Farmer Cooperatives/Rural Cooperatives

Selected Articles

1995 August September October	1996 January/February March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December	1997 March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December
1998 January/February March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December	1999 January/February March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December	2000 January/February March/April May/June July/August September/October November/December
2001 January/February March/April May/June

The Carrot and the Stick
A Conversation with Bill Patrie, the Man Who Helped Spark Co-op Fever

Look in the Mirror Ignited Rural Development
by Dan Campbell, Editor

Temperature Rising: Co-op Fever is Still Sizzling Across North Dakota
by Dan Campbell, Editor

Look in the Mirror Ignited Rural Development
by Dan Campbell, Editor

Vertical Integration Patterns of Dairy Co-ops Reflect Changing Market
by K. Charles Ling and Carolyn Betts Liebrand

Surfing the New-Wave Cooperatives
by Dennis A. Johnson

On Solid Ground
by Dave Chesnick

Cooperatives' Share of Farm Marketings Hits 14-Year High
by Charles A. Kraenzle

Non-patronage Business Hits $15.6 Billion
by Charles A. Kraenzle

A Matter of Trust Sound Co-op Business Ethics Can Enhance Member Loyalty
by Paul Lasley and C. Phillip Baumel

The Rural Heartbeat:Health Network Enhances Services in Mountain Community
by Ry Southard

Inventories, Patronage Refunds Increase for Local Cooperatives
by Beverly L. Rotan

Managing Price Risks Hedging by Dairy Co-ops Requires Care
by K. Charles Ling

Community Effort, Dedicated Leaders Spawn Island Cooperative
by Randall E. Torgerson

California Cooperatives Again Lead Nation in Business Volume
by Charles A. Kraenzle

A to Z Guidelines for Board Members
by John W. Siebert

Largest Co-ops Post Record Revenues in 1995
by David Chesnick

Record Expansion by Nation's Major Cooperatives
by David Chesnick

Traditional Principles Still Work for New-Generation Cooperative
by Nancy Jorgensen

Eco-Marketing: Brazilians Farming the Amazon Rain Forest, Cooperatively
by Jerry Namken

A Management Strategist For Our Time
by Bruce J. Reynolds

Gateway Gathering: Impacts of Industrialized Agriculture Gauged at 1996 NICE Conference
by Eds.

Financial Ratios Give Mixed Reviews Despite Higher Co-op Revenues
by David Chesnick

Co-ops Set Commodities Market-Share Record
by Charles A. Kraenzle

Security Blanket: West Virginia Quilters Stitch Together New Marketing Plan
by Patrick Duffey

Cooperating with Nature: Co-ops Lead Agriculture into Era of Environmental Stewardship
by Jennifer Boyle

Show Me the Dough:Colorado Wheat Growers Baking Value into Their Crop
by Dan Campbell

The Foundation:Capper-Voistead Remains Critical to the Future of Cooperation
by Randall E. Torgerson

Non-patronage Business Reaches $17.9 Billion
by Charles A. Kraenzle

Higher '96 Grain Prices Help Co-ops Continue to Break Net Income, Business Volume Records
by Charles A. Kraenzle, Celestine C. Adams, Katherine C. DeVille, Jacqueline E. Penn and Ralph M. Richardson

Canadian Cooperatives Report $24.8 Billion in 1995 Sales
by Charles A. Kraenzle

The ABCs of LLCs
by Donald A. Frederick

Rounding the Corner? Co-op Involvement in Ethanol Industry Grows Despite Uncertainty
by Anthony C. Crooks

Turnaround Time: Restructuring Pays Off for Pro-Fac Following Curtice Burns Deal
by Eds.

Sound Cooperative Practices Key to Successful Operations
by Randall E. Torgerson

Andrew Volstead's Legacy: Capper-Volstead, Not Prohibition, Greatest Gift of Co-op Pioneer
by Eds.

The Transnational Challenge: Cooperatives and the Global Food System
by Michael F. Seipel and William D. Heffernan

Record Gross Revenues Do Not Translate Into Higher Net Margins for Largest Co-ops
by David S. Chesnick

Continued Expansion of Assets Shows Greater Reliance On Debt by Farmer Co-ops
by David S. Chesnick

Family Farms get $100 Million Boost from USDA Rural Development
by Eds.

USDA Funds 11 Co-op Development Centers
by Eds.

Milk Money: How Dairy Cooperatives Impact Farm-Level Milk Prices
by Robert Cropp

The Power of Cooperation: Members and Rural Communities Benefit from AGP Operations
by Patrick Duffey

Leveraging the Future? Higher Debt Levels Among Large Ag Co-ops May Be Cause for Concern
by David S. Chesnick

Higher Grain Sales Help Co-ops Set Market Share Record in '96
by Charles A. Kraenzle

A Co-op for the Cowboys
by Cathering Merlo

How Co-ops Give Power to the People
by Claiborn Crain

Out of the Crab's Claw: Women's crab meat co-op helps revive economy of Chesapeake Bay island
by Eds

The Triumph of Dawson's Textile Workers Left without jobs when their mill closed down, Georgia textile workers formed a co-op and re-opened it as its new owners dawson.
by Catherine Merlo

Appalachian Artistry: Quilting coop provides vital income for West Virginia craftswomen
by Eds.

Savvy Salesmanship: Innovative marketing helps craft coop increase sales
by Eds.

A Few Good Women: Though few in number, women in leadership positions are playing an increasingly important role in U.S. coops women
by Catherine Merlo

Catfish to Cotton, Mississippi Co-ops Make a Difference
by Randall Torgerson

Cooperative approach helps black growers succeed
by Donna F. Abernathy

The Mississippi Delta is catfish country, where Delta Pride Catfish Inc. is the big fish in the big pond
by Catherine Merlo

Times have never been better for Mississippi-based Staplcotn, America’s oldest cotton marketing cooperative
by Catherine Merlo

As agriculture industrializes, local supply and grain co-ops in Colorado remain profitable through joint ventures and alliances
by Joan Fulton

With his emphasis on communication, Walt Payne helped strengthen blue Diamond Growers’ standing in California’s almond industry
by Graham Allen

NCB Compiles List of Nation's Top Co-ops

Pooling for Power
by Catherine Merlo

Fever Pitch: A first-hand report from the man who helped spark co-op fever in the Northern Plains
by William Patrie

A Star is Born
by Cathering Merlo.

When Cooperatives Combine: The merger boom is reshaping the look - and the future- of America's rural co-ops
by Catherine Merlo

IRS Rules Favorably on LLC Distributions to Cooperatives
by Donald A. Frederick

Dairy Co-ops vs. IOFs: New measurement approach sheds light on performance
by K. Charles Ling and Carolyn Liebrand

Co-ops Break Supply Sales Record
by Charles A. Kraenzie

The Rural Connection: Answering the call to bring Internet access, cellular service, and more to rural America
by Catherine Merlo

Financial Position of Nation's Largest Co-ops Stronger Despite Lower Sales
by David S. Chesnick

Proactive Approach to Financial Health Pays off for Nation's Major Ag Co-ops
by David S. Chesnick

USDA Loans Help Co-ops Grow
by Catherine Merlo

Supply Co-ops' Income Rebounds
by Beverly L. Rotan

1930's: Cooperatives Help Farmers Survive the Great Depression, Position Themselves for New Marketing Opportunities
by Staff

1940's: Co-ops Help Supply U.S. War Effort; Modernize Operations Rapidly During Post-War Era
by Staff

1950's: Co-op Brands Gain Market Share; Livestock, Tobacco, Cotton Co-ops Expand
by Staff

1960's: Trend Toward Fewer, Larger Farms Means Major Changes for Co-ops
by Staff

1970's: Co-ops embrace new technologies and structures to maintain owner control
by Staff

1980's: Mergers, Consolidations Change Look of U.S. Cooperatives
by Staff

1990's: Hallmarks of the ‘90s: Merger-Mania and Co-op Fever
by Staff

This small North Carolina co-op makes history as it opens the doors of leadership to blacks
by Catherine Merlo

Exercising Vigilance Over State Laws Important Role of State Councils
by Randall Torgerson

Iowa Cooperatives Lead Nation in Business Volume
by Charles A. Kraenzle

Smaller livestock operations can reduce pollution and large capital expenditures by forming a waste management cooperative
by Wade Binion

Co-ops are staking their claim in the boomtown called the Internet
by Patricia Miller

1980's: Mergers, Consolidations Change Look of U.S. Cooperatives
by Staff

1990's: Hallmarks of the '90s: Merger-Mania and Co-op Fever
by Staff

The 11th Hour for Structural Change
by Jill Long Thompson

Improving Their Worth: Farmer co-ops' 1997 value-added activities rise to $10.1 billion
by Charles A. Kraenzle and David E. Cummins

The Prime of Prairie Farms Dairy
by Catherine Merlo

With 1997’s record exports, U.S. farm cooperatives prove their ability in the global marketplace
by Tracey L. Kennedy

Co-op members hope extra profits will help preserve a way of life they see rapidly disappearing on the prairie
by Valerie Berton

A Closer Look at Calcot, Ltd.
by Eds.

Supply Co-op Faces Robinson-Patman Act and Antitrust Liability by Donald A. Frederick

Amber Waves of Change: Kansas grain cooperatives adapting to global marketplace
by Pamela J. Karg

Big steps in the plains: Kansas grain producers create new venture
by Kent Miller

Kansas wheat goes white: Betty is ready to produce better bread, noodles, and tortilla
by Doug Ohlenmeier

Hog-tied in Kentucky? No, thanks to a co-op helping small-scale hog producers survive in a depressed market
by Bill Brockhouse

Boosting Rural New Mexico
by Kristin Kelleher

A Sea of Greens: Low-income farmers use vegetable processing, marketing co-op to create new opportunity in north Florida
by Pamela J. Karg

Co-op Member Education Needed in 21st Century
by William J. Nelson

Planning to Prosper: Recalling lessons learned from livestock slaughter and meat packing co-ops
by Brad Gehrke and James Matson

Co-ops Remain Major Players in Dairy Industry
by K. Charles Ling

Network Difficulties: Termination of Georgia wood co-op provides lessons for export co-op development
by Alan Borst

Taking Flight: Sioux Honey cooperative finds sweet success in new products
by Pamela J. Karg

The Price is Right: AGP sets pace for soybean industry with new oil pricing program
by Patrick Duffey

The Changing Role of Dairy Trade Groups and Co-ops
by Jerry Kozak

Large cooperatives unifying: A strategic trend to monitor
by James J. Wadsworth

Net business volume, net income for farmer co-ops decline in 1998
by Eds.

President Clinton hails co-ops as engine for rural progress
by Pamela J. Karg

Farm supply cooperatives' income slides downward
by Beverly L. Rotan

Thumbs Up: Michigan soybean farmers keeping value at home with new generation cooperative
by Laura Mozer

Bottom line continued to rise in '98 for large corn-soybean and wheat-barley co- ops
by David Cummins

Plains co-ops experience ups and downs
by David Cummins

Sales rebound for largest farmer co-ops, but net margins decline
by David S. Chesnick

Co-ops share of farm marketing up slightly in '98
by Charles A. Kraenzle

Cooperative marketing in the new millennium
by Randall Torgerson

Seeing the forest for its trees
by Pamela J. Karg

New model, old ways
by Pamela J. Karg,

Asset growth for largest co-ops shows resilience to declining revenues
by David S. Chesnick,

Depressed ag sector puts squeeze on largest co-ops
by David S. Chesnick

Borders are no longer barriers for co-ops
by Jill Long Thompson

Boosting the 3 Bs: England's Plunkett Foundation promotes "The furtherance of rural cooperatives"
by Eliza Banks

Fingers and needles: Alaskan co-op turns cashmere-soft musk ox wool into hard cash
by Pamela J. Karg

Strength through unity: Bulgarian honey producers sweeten their future through cooperation
by James Matson

Foreign affairs: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service promotes U.S agriculture abroad
by Karl Hampton

Going global: Export certificates a valuable tool in helping co-ops tap overseas markets
by Alan Borst

Why U.S. agriculture should support foreign aid
by Perry Letson

How Does Your Local Farm Supply Cooperative Rate?
by Beverly L. Rotan

Saving an Industry: Plant closure leads Michigan growers to form new turkey cooperative
by Laura Moser

Power Formula Gas price hikes fuel drive for ethanol production; farmers look to co-ops to gain market share
by Mary Farrell-Stieve

Making its mark Agri-Mark, New England's largest dairy cooperative, is building markets for producers
by Pamela J. Karg

USDA Rural Development programs help fuel co-op movement
by Jill Long Thompson

A CL0SER L00K AT... CaI/West Seeds
by Eds.

Sunkist cheers opening of China and other cooperative news stories

Foremost farms traces its name to J.C. Penney
by Pamela J. Karg

USDA program brought electricity and a better way of life to rural America
by Dan Campbell

Tri Valley Growers files Chapter -11 bankruptcy
by Dan Campbell

Study finds that new-generation and traditional co-ops have major beneficial impacts on rural communities
by Patrick Duffey

How well are dairy cooperatives performing?
by Carolyn Liebrand

Consultant's feasibility study can predict success of 'next great idea'
by James Matson

Newsline

Lower commodity prices cause drop in co-op sales
Information for this article was compiled by the statistics staff of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, a division of USDA Rural Development: Charles A. Kraenzle, Celestine C. Adams, Katherine C. DeVille, Jacqueline E. Penn and Ralph M. Richardson

Some say Pork America represents best, and possibly last, chance for hog farmers to gain significant market access
by James Matson and Brad C. Gehrke

Trade Takes a Tumble: Cooperative trade plunges 41% as Asian markets cool
by Tracey L. Kennedy

Co-ops help tobacco farmers transition to new crops
by Pamela J. Karg

Net savings dipped in 1999 for most corn-soybean and wheat-barley co-ops
by David Cummins

Newsline

CherrCo helps bring market stability to tart cherry industry
Pamela J. Karg

Plains Cotton Co-op uses computer technology to pursue business-to-business strategy
by Pamela J. Karg

A closer look at grain co-op mergers and acquisitions, 1993-97
by Anthony Crooks

Director assessments are building blocks to productive board-management relationships
by James J. Wadsworth

Cooperative Agro Pastorale Segbeya African swine-raising, cooperative struggles to survive and prosper
by Azanmasso Joseph and Steven Graham

Butter settlement: a glimpse into the future of antitrust enforcement?
By Donald A. Frederick

Downward spiral for commodity prices continues; bottom line mixed for Plains co-ops
by David Cummins

Newsline

Peach Growers Cling to Association
by Pamela J. Karg

Co-ops' share of farm market, major cash expenditures down in '99
by Charles A. Kraenzle

Sugar cooperatives restructure to combat foreign threats, low prices
by Pamela J. Karg

A critical look at new-generation cooperatives
by Randall E. Torgerson

Financial performance declines for largest ag cooperatives in '99
By David Chesnick

Minnesota teachers' co-op serves rural charter schools
by Katherine L. Hanson

Commitment to cooperative systems

Colorado ranchers band together to cut cattle-grazing costs
by Coleman Cornelius

Earnings, sales dip for local cooperatives
by Beverly L. Rotan

Minnesota leads nation in co-op business volume
by Anthony Crooks

California co-ops struggle to cope with the state's energy crisis
by Catherine Merlo

Neighborhoods warm to bargaining power of co-ops
by Tux Turkel

Effective member relations essential to keep co-op spirit alive & kicking
By Jim Wadsworth

Critical need seen to broaden, invigorate current approach to cooperative research
by James Baarda

Research key to expanding co-op knowledge and understanding
by Randall Torgerson

In the Spotlight: Robert A. Cropp, University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and UW Extension

Newsline

New Internet name for cooperatives provides new marketing, membership opportunities
By Paul Hazen

Farmer-owned radio station has served rural Nebraska for 50 years
by Paul Hammel

Record cranberry crops, soft markets force industry to eye marketing order
by Pamela J. Karg

Local co-ops embrace high-tech agronomy systems
by E. Eldon Eversull

Young livestock and poultry co-ops share goal to strengthen producers' role in marketplace
by Dan Campbell

Local cooperatives' role in identity-preserved grain industry
by Julie A. Hogeland