VfiLLEy SETTLER
Published once a week in Palmer,
Alaska for the Matanuska Valley
Farmers' Co-operating Association,
for the purpose of giving news of
the Association's work, problems
and accomplishments.
By- Lucille Le Due
$1.75-per year
10^-per copy
CC-CP MEMBERSHIP RISING,
FCA REPORT SHOWS
Membership in farmers' marketing
and purchasing cooperatives contin
ued to increase during the 19^4-9-50
marketing season*, according to new
estimates released by the Farm Cred
it Administration
Such memberships have now reached
nearly 6.6 million, a climb of
200,000 over the previous year. This
increase is, however, considerably
loss than the half million increase
reported annually for the previous
f^ur years.
On the basis of the latest census
figure of 5«^l- million farms, and
all wing for duplications because
marg farmers are members of more
than one cooperative, the FCA estim
1 r '■ that at least three out of
ev^rr five farmers are now members
0r marketing'and purchasing associ
at j.cns •
However, volume of business for
these cooperatives for 1949"’50 is
estimated at $8.7 million, a decline
of nearly $600 million from the
1948-!4.9 figure. FCA attributes a
large percentage of this decline to
a corresponding decline in farm
prices during the 1949“50 crop year.
A breakdown of this business show
ed the combined marketing business
of all associations running to $6*5
billion, and the combined purchasing
business of all associations to 92.2
billion.
Largely because of some consolid
ation of small associations, the
number of marketing and purchasing
co-ops declined from 10,075 a year
earlier, to 10,035.
As in previous years, Minnesota
and the North Central regions led
in cooperative business and number
of associations. However, Illinois
forged to the front in number of
memberships
WHY USE CO-OPS?
Why do farmers do their business
through a cooperative? This is an
oft-repeated question. A reason
able answer to it was provided by
a survey conducted recently among
[|.,000 dairy farmers in Wisconsin
and Minnesota.
While manfc of those polled gave
several reasons, 22 per cent stat
ed that the farmers must stick to
gether in their market operations.
Another 20 per cent said that mem
bership in a cooperative represents
part ownership in a business, while
17 per cent brought up the better
prices they get through their co
operatives •
Ten per cent remarked that viien
they ship to private plants they
get pushed around, there being se
curity in numbers. Six per cent
said they get better weights from
a cooperative, and a like number
said they hauled their products to
a cooperative because they like
their hauler.
Five per cent said they like
their fieldman and another five
per cent said because "we have a
Grade A market." Only three per
cent mentioned the additional pay
ments which they get at the end of
the year.
From Co-op Digest
" I don't care if tho
word is_ in your new
unabridged dictionary."