Wisconsin Ag Connection - Wisconsin Still Tops Nation in Mink Pelt Output

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Wisconsin Still Tops Nation in Mink Pelt Output
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/18/2016

The fur industry in Wisconsin continues to be strong. The latest numbers on mink production indicate that the state led the U.S. at 1.31 million pelts during 2015--about four percent more than the previous year's harvest. Wisconsin's production accounted for 34 percent of the nation's total pelt output.

Females bred in Wisconsin to produce kits during the past year were about five percent lower at 254,194. But Wisconsin still accounted for 33 percent of the U.S. total females bred.

The percentages of pelts produced in 2015 in Wisconsin by color class were: Black at 59 percent, White, 12 percent, Mahogany at 10 percent, and Blue Iris at 10 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for nine percent.

The report no longer indicates how many farms each state has, but Wisconsin led the nation in that category several years ago at around 70.

Nationally, mink pelt production during 2015 totaled 3.75 million pelts, up slightly from the year earlier. Females bred to produce kits totaled 8769,000. The U.S. value of pelts produced during the crop year was $117, down 46 percent from 2014 levels.

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