Rural Cooperative Magazine Issue November/December 1999







November/December 1999


F E A T U R E S


On the Cover:
President Clinton praised Hermitage Tomato Co-op Association President Randy Clanton and hisfellow co-op membersfor helping to revive the fortunes of Hermitage, Arkansas. The president used the co-op's packing house for the latest stop on his "New Markets Initiative" tour, designed to show the importance of investing in depressed rural areas. Stoiy on page 4. USDA photo Anson Eaglin



President Clinton hails co-ops as engine for rural progress
Arkansas totmato co-op breathes new life into dying rural town
Pamela J. Karg

Supply cooperatives' income slides downward
Beverly Rotan

Bridging the gap
USDA spotlights DLT technology to mark 50th anniverary of telecommunications program
Pamela Karg

Organizing for the future
Browntown: small co-op with big plans
Bill Tarperming

Thumbs up
Michigan soybean farmers keeping value at home with new-generation cooperative
Laura Moser

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


D E P A R T M E N T S

COMMENTARY
A CLOSER LOOK AT...
MANAGEMENT TIP
NEWSLINE


Jill Long Thompson, Under Secretary, Rural Development

Dayton J. Watkins, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service

La Jaycee Brown, Director, Public Affairs & Legislative Staff

Dan Campbell, Managing Editor

USDA Design Center, Design

RURAL COOPERATIVES (1088-8845) is published bimonthly by Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that publication of this periodical is necessary in the transaction of public business required by law of the Department. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC. Copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 20402, at $3.00 domestic, $3.75 foreign; or by annual subscription at $11.00 domestic, $13.75 foreign. Postmaster: send address change to: Rural Cooperatives, USDA/RBS, Stop 3255, Wash., DC 20250-3255. order form

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