Minnesota, one of the nation’s leading mink producing states, placed fifth in 2007 pelt production behind Wisconsin, Utah, Oregon, and Idaho, according to the Minnesota Field Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Total state production for 2007 amounted to 218,500 mink pelts, down 10 percent from 242,950 in 2006.

Total US production for 2007 was 2.83 million pelts, down 1 percent from 2.87 million pelts in 2006. Wisconsin, the leading mink producing state, produced 914,100 pelts in 2007, 32.3 percent of the nation’s total. Utah, the second ranked mink producing state, produced 21.2 percent with 599,430 pelts. Oregon came in third with a production of 278,500 pelts, and Idaho came in fourth with a production of 221,000 pelts in 2007.

The total U.S. mink pelts produced during the 2007 crop year were valued at $186 million, up 34 percent from $139 million a year ago. The average price per pelt for the 2007 crop year was $65.70, up from $48.40 in 2006.

BRED FEMALES: Minnesota ranked fourth nationally in total number of females bred to produce kits in 2008 - behind Wisconsin, Utah, and Oregon. Minnesota females bred for 2008, at 54,100, are down 7 percent from 2007. Of these females, Mahogany color class claimed 30.5 percent; Black, 28.7 percent; Demi/Wild, 14.8 percent; Blue Iris, 15.7 percent; and White, 7.2 percent.

The number of mink females in the U.S. bred to produce kits in 2008 totaled 691,170, down 1 percent from the previous year. In the leading states, the number of females bred and changes from the previous year are as follows:
Wisconsin-217,830, up 1 percent; Utah-155,910, up slightly; Oregon-57,210, down 1 percent; and Minnesota- 54,100, down 7 percent.

FARM NUMBERS: In the U.S., there were 283 mink farms producing pelts in 2007, up 1 percent from a year ago. The leading states were Wisconsin, with 71 farms, Utah, with 65 farms, Idaho, with 24 farms, and Minnesota, with 23 farms.