A new, Spanish-language version of a pamphlet that covers the basics of cooperatives: what they are and how they are organized. It is intended to introduce the cooperative concept to someone who knows nothing of cooperatives, or as a quick refresher for those who may have forgotten some of the basic principles which co-ops are founded upon. It covers why cooperatives are organized, cooperative business principles, the 10 steps in organizing a co-op and sources of information and technical assistance from the Rural Business Cooperative Service of USDA Rural Development.

Free

This research report identifies characteristics that influence member participation in cooperatives. Participation measures include attendance at meetings, serving on committees or as elected officers, and recruiting other farmers to join the co-op. Nineteen characteristics were found statistically related to member participation in co-ops. These include: farm characteristics, member demographics, beliefs in cooperative principles, collective action, member influence on the coop, cooperative impartiality toward members and satisfaction with farming and cooperative officers.

Price: domestic: $5; foreign: $6

This case study evaluates two producer-owned lamb processing and marketing ventures, one in Texas and the other in Virginia, and why they failed. Findings have relevance to future vertical coordination efforts in the lamb processing and marketing arena in an industry characterized by significant concentration among a few established marketing firms. The researchers focus on organizational background for the development of each venture, factors that contributed to failure, positive outcomes and challenges for producer-owners in future ventures.

Price: Domestic: $5; foreign: $6

This report describes a new method to evaluate and compare operational performance of dairy cooperatives. A business performance measurement was modified to fit cooperatives. A cooperative is creating extra value if its net operating margin can more than cover its operating cost, including the cost of operating capital (the sum of fixed assets and working capital). The extra-value measure can be 'common-sized" by operating capital to create an extra-value index. The scale-neutral index is an objective measure for comparing operating efficiency between dairy cooperatives and dairy-investor-owned firms.

Price: Domestic: $5; foreign $6