Wisconsin continues to be the leader in the U.S. for mink pelt production and females bred, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The State’s pelt production in 2022 totaled 571,750 pelts. Utah was the second-largest producing state with 266,700 pelts. Nationwide, mink pelt production during 2022 totaled 1.33 million pelts, down 15 percent from 2021. Wisconsin’s production was down 11 percent in 2022 and accounted for 43 percent of the nation’s total pelt production.
The percentages of pelts produced in 2022 in Wisconsin by color class were: black at 79 percent, white at 13 percent, and sapphire at 1 percent. The remaining color classes accounted for 7 percent.
Female mink bred to produce kits in Wisconsin in 2023 totaled 117,760, down 22 percent from last year. Utah came in second with 48,330 females bred. Nationally, females bred to produce kits in 2023 totaled 245,160, down 31 percent from 2022. Wisconsin accounted for 48 percent of the total number of females bred in the U.S.
The value of U.S. pelts produced during the 2022 crop year was $39.2 million, down 17 percent from $47.0 million a year ago. The average price per pelt for the 2022 crop year was $29.40, $0.60 lower than $30.00 in 2021.