Poliaor, Alaska Dorothy M. Boll—Editor
Publir'ad once n -ook at Palmer, Alaska* for the li.rkf.va>aka V'lley Fir>ers' Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving nov>p of the Associations rork, problems and
Accorrr 1 ishnent s.
Subscription Rate $1075 per year Cl.OO for six months 10<f a copy
Farmer Cooperatives do a total annual volume of business of around one billion dollars.
Tj'ia billion dollar estimate is based on the knorn volumo of eighteen major regional
purchasing associations as projected to the 7000 local cooperatives handling farm
supplies. F.-rnor Cooperatives provide a tremendous 'market for American industry.. They
purchase feed, seed, fertilizor, petroleum products, machinery and farm supplies of
all kinds needed to produco the Nation's food and Iffibor, says Dr. Karl Butler.
T] ere are approximately 3,500 cooperative purchasing associations and retail branches
of regional wholesale cooperatives handling farm supplies in the United States. Ir. ad
dition to thesos outlets, there are many farmer representatives rho take orders for
farm supplies from farmers in their communities and ovorsoo the deliver and payment
for tho supplies.
Most of the cooperative purchasing associations are in the eastern half.of the United
States. They handlo such products as feed, seed, fertilizer, petroleum products,
metal products, small tools, insecticides, and many other supplies and equipment need
ed by farmers. . ’ .
In addition to the 3,500 cooperative retail outlots, more than 3,500 cooperative mar
keting associations also haftdle farm supplies as a sideline-service. Tlcse includo
cooperative olevators, gins, creameries, poultry and egg associations.
Approximately 90 per cent of the 7,00C local associations handling farm supplies in
the United States obtain their requirements from regional uholesnlo cooperatives.
DAIRY COOPERATIVES ARE AMONG THE MAJOR PURCHASERS
TI’-- investment b - farmers in their dairy marketing cooperatives is estimated to bo
moro than 300 million dollars. Most of the investment is jin the form of buildings '*
and equipment. The annual dollar volume of business, according to published reports,
approximates one and thro-quarter billion’dollars. Over one-third of that amount is
spent for the goods and services required to got nilkin some form to consumers.
V.~T,y flavoring compounds are used b” the do-ops. Chocolate for chocolate milk and ico
cream, fruit’flavors for ico cream, etc. . ..
Huge 'ouantities of paper are used in packaging dairy products. Thousands of pounds
of cleansing hatorials are used. Tons and tons of stool, aluminum, glass, lumber and
rubber are needed to market the mill: from farm to consumor. Concreto blocks, brick,
tile, steel and other construction materials arc used oach_.yoar in building non dairy
plants or repairing and adding to the old ones. An estimated 2000 refrigeration sys
tems are used in co-op dairies.
UHO BUILT THESE PARI! COOPERATIVES?
T’-c same men who have built our'other great Aoriean industries and institutions have
built the A. crican Cooperatives, Toy are farriers, lawyers, school teachers, bankers,
industrialists and others who saw the need Of good business practices in tfre business
of farming. T’oso active A ericans have been realistic and at the same tino have
shown that they possess a truly remarkable foresightedness.
Cooperation is the freest of freo enterprise. So long as the users of cooperatives
provide the capital to operate them, exercise dcnoncratic control and have the right,
o patronize or not as they please, the coonerati$o way of doing business makes a
vital contribution to preserving our freo enterprise system by providing competition
which prevents abuses and makes the system work.
Ue in agriculture must practice cooperation not only to save ourselves, but to save
America.
W.G, Wysor, Goner.d Manager, Southern States Coo'-crative, Richmond,
■ v ■ Virginia