
 MN   : 32,500   17,500       *        *                *     5,500   12,000
 NY   :  4,300       *       200      300               *     1,000    1,000
 OH   :     *     1,500               100               *       200       *
 OR   : 18,000       *                 *                *    24,000    1,600
 PA   :  6,300       *        *        *             2,500    5,700    1,500
 SD   :     *        *        *        *                               5,200
 UT   : 89,800    5,200   14,200    1,400            6,800    7,600   35,600
 WA   : 16,700       *                                        6,500       *
 WI   :102,100    5,200    2,200    2,800            4,300   17,100   24,000
      :
Oth   : 26,900   22,400   23,500    5,000      100   5,900    3,100   25,200
 Sts  :
      :
US    :351,500   57,800   41,800   10,000      100  21,900   75,000  123,600
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :         :         :         :         :         : Misc. &  :
      :  Pearl  :Lavender :  Pink   :  Violet :  White  : Unclass- :  Total
      :         :  Hope   :         :   Type  :         : ified    :
      :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
      :                                Number
      :
 ID   :     800        *                   *                          52,200
 IL   :      *                                       *                13,400
 IA   :      *                          1,000        *                28,100
 MI   :      *         *                  900        *                13,500
 MN   :      *                   *                1,500               75,500
 NY   :     100                 500                                    7,600
 OH   :                         100       100                         20,000
 OR   :                                                               49,000
 PA   :      *                   *         *         *                19,000
 SD   :      *                                                        18,500
 UT   :     400                           200                 800    162,000
 WA   :                                                               25,600
 WI   :     300     1,300     2,300       800     4,500       100    167,000
      :
Oth   :   3,900     1,400     2,000       900     2,700               56,900
 Sts  :
      :
US    :   5,500     2,700     4,900     3,900     8,700       900    708,300
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Demi-buff includes crossed of dark brown, violet, pastel, standard, pearl
    or others.  *  Included in other States to avoid disclosing individual
    operations.


HDR2012000170070720951500Reliability

Survey Procedures:  Data for mink production are collected from all known
                    producers.  State Statistical Offices use all known sources
of producers to ensure that their lists are as complete as possible.  Data
collection from the approximately 460 producers begins in February. 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.  Great care is exercised to ensure that all operations are accounted
for. Major auction houses which handle virtually all producer sales provide
mink pelt price data in June.  Prices are collected at the point of first sale
by producers, before marketing costs are deducted.


Reliability:  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 inaccessible operations are
accounted for through the expansion of the reported data or by imputation based
on individual historical data.  Survey data are subject to non-sampling errors
such as omissions and mistakes in reporting and in processing the data. While
these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized by carefully
reviewing all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.


Revision policy:  Estimates for the previous year are subject to revision when
                  current estimates are made.  Revisions are the result of late
or corrected data and are generally within one-half percent.


The next "Mink" report will be released in July 1996.


The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the
USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808
(TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,
D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is
an equal employment opportunity employer.


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