Wisconsin continues to lead in mink production
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in mink production.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service says the state produced more than 914,000 mink pelts last year, or 32 percent of the nation's total.
This year, nearly 218,000 female mink have been bred to produce kits, up 1 percent from last year.
The U.S. produced 2.83 million mink pelts last year, down slightly from the year before. The total value was $186 million, up 34 percent from $139 million the year before.
The average price per pelt rose by $17.30, from $48.40 in 2006 to $65.70 last year.
Wisconsin had 71 mink farms in 2007. There were 283 nationwide.
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:17 p.m.
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I'm not trying to be all preachy here, but honestly, if you saw how those mink farms raised and treated those animals, proud would be the last word you would describe for being the number one producer of mink pelts. And I'm saying this from first hand experience and viewing. I hope not all mink farms are like what I have seen, but if the only reason the animal is alive is for their fur, you can imagine their living conditions aren't the greatest. They aren't seen as deserving of compassion, because they aren't seen as alive. They are seen as cash. It is really sad. I'm not against using animals for our benefit, but it doesn't mean they should be treated inhumanely while they are alive either.
Jul 21, 2008 at 1:38 p.m.
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Although mink (and other fur) sales have been rising in the US after bottoming out in the 1990s, most of the market growth is in Asia, most recently in China and Russia. China has also become the leading producer, estimated with over 1/3 of the global pelt production. Meanwhile, some countries such as the UK have completely banned mink farming.
Jul 21, 2008 at 9:01 a.m.
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Interesting, I guess I’m naive, because I didn’t think many people still wore anything with mink. Well we’ve got that going for us; or not. Now that California occasionally takes top spot from Wisconsin in diary production, we can now fall back on being, “Wisconsin the Mink State.” We better change that quarter. Has anyone seen a mink farm? I suppose they stay low key. I can hear the animal rights activist flocking here in masses as I type this response.
Jul 21, 2008 at 8:28 a.m.
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People still wear mink?
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