Where else are they produced ?

Must be a by-product of the Chinese ratmeat market.

Kazakhstan and my understanding is the Chinese don't charge a tariff on fur from that region. Isn't international trade wonderful?

That's one, there is another Stan, can't remember the other. They are smaller but cheaper and for liners they work.

This pretty much has everything to do with the coming reduction in ranch mink production and has very little to do with wild fur. The solicitors were for the mink ranchers.

The demand for fur is there. China and Russia just don't have a very valuable currency. That will change. What is not likely to change is Scandinavian subsidies on ranch fur. Anytime any government interferes with free trade the results are undesirable.

NAFA has alienated a lot of trappers. For a lot of reasons. NAFA needs to remember they need producers more than producers need them.

Interesting to read how these threads go off in all kinds of directions.
All NAFA did was adjust to the present market conditions, our new CEO is dealing with a tough market and is making the correct decisions to ensure the future for the company.
Kopenhagen is on it's third round of downsizing cuts to match the market.
For the last couple of years NAFA has been downsizing by attrition not replacing people that retired or have left the company. Unfortunately the present reality forced the company to further reduce staffing levels.
No company can afford to pay staff that they don't have work for.
At least half if not more of the ranch mink farms in Canada and to a lesser extend in the US have pelted out and closed down.
We just witness the smallest harvest of wild fur in North America,
Bottom line is less skins to sell equals less people needed in the operation.
The fact that we publicly announced the decision to our shippers is to help keep our shippers informed, it should not be read by the NAFA haters as anything more than what it is.
Jim

My exact thoughts Jim - people have taken this announcement and run a 100 miles south with it.

Are NAFA agents in North America being let go?

At least the certification issue has been solved.

Well there you go again gibb, pouring a dose of rational explanation on a perfectly good sky is falling scenario!

If that is the case then why not just say that in the email? Why not say ranch mink solicitors instead of leading the wild fur producers to believe that they may be losing their agents?

I can’t stand vague emails. I want to know the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Lollll

I think you're a little over dramatic there (probably not much coon is Idaho). My coon average at the Feb/Mar NAFA sale was $17.08. Now, that's based on a small lot (because I don't trap a lot) but that's considerablely better than in 2018. I'm sure my May/June sale ave will be less because I have more smaller skins up there but it won't be no fricking 83 cents...

hate to see anyone lose a job but will shed no tears for the company.

In my opinion this next sale is when nafa will be more aggressive in the private treaty sales due to them not wanting to hold the fur over. The buyers know this and will licking their chops looking for bargains.

I would like to be proven wrong on this.

Hate to see anyone lose their job. Mr.Gibb said it very well. Overall a good business decision.

Business decisions are tough. You either evolve or you die! Better years ahead for all fur producers and sellers is the hope and goal!

Chris

There may be many in the know that could post for us the number of local fur buyers that have closed shop over the last 2-4 decades. That might help us better understand the staff reductions that NAFA is dealing with.
I agree with the statement that the firm is establishing their baseline for a significantly reduced ranch mink fur industry. How many of the 50-80 million ranch mink NAFA handles I don't know but a 20-30% drop in ranch production has way more impact in employees needed than the entire wild fur production in North America.

Bryce

I wonder how much fur they sell comes from Mexico? You guys can join Mexico and sell your pelts to ECHA. El Chapo Hair Auction.